Memory Alpha
Register
Advertisement
Memory Alpha
Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

George Murdock (25 June 193030 April 2012; age 81) was an actor who portrayed "God" in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and J.P. Hanson in the Star Trek: The Next Generation third and fourth season episodes "The Best of Both Worlds" and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II".

In the pre-production of The Final Frontier, director William Shatner had originally planned to cast Murdock for the role of Korrd, but when Charles Cooper read for the role, Murdock was recast for the role of God. Shatner described the scenario as "a rather strange way of finding the right roles, but it worked out perfectly." (Captain's Log: William Shatner's Personal Account of the Making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier [page number?edit])

Murdock is probably best known by fans for two recurring roles, as Lt. Ben Scanlon, the acerbic Internal Affairs officer on Barney Miller and the overstressed and bitter Dr. Salik on the original Battlestar Galactica. He was also in an episode of Seinfeld (with Jason Alexander) as a Russian writer Elaine works to get for her publishing house employer.

He also appeared in Trapper John, M.D. along with Madge Sinclair. Murdock also starred in Timescape (1992, with Lori Lively, Nicholas Guest, Emilia Crow, Time Winters, and Mimi Craven).

Murdock died of cancer at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank on 30 April 2012. He was 81. [1]

External links[]

Advertisement