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{{real world}}
 
{{real world}}
 
{{Sidebar actor
 
{{Sidebar actor
|Name=Jeffrey Combs
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| Name = Jeffrey Combs
| image=Jeffrey Combs.jpg
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| image = Jeffrey Combs.jpg
|Birth name=Jeffrey Alan Combs
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| Birth name = Jeffrey Alan Combs
|Gender=Male
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| Gender = Male
|Date of birth={{d|9|September|1954}}
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| Date of birth = {{d|9|September|1954}}
|Place of birth=Oxnard, California
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| Place of birth = Oxnard, California, USA
|Date of death=
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| Date of death =
|Place of death=
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| Place of death =
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| Roles = [[:Category:Performers|Guest Actor]]<br/>[[:Category:Video game performers|Video game voice actor]]
|Awards for Trek=
 
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| Characters = [[Brunt]]; [[Weyoun]]; [[Thy'lek Shran]]; [[#Star Trek appearances|Multiple roles]]
|Roles=
 
|Characters=[[Brunt]], [[Weyoun]] (#4-#8), [[Thy'lek Shran|Shran]], [[Tiron]], [[Kevin Mulkahey]], [[Penk]], [[Krem]], a [[Bashir 62 holograms#Farewell Party Guests|holosuite guest]]
 
| image2=
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Jeffrey Alan Combs''' {{born|9|September|1954}} is an actor who has the distinction of portraying eight different characters on three ''[[Star Trek]]'' television series, most notably those of [[Brunt]] and the various [[Weyoun]]s on {{s|4}} and the [[Andorian]] [[Thy'lek Shran]] on {{s|6}}.
 
'''Jeffrey Alan Combs''' {{born|9|September|1954}} is an actor who has the distinction of portraying eight different characters on ''[[Star Trek]]'', most notably those of [[Brunt]] and the various [[Weyoun]]s on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' and the [[Andorian]] [[Thy'lek Shran|Shran]] on ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. He is one of only five actors to play seven or more different characters in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, the others being [[Randy Oglesby]], [[J.G. Hertzler]], [[Vaughn Armstrong]] and [[Thomas Kopache]]. Coincidentally, Combs has appeared on ''Star Trek'' with all four of those actors.
 
   
 
== Personal life ==
 
== Personal life ==
Born in Oxnard, California, Combs was raised in Lompoc, CA along with many older and younger siblings. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1972, after which he honed his acting talents at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA and the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.
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Born in Oxnard, California, Combs was raised in Lompoc, California along with many older and younger siblings. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1972, after which he honed his acting talents at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California and the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.
   
 
== Career ==
 
== Career ==
 
=== Films ===
 
=== Films ===
In 1980, after spending four years performing for regional theater, Combs moved to Los Angeles where he landed roles in the films ''Whose Life Is It Anyway?'' and ''Honky Tonk Freeway'', both released in 1981. Actress [[Teri Garr]], who appeared on ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', starred in the latter film.
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In 1980, after spending four years performing for regional theater, Combs moved to Los Angeles where he landed roles in the films ''Whose Life Is It Anyway?'' and ''Honky Tonk Freeway'', both released in 1981. The latter one starred [[Teri Garr]].
   
Combs is widely recognized as an actor of science fiction and horror movies. His first experience with both genres came in 1983 when he appeared in the science fiction comedy ''The Man with Two Brains'', a film which also featured fellow ''Trek'' guest stars [[James Cromwell]], [[David Warner]], and [[Earl Boen]]. A few months later, he was seen in the horror film ''Frightmare'', co-starring ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' guest actor [[Scott Thomson]].
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Combs is widely recognized as an actor of science fiction and horror movies. His first experience with both genres came in 1983 when he appeared in the science fiction comedy ''The Man with Two Brains'', a film which also featured fellow ''Trek'' guest stars [[James Cromwell]], [[David Warner]], and [[Earl Boen]]. A few months later, he was seen in the horror film ''Frightmare'', co-starring [[Scott Thomson]].
   
Combs has since starred in many movies in the horror and science fiction genres, specifically those based on the works of writer {{w|H. P. Lovecraft}}. His most well-known Lovecraftian role (and, indeed, his most famous film role in general) is that of Dr. Herbert West in the 1985 cult classic ''Re-Animator''. He reprised this role in two more films, ''Bride of Re-Animator'' in 1990 and ''Beyond Re-Animator'' in 2003. He is currently slated to play West again in ''House of Re-Animator''.
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Combs has since starred in many movies in the horror and science fiction genres, specifically those based on the works of writer {{w|H. P. Lovecraft}}. His most well-known Lovecraftian role (and, indeed, his most famous film role in general) is that of Dr. Herbert West in the 1985 classic ''Re-Animator''. He reprised this role in two more films, ''Bride of Re-Animator'' in 1990 and ''Beyond Re-Animator'' in 2003.
   
Other Lovecraftian films starring Combs include 1986's ''From Beyond'' (with ''DS9'' guest star [[Ted Sorel]]) and 1994's ''Lurking Fear'' (with ''TNG'' guest star [[Vincent Schiavelli]]). Combs' association with Lovecraft was such that he actually played the author in the 1993 horror anthology ''Necronomicon'', which featured fellow ''Trek'' alumni [[Dennis Christopher]], [[Gary Graham]], [[Richard Lynch]], and [[David Warner]]. His most recent Lovecraftian film was ''The Dunwich Horror'', co-starring [[Dean Stockwell]] and set for release in October 2008.
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Other Lovecraftian films starring Combs include ''From Beyond'' (1986, with [[Ted Sorel]]) and ''Lurking Fear'' (1994, with [[Vincent Schiavelli]]). Combs' association with Lovecraft was such that he actually played the author in the 1993 horror anthology ''Necronomicon'', which featured [[Dennis Christopher]], [[Gary Graham]], [[Richard Lynch]], and David Warner. His more recent Lovecraftian work was the television horror thriller ''The Dunwich Horror'' (2009, with [[Dean Stockwell]]). Combs voiced King Abdul in the animated feature ''Howard Lovecraft & the Undersea Kingdom'' (2017) and H.P. Lovecraft himself in the video sequel ''Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness'' (2018).
   
Outside of the Lovecraftian universe, Combs portrayed a Catholic Cleric in the 1991 film ''The Pit and the Pendulum'', also starring [[Stephen Lee]] as well as veteran science fiction actor {{w|Lance Henriksen}}. Combs was further notable for playing the title role of ''Doctor Mordrid'' in 1992, on which he co-starred with [[Brian Thompson]]. Another notable role is that of crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers in the 1996 horror film, ''The Frighteners'', which co-starred fellow ''DS9'' guest performer [[Julianna McCarthy]].
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Outside of the Lovecraftian universe, Combs portrayed a Catholic Cleric in the 1991 film ''The Pit and the Pendulum'', also starring [[Stephen Lee]]. Combs was further notable for playing the title role of ''Doctor Mordrid'' in 1992, on which he co-starred with [[Brian Thompson]]. Another notable role is that of crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers in the 1996 horror film, ''The Frighteners'', which co-starred [[Julianna McCarthy]].
   
Combs' other non-Lovecraftian sci-fi and horror films include ''Robot Jox'' (starring ''Enterprise'' co-star Gary Graham), ''Guyver'' (with [[Michael Berryman]], [[Dennis Madalone]], [[Brian Simpson]], and [[Spice Williams]]), ''Trancers II'' (with Richard Lynch), ''Fortress'' (co-starring [[Kurtwood Smith]] and [[Tom Towles]]), ''I Still Know What You Did Last Summer'' (along with fellow ''Enterprise'' guest actor [[Bill Cobbs]]), the 1999 remake of ''House on Haunted Hill'' (starring ''Next Generation'' guest actress [[Famke Janssen]]), and ''Contagion'' (with [[Megan Gallagher]]). More recent horror movie credits include 2006's ''Abominable'' (in which he co-starred with [[Matt McCoy]] and [[Phil Morris]]), the 2007 remake of ''The Wizard of Gore'' (which co-starred [[Brad Dourif]]), and the upcoming ''Dark House'' (with [[Diane Salinger]] and [[Don Stark]]).
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Combs' other non-Lovecraftian sci-fi and horror films include ''Robot Jox'' (1989, starring Gary Graham), ''Guyver'' (1991, with [[Michael Berryman]], [[Dennis Madalone]], [[Brian Simpson]], and [[Spice Williams]]), ''Trancers II'' (1991, with Richard Lynch), ''Fortress'' (1992, co-starring [[Kurtwood Smith]] and [[Tom Towles]]), ''I Still Know What You Did Last Summer'' (1998, along with [[Bill Cobbs]]), the remake of ''House on Haunted Hill'' (1999, starring [[Famke Janssen]]), and ''Contagion'' (2002, with [[Megan Gallagher]]). More recent horror movie credits include ''Abominable'' (2006, in which he co-starred with [[Matt McCoy]] and [[Phil Morris]]), the remake of ''The Wizard of Gore'' (2007, with [[Brad Dourif]]), and ''Dark House'' (2009, with [[Diane Salinger]] and [[Don Stark]]).
   
Combs has of course ventured in other genres besides horror or sci-fi. He played "Dinosaur Bob" in the 1994 thriller ''Love and a .45'' and appeared as Gilroy in the 1995 gangster picture ''Dillinger and Capone''. This latter film co-starred fellow ''Trek'' veterans [[F. Murray Abraham]], [[Stephen Davies]], [[Catherine Hicks]], [[Clint Howard]], [[Bert Remsen]], and [[Time Winters]]. Combs was also seen in the 1996 thriller ''Felony'' (co-starring [[Charles Napier]] and David Warner), the 1998 crime drama ''Caught Up'' (with [[Tony Todd]]), and the 2005 thriller ''Edmond''. Additionally, in 1997, Combs and his ''DS9'' co-stars [[Rene Auberjonois]] and [[Armin Shimerman]] appeared together in the drama ''Snide and Prejudice'' (along with [[Mick Fleetwood]]).
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Combs has of course ventured in other genres besides horror or sci-fi. He played "Dinosaur Bob" in the 1994 thriller ''Love and a .45'' and appeared as Gilroy in the 1995 gangster picture ''Dillinger and Capone''. This latter film co-starred [[F. Murray Abraham]], [[Stephen Davies]], [[Catherine Hicks]], [[Clint Howard]], [[Bert Remsen]], and [[Time Winters]]. Combs was also seen in the thriller ''Felony'' (1996, co-starring [[Charles Napier]] and David Warner), the crime drama ''Caught Up'' (1998, with [[Tony Todd]]), and the thriller ''Edmond'' (2005). Additionally, in 1997, Combs and his ''DS9'' co-stars [[Rene Auberjonois]] and [[Armin Shimerman]] appeared together in the drama ''Snide and Prejudice'' (along with [[Mick Fleetwood]]).
   
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Further film work includes the action film ''Urgency'' (2010), the fantasy film ''Dorothy and the Witches of Oz'' (2012, with [[Christopher Lloyd]]), the horror film ''Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation'' (2012, with [[Rhonda Aldrich]]), the horror film ''Would You Rather'' (2012, with [[Larry Cedar]] and [[Bobby C. King]]), the family comedy ''Elf-Man'' (2012), the thriller ''Favor'' (2013), the horror film ''The Penny Dreadful Picture Show'' (2013, with [[Sid Haig]] and [[Brandon Stacy]]), the horror comedy ''Suburban Gothic'' (2014, with [[Ray Wise]]), the family movie ''Beethoven's Treasure'' (2014, with [[Brian George]] and [[Patrick Kwok-Choon]]), the horror comedy ''Art School of Horrors'' (2015), the fantasy film ''Age of Stone and Sky: The Sorcerer Beast'' (2018), and the horror film ''Holiday Hell'' (2018).
===Television===
 
Outside of ''Star Trek'', Combs has made guest appearances on several other television series. In 1987, he appeared on an episode of ''Beauty and the Beast'', a series which starred {{film|10}} actor [[Ron Perlman]]. Also in 1987, he was seen on ''Houston Knights'', on which TOS actress [[Madlyn Rhue]] was a regular.
 
   
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He also appeared in the science fiction comedy ''Unbelievable!!!!!'' in 2018, which features an almost whole ''Star Trek'' cast including [[Chase Masterson]], [[Garrett Wang]], [[Tim Russ]], [[Nichelle Nichols]], [[Robert Picardo]], [[Michael Dorn]], [[Marina Sirtis]], [[Nana Visitor]], [[Walter Koenig]], [[Linda Park]], [[Connor Trinneer]], [[Manu Intiraymi]], [[Dina Meyer]], [[Olivia d'Abo]], [[Julie Warner]], Armin Shimerman, [[John Billingsley]], [[Dominic Keating]], [[Max Grodénchik]], [[Casey Biggs]], [[Brenda Bakke]], [[Patti Yasutake]], [[McKenzie Westmore]], [[Anthony Montgomery]], Vaughn Armstrong, Gary Graham, [[Steve Rankin]], [[Michael Dante]], [[Jack Donner]], [[Michael Forest]], [[Sean Kenney]], [[Gary Lockwood]], [[Barbara Luna]], [[Beverly Washburn]], [[Celeste Yarnall]], [[Bobby Clark]], [[Jasmine Jessica Anthony]], [[Crystal Allen]], [[Menina Fortunato]], and [[Christopher Doohan]].
Further expanding his science fiction credits, Combs has worked on ''The Flash'' (with [[Dick Miller]]), ''[[Babylon 5]]'' (with [[Andreas Katsulas]], [[Bill Mumy]] and [[David L. Crowley]]), ''Perversions of Science'' (with [[Jeff Corey]], Ron Perlman, and David Warner), and the 2000s version of {{wt|The Twilight Zone}}. He also played the recurring role of Kevin Burkhoff on the cult science fiction series ''The 4400''.
 
   
 
=== Television ===
Other series on which he has appeared include ''Freddy's Nightmares'', ''Hunter'' (in an episode with [[Kenneth Marshall]]), ''Life Goes On'' (with [[David Graf]] and [[Bill Smitrovich]]), ''The Single Guy'' (starring [[Olivia d'Abo]] and [[Mark Moses]]), ''Martial Law'' (with [[Neal McDonough]] and [[T.J. Storm]]), ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', and ''Cold Case''.
 
 
Outside of ''Star Trek'', Combs has made guest appearances on several other television series. In 1987, he appeared on an episode of ''Beauty and the Beast'', starring [[Ron Perlman]]. Also in 1987, he was seen on ''Houston Knights'', working with [[Madlyn Rhue]].
   
 
Further expanding his science fiction credits, Combs has worked on ''The Flash'' (1991, with [[Dick Miller]]), ''[[Babylon 5]]'' (1994, with [[Andreas Katsulas]], [[Bill Mumy]] and [[David L. Crowley]]), ''Perversions of Science'' (1997, with [[Jeff Corey]], Ron Perlman, and David Warner), and the remake of ''The Twilight Zone'' (2003). He also played the recurring role of Kevin Burkhoff on the science fiction series ''The 4400'' (2005-2007).
In 1996, Combs had a role in the TV movie ''Norma Jean & Marilyn''. Also starring in this movie were [[Ashley Judd]], [[Steven Culp]], [[David Drew Gallagher]], [[Alex Henteloff]], and [[John Rubinstein]]. In 2005, Combs appeared in two made-for-TV horror movies: ''Voodoo Moon'' and ''Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy''.
 
   
 
Other series on which he has appeared include ''Freddy's Nightmares'' (1989), ''Hunter'' (1991, in an episode with [[Kenneth Marshall]]), ''Life Goes On'' (1991, with [[David Graf]] and [[Bill Smitrovich]]), ''The Single Guy'' (1996, starring [[Olivia d'Abo]] and [[Mark Moses]]), ''Martial Law'' (2000, with [[Neal McDonough]] and [[T.J. Storm]]), ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2003), and ''Cold Case'' (2008).
Combs is also a sought-after voice actor, appearing in numerous animated television shows. He has most prominently worked as a voice actor for animation set in the DC Animated Universe, specifically as The Scarecrow in ''The New Batman Adventures'' (appearing in the same episode with [[Charles Rocket]]) and The Question in several episodes of ''Justice League'', alongside [[Clancy Brown]], [[Robert Foxworth]], [[Virginia Madsen]], and Charles Napier. He also voiced the Scarecrow for the video game ''Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu'', which also featured [[Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa]], [[Loren Lester]], and Ron Perlman). He recently voiced the Autobot Ratchet in [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]]'s ''Transformers: Prime'' animated series, and The Leader in ''Avengers: World's Mightiest Heroes''.
 
   
 
In 1996, Combs had a role in the television movie ''Norma Jean & Marilyn''. Also starring in this movie were [[Ashley Judd]], [[Steven Culp]], [[David Drew Gallagher]], [[Alex Henteloff]], and [[John Rubinstein]]. In 2005, Combs appeared in two made-for-TV horror movies: ''Voodoo Moon'' and ''Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy''.
===Association with ''Trek''===
 
Combs auditioned for the role of [[William T. Riker]] on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', but lost the part to [[Jonathan Frakes]]. Frakes remembered Combs and cast him as [[Tiron]] while directing the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode {{e|Meridian}}. (''[[DS9 Season 5 DVD]], Special "Hidden File 10"'')
 
   
 
Combs is also a sought-after voice actor, appearing in numerous animated television shows. He has most prominently worked as a voice actor for animation set in the DC Animated Universe, specifically as The Scarecrow in ''The New Batman Adventures'' (1997, working on the same episode as [[Charles Rocket]]) and The Question in several episodes of ''Justice League'' (2004-2006, alongside [[Clancy Brown]], [[Robert Foxworth]], [[Virginia Madsen]], and Charles Napier). He also voiced the Scarecrow for the video game ''Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu'' (2003), which also featured [[Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa]], [[Loren Lester]], and Ron Perlman. Combs voiced the Autobot Ratchet in [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]]'s ''Transformers: Prime'' (2010-2013), Viceroy in ''Chadam'' (2010), The Leader in ''Avengers: World's Mightiest Heroes'' (2010-2012), Rat King in ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (2012-2016), and Ratchet in ''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' (2016-2017).
Combs has since earned himself quite a number of appearances on ''[[Star Trek]]'', guest starring in thirty-one episodes of ''Deep Space Nine'', one episode of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', and eleven episodes of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. In {{e|The Dogs of War}}, Combs played '''both''' [[Weyoun 8|Weyoun]] and [[Brunt]], becoming one of only three ''Star Trek'' actors ever to play two unrelated characters in the same episode (the others being [[Patrick Stewart]] in {{e|The Defector}}, in which he played both [[Jean-Luc Picard]] and [[Michael Williams]], and [[Brian Markinson]] in {{VOY|Faces}}, in which he played both [[Pete Durst]] and [[Sulan]]), and the only one credited for playing both characters in that episode. He did it a second time while playing [[Weyoun 8|Weyoun]] and an unnamed Holosuite Guest in {{e|What You Leave Behind}}, the final episode of DS9. He has also appeared in two ''Star Trek'' series finales: [[DS9]]'s {{e|What You Leave Behind}} and [[ENT]]'s {{e|These Are the Voyages...}}.
 
   
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Further television guest work includes episodes of ''Thundercats'' (2012, with [[Kevin Michael Richardson]] and [[Corey Burton]]), ''Femme Fatales'' (2012), ''Criminal Minds'' (2014), ''Ben 10: Omniverse'' (2014, with [[Bumper Robinson]], [[Dee Bradley Baker]], and Michael Dorn), ''Gotham'' (2015, with [[Becky Ann Baker]]), ''Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.'' (2015, with [[Fred Tatasciore]] and [[Clancy Brown]]), ''Stan Against Evil'' (2017), and ''Togtone'' (2018).
The species that he played on ''Star Trek'' include three [[Ferengi]], a [[Vorta]], a [[Norcadian]], and an [[Andorian]]. He also played an imaginary [[Human]] in {{e|Far Beyond the Stars}}. The name of Tiron's race was never revealed. Combs has said that out of all the Trek roles he has played, Weyoun is his favorite character. {{YouTube|type=v|FjA-hvKiCk0}}
 
   
== Characters ==
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== ''Star Trek'' ==
 
Combs auditioned for the role of [[William T. Riker]] on {{s|3}}, but lost the part to [[Jonathan Frakes]]. Frakes remembered Combs and cast him as [[Tiron]] while directing the {{s|4}} [[DS9 Season 3|third season]] episode {{e|Meridian}}. (''"Hidden File 10", [[DS9 Season 5 DVD]] special feature'')
=== Recurring guest appearances ===
 
  +
<gallery>
 
 
Combs has since earned himself quite a number of appearances on ''Star Trek'', guest starring in thirty-one episodes of ''Deep Space Nine'', one episode of {{s|5}}, and eleven episodes of {{s|6}}. In {{e|The Dogs of War}}, Combs played ''both'' [[Weyoun 8|Weyoun]] and [[Brunt]], becoming one of only three ''Star Trek'' actors ever to play two unrelated characters in the same episode (the others being [[Patrick Stewart]] in {{e|The Defector}}, in which he played both [[Jean-Luc Picard]] and [[Michael Williams]], and [[Brian Markinson]] in {{VOY|Faces}}, in which he played both [[Pete Durst]] and [[Sulan]]), and the only one credited for playing both characters in that episode. He did it a second time while playing Weyoun and an unnamed holosuite guest in {{e|What You Leave Behind}}, the final episode of ''Deep Space Nine''. He has also appeared in two ''Star Trek'' series finales: {{e|What You Leave Behind}} and {{e|These Are the Voyages...}}.
File:Brunt portrait.jpg|[[Brunt]]<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring Character]] on [[DS9]]
 
  +
File:Dukat and weyoun.jpg|[[Weyoun 5]]<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring Character]] on [[DS9]]
 
  +
He is one of only five actors to play seven or more different characters in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, the others being [[Randy Oglesby]], [[J.G. Hertzler]], [[Vaughn Armstrong]], and [[Thomas Kopache]].
File:Weyoun_7_and_Damar.jpg|[[Weyoun 7]]<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring Character]] on [[DS9]]
 
  +
File:Weyoun 8.jpg|[[Weyoun 8]]<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring Character]] on [[DS9]]
 
 
The species that he played on ''Star Trek'' include three [[Ferengi]], a [[Vorta]], a [[Norcadian]], and an [[Andorian]]. He also played an imaginary [[Human]] in {{e|Far Beyond the Stars}}. The name of Tiron's race was never revealed. Combs has said that out of all the ''Trek'' roles he has played, Weyoun is his favorite character. {{YouTube|type=v|FjA-hvKiCk0}}
File:Shran, 2154.jpg|[[Thy'lek Shran]]<br />[[ENT recurring characters|Recurring Character]] on [[ENT]]
 
  +
</gallery>
 
 
When interviewed in {{STM|43}} in {{y|1998}} about his two recurring roles on ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', Combs said that he preferred Weyoun chiefly because he had much more "freedom" to define the character with each appearance, whereas playing [[Brunt]] (or any Ferengi character) was simply a matter of following [[Armin Shimerman]]'s example.
  +
  +
[[Manny Coto]] has also said, had ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' been given a [[Undeveloped Star Trek: Enterprise episodes#Proposed fifth season episodes|fifth season]], the recurring character of Shran may have joined ''Enterprise'' as an "auxiliary or an advisor". {{el|www.trektoday.com/news/271105_01.shtml}} {{TrekMovie.com|2009/08/10/vegascon09-braga-coto-talk-enterprise-season-5-star-trek-2009-more/}} As of {{y|2018}}, Combs remarked, he never heard of such a proposal. (''"Behind the Masks" panel at Destination Star Trek Birmingham, 21 October 2018'')
   
=== Individual guest appearances ===
+
=== ''Star Trek'' appearances ===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
File:Tiron.jpg|[[Tiron]]<br />{{DS9|Meridian}}
 
File:Tiron.jpg|[[Tiron]]<br />{{DS9|Meridian}}
 
File:Brunt portrait.jpg|[[Brunt]]<br />{{s|4}}<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring character]]
 
File:Weyoun 4.jpg|[[Weyoun 4]]<br />{{DS9|To the Death}}
 
File:Weyoun 4.jpg|[[Weyoun 4]]<br />{{DS9|To the Death}}
 
File:Dukat and Weyoun 5.jpg|[[Weyoun 5]]<br />{{s|4}}<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring character]]
File:Weyoun_prophet.jpg|[[Prophet]]<br />{{DS9|Sacrifice of Angels}}
 
File:Weyoun_hologram3.jpg|[[Weyoun 5#Holograms|Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|Statistical Probabilities}}
+
File:Weyoun prophet.jpg|[[Prophet]]<br />{{DS9|Sacrifice of Angels}}
  +
File:Weyoun hologram3.jpg|[[Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|Statistical Probabilities}}
 
File:Kevin Mulkahey.jpg|[[Kevin Mulkahey]]<br />{{DS9|Far Beyond the Stars}}
 
File:Kevin Mulkahey.jpg|[[Kevin Mulkahey]]<br />{{DS9|Far Beyond the Stars}}
File:Weyoun_hologram2.jpg|[[Weyoun 5#Holograms|Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|Inquisition}}
+
File:Weyoun hologram2.jpg|[[Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|Inquisition}}
File:Weyoun_hologram.jpg|[[Weyoun 5#Holograms|Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight}}
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File:Weyoun hologram.jpg|[[Weyoun (hologram)]]<br />{{DS9|In the Pale Moonlight}}
File:Odo_and_weyoun1.jpg|[[Weyoun 6]]<br />{{DS9|Treachery, Faith and the Great River}}
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File:Odo and Weyoun 6.jpg|[[Weyoun 6]]<br />{{DS9|Treachery, Faith and the Great River}}
 
File:Weyoun 7 and Damar.jpg|[[Weyoun 7]]<br />{{s|4}}<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring character]]
 
File:Brunt (mirror).jpg|[[Brunt (mirror)]]<br />{{DS9|The Emperor's New Cloak}}
 
File:Brunt (mirror).jpg|[[Brunt (mirror)]]<br />{{DS9|The Emperor's New Cloak}}
 
File:Weyoun 8.jpg|[[Weyoun 8]]<br />{{s|4}}<br />[[DS9 recurring characters|Recurring character]]
File:Jeffrey Combs at Vics.jpg|[[Bashir 62 holograms#Farewell Party Guests|Holosuite Guest]]<br />{{DS9|What You Leave Behind}}
+
File:Bashir 62 hologram guest 8.jpg|[[Bashir 62 farewell holograms 001|Holosuite Guest]]<br />{{DS9|What You Leave Behind}}<br />(uncredited)
 
File:Penk.jpg|[[Penk]]<br />{{VOY|Tsunkatse}}
 
File:Penk.jpg|[[Penk]]<br />{{VOY|Tsunkatse}}
 
File:Shran, 2154.jpg|[[Thy'lek Shran]]<br />{{s|6}}<br />[[ENT recurring characters|Recurring character]]
 
File:Krem.jpg|[[Krem]]<br />{{ENT|Acquisition}}
 
File:Krem.jpg|[[Krem]]<br />{{ENT|Acquisition}}
 
File:Talla-Shran.jpg|Thy'lek Shran (hologram)<br />{{ENT|These Are the Voyages...}}
 
File:Talla-Shran.jpg|Thy'lek Shran (hologram)<br />{{ENT|These Are the Voyages...}}
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
==Voice acting credits==
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=== Voice acting credits ===
 
*''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars]]'' as Weyoun
 
*''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars]]'' as Weyoun
*''[[Star Trek: Elite Force II]]'', as Commander Suldok
+
*''[[Star Trek: Elite Force II]]'' as Commander Suldok
  +
*''[[Star Trek Online]]'' as Weyoun and Brunt
   
 
=== Further reading ===
==Trivia==
 
 
* "Jeffrey Combs", {{STTM|1|17|14-16, 18-21}}, September 2000
*After the September 11 terrorist attacks, a "Jeffrey Coombs" (note the spelling) was listed as one of the casualties that day. Combs' fan club and family were deluged with letters and sympathy cards from distraught fans who incorrectly assumed that he had died. Combs quickly moved to reassure fans that he was still alive but was very grateful for their concern and sympathized with the friends and family of Coombs.
 
  +
* {{startrek.com|star-trekundefineds-mr-everywhere-undefined-a-jeffrey-combs-interview-part-1|Star Trek's Mr. Everywhere - A Jeffrey Combs interview, Part 1|article}}
*When interviewed by ''[[Star Trek Monthly]]'' in 1998 about his two recurring roles on ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|DS9]]'', Combs said that he preferred [[Weyoun]] chiefly because he had much more "freedom" to define the character with each appearance, whereas playing [[Brunt]] (or any Ferengi character) was simply a matter of following [[Armin Shimerman]]'s example.
 
  +
* {{startrek.com|star-trekundefineds-mr-everywhere-undefined-jeffrey-combs-interview-part-2|Star Trek's Mr. Everywhere - A Jeffrey Combs interview, Part 2|article}}
*In an interview, [[Manny Coto]] claimed that, had ''Star Trek: Enterprise'' been given a fifth season, Shran would have joined the crew of the starship ''Enterprise'' permanently, making Jeffrey Combs a regular ''Star Trek'' cast member.
 
  +
* {{startrek.com|interview-with-jeffrey-combs-part-1-an|An Interview with Jeffrey Combs - Part 1|watch_video}}
*In his first appearance in ''Star Trek'' (in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|DS9]]'' episode {{e|Meridian}}) Combs' character orders Andorian Ale, while in his last ''Star Trek'' appearance, he plays the [[Andorian]] commander [[Thy'lek Shran|Shran]] in the ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' series finale.
 
  +
* {{startrek.com|interview-with-jeffrey-combs-part-2-an|An Interview with Jeffrey Combs - Part 2|watch_video}}
 
 
* {{broken link|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/firstperson/article/8277.html|text=An Exclusive Interview with Jeffrey Combs}} at [[StarTrek.com]]
== Further reading ==
 
*"Jeffrey Combs", {{STTM|1|17}}, September 2000, pp. 14-16, 18-21
 
   
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.jeffreycombs.com JeffreyCombs.com] - official fan site
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* [http://www.jeffreycombs.com JeffreyCombs.com] &ndash; official site
* {{Wikipedia}}
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* {{wikipedia}}
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* {{imdb|name/nm0001062||external}}
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* {{startrek.com|combs}}
 
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* {{mbeta}}
* {{IMDb-link|page=nm0001062}}
 
* {{broken link|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/firstperson/article/8277.html|text=An Exclusive Interview with Jeffrey Combs}} at [[StarTrek.com]]
 
 
   
 
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Revision as of 18:45, 12 September 2019

Real world article
(written from a Production point of view)

Jeffrey Alan Combs (born 9 September 1954; age 69) is an actor who has the distinction of portraying eight different characters on three Star Trek television series, most notably those of Brunt and the various Weyouns on I AM ERROR and the Andorian Thy'lek Shran on I AM ERROR.

Personal life

Born in Oxnard, California, Combs was raised in Lompoc, California along with many older and younger siblings. He graduated from Lompoc High School in 1972, after which he honed his acting talents at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, California and the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

Career

Films

In 1980, after spending four years performing for regional theater, Combs moved to Los Angeles where he landed roles in the films Whose Life Is It Anyway? and Honky Tonk Freeway, both released in 1981. The latter one starred Teri Garr.

Combs is widely recognized as an actor of science fiction and horror movies. His first experience with both genres came in 1983 when he appeared in the science fiction comedy The Man with Two Brains, a film which also featured fellow Trek guest stars James Cromwell, David Warner, and Earl Boen. A few months later, he was seen in the horror film Frightmare, co-starring Scott Thomson.

Combs has since starred in many movies in the horror and science fiction genres, specifically those based on the works of writer H. P. Lovecraft. His most well-known Lovecraftian role (and, indeed, his most famous film role in general) is that of Dr. Herbert West in the 1985 classic Re-Animator. He reprised this role in two more films, Bride of Re-Animator in 1990 and Beyond Re-Animator in 2003.

Other Lovecraftian films starring Combs include From Beyond (1986, with Ted Sorel) and Lurking Fear (1994, with Vincent Schiavelli). Combs' association with Lovecraft was such that he actually played the author in the 1993 horror anthology Necronomicon, which featured Dennis Christopher, Gary Graham, Richard Lynch, and David Warner. His more recent Lovecraftian work was the television horror thriller The Dunwich Horror (2009, with Dean Stockwell). Combs voiced King Abdul in the animated feature Howard Lovecraft & the Undersea Kingdom (2017) and H.P. Lovecraft himself in the video sequel Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness (2018).

Outside of the Lovecraftian universe, Combs portrayed a Catholic Cleric in the 1991 film The Pit and the Pendulum, also starring Stephen Lee. Combs was further notable for playing the title role of Doctor Mordrid in 1992, on which he co-starred with Brian Thompson. Another notable role is that of crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers in the 1996 horror film, The Frighteners, which co-starred Julianna McCarthy.

Combs' other non-Lovecraftian sci-fi and horror films include Robot Jox (1989, starring Gary Graham), Guyver (1991, with Michael Berryman, Dennis Madalone, Brian Simpson, and Spice Williams), Trancers II (1991, with Richard Lynch), Fortress (1992, co-starring Kurtwood Smith and Tom Towles), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998, along with Bill Cobbs), the remake of House on Haunted Hill (1999, starring Famke Janssen), and Contagion (2002, with Megan Gallagher). More recent horror movie credits include Abominable (2006, in which he co-starred with Matt McCoy and Phil Morris), the remake of The Wizard of Gore (2007, with Brad Dourif), and Dark House (2009, with Diane Salinger and Don Stark).

Combs has of course ventured in other genres besides horror or sci-fi. He played "Dinosaur Bob" in the 1994 thriller Love and a .45 and appeared as Gilroy in the 1995 gangster picture Dillinger and Capone. This latter film co-starred F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Davies, Catherine Hicks, Clint Howard, Bert Remsen, and Time Winters. Combs was also seen in the thriller Felony (1996, co-starring Charles Napier and David Warner), the crime drama Caught Up (1998, with Tony Todd), and the thriller Edmond (2005). Additionally, in 1997, Combs and his DS9 co-stars Rene Auberjonois and Armin Shimerman appeared together in the drama Snide and Prejudice (along with Mick Fleetwood).

Further film work includes the action film Urgency (2010), the fantasy film Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (2012, with Christopher Lloyd), the horror film Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation (2012, with Rhonda Aldrich), the horror film Would You Rather (2012, with Larry Cedar and Bobby C. King), the family comedy Elf-Man (2012), the thriller Favor (2013), the horror film The Penny Dreadful Picture Show (2013, with Sid Haig and Brandon Stacy), the horror comedy Suburban Gothic (2014, with Ray Wise), the family movie Beethoven's Treasure (2014, with Brian George and Patrick Kwok-Choon), the horror comedy Art School of Horrors (2015), the fantasy film Age of Stone and Sky: The Sorcerer Beast (2018), and the horror film Holiday Hell (2018).

He also appeared in the science fiction comedy Unbelievable!!!!! in 2018, which features an almost whole Star Trek cast including Chase Masterson, Garrett Wang, Tim Russ, Nichelle Nichols, Robert Picardo, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Nana Visitor, Walter Koenig, Linda Park, Connor Trinneer, Manu Intiraymi, Dina Meyer, Olivia d'Abo, Julie Warner, Armin Shimerman, John Billingsley, Dominic Keating, Max Grodénchik, Casey Biggs, Brenda Bakke, Patti Yasutake, McKenzie Westmore, Anthony Montgomery, Vaughn Armstrong, Gary Graham, Steve Rankin, Michael Dante, Jack Donner, Michael Forest, Sean Kenney, Gary Lockwood, Barbara Luna, Beverly Washburn, Celeste Yarnall, Bobby Clark, Jasmine Jessica Anthony, Crystal Allen, Menina Fortunato, and Christopher Doohan.

Television

Outside of Star Trek, Combs has made guest appearances on several other television series. In 1987, he appeared on an episode of Beauty and the Beast, starring Ron Perlman. Also in 1987, he was seen on Houston Knights, working with Madlyn Rhue.

Further expanding his science fiction credits, Combs has worked on The Flash (1991, with Dick Miller), Babylon 5 (1994, with Andreas Katsulas, Bill Mumy and David L. Crowley), Perversions of Science (1997, with Jeff Corey, Ron Perlman, and David Warner), and the remake of The Twilight Zone (2003). He also played the recurring role of Kevin Burkhoff on the science fiction series The 4400 (2005-2007).

Other series on which he has appeared include Freddy's Nightmares (1989), Hunter (1991, in an episode with Kenneth Marshall), Life Goes On (1991, with David Graf and Bill Smitrovich), The Single Guy (1996, starring Olivia d'Abo and Mark Moses), Martial Law (2000, with Neal McDonough and T.J. Storm), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2003), and Cold Case (2008).

In 1996, Combs had a role in the television movie Norma Jean & Marilyn. Also starring in this movie were Ashley Judd, Steven Culp, David Drew Gallagher, Alex Henteloff, and John Rubinstein. In 2005, Combs appeared in two made-for-TV horror movies: Voodoo Moon and Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy.

Combs is also a sought-after voice actor, appearing in numerous animated television shows. He has most prominently worked as a voice actor for animation set in the DC Animated Universe, specifically as The Scarecrow in The New Batman Adventures (1997, working on the same episode as Charles Rocket) and The Question in several episodes of Justice League (2004-2006, alongside Clancy Brown, Robert Foxworth, Virginia Madsen, and Charles Napier). He also voiced the Scarecrow for the video game Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003), which also featured Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Loren Lester, and Ron Perlman. Combs voiced the Autobot Ratchet in Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman's Transformers: Prime (2010-2013), Viceroy in Chadam (2010), The Leader in Avengers: World's Mightiest Heroes (2010-2012), Rat King in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-2016), and Ratchet in Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2016-2017).

Further television guest work includes episodes of Thundercats (2012, with Kevin Michael Richardson and Corey Burton), Femme Fatales (2012), Criminal Minds (2014), Ben 10: Omniverse (2014, with Bumper Robinson, Dee Bradley Baker, and Michael Dorn), Gotham (2015, with Becky Ann Baker), Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2015, with Fred Tatasciore and Clancy Brown), Stan Against Evil (2017), and Togtone (2018).

Star Trek

Combs auditioned for the role of William T. Riker on I AM ERROR, but lost the part to Jonathan Frakes. Frakes remembered Combs and cast him as Tiron while directing the I AM ERROR third season episode "Meridian". ("Hidden File 10", DS9 Season 5 DVD special feature)

Combs has since earned himself quite a number of appearances on Star Trek, guest starring in thirty-one episodes of Deep Space Nine, one episode of I AM ERROR, and eleven episodes of I AM ERROR. In "The Dogs of War", Combs played both Weyoun and Brunt, becoming one of only three Star Trek actors ever to play two unrelated characters in the same episode (the others being Patrick Stewart in "The Defector", in which he played both Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Williams, and Brian Markinson in VOY: "Faces", in which he played both Pete Durst and Sulan), and the only one credited for playing both characters in that episode. He did it a second time while playing Weyoun and an unnamed holosuite guest in "What You Leave Behind", the final episode of Deep Space Nine. He has also appeared in two Star Trek series finales: "What You Leave Behind" and "These Are the Voyages...".

He is one of only five actors to play seven or more different characters in the Star Trek franchise, the others being Randy Oglesby, J.G. Hertzler, Vaughn Armstrong, and Thomas Kopache.

The species that he played on Star Trek include three Ferengi, a Vorta, a Norcadian, and an Andorian. He also played an imaginary Human in "Far Beyond the Stars". The name of Tiron's race was never revealed. Combs has said that out of all the Trek roles he has played, Weyoun is his favorite character. [1]

When interviewed in Star Trek Monthly issue 43 in 1998 about his two recurring roles on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Combs said that he preferred Weyoun chiefly because he had much more "freedom" to define the character with each appearance, whereas playing Brunt (or any Ferengi character) was simply a matter of following Armin Shimerman's example.

Manny Coto has also said, had Star Trek: Enterprise been given a fifth season, the recurring character of Shran may have joined Enterprise as an "auxiliary or an advisor". [2] [3] As of 2018, Combs remarked, he never heard of such a proposal. ("Behind the Masks" panel at Destination Star Trek Birmingham, 21 October 2018)

Star Trek appearances

Voice acting credits

Further reading

External links