Performers considered for DS9 roles

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

This is a list of performers who were considered for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine roles, but ultimately did not appear in the role in the final episode or film. Performers listed here have been verified as having been considered by Star Trek personnel for a particular role on Trek in which they ultimately did not appear.

Barbara Alyn Woods

Main article: Barbara Alyn Woods

Barbara Alyn Woods was considered and auditioned for the role of both Kira Nerys and Jadzia Dax. [1] [2] Alyn Woods had previously appeared as Kareen Brianon in TNG: "The Schizoid Man".

Richard Dean Anderson

Richard Dean Anderson was reportedly considered for the role of Commander Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p. 266)

Anderson came to the spotlight for his role of the title character in MacGyver from 1985 to 1992. He later took the role of Jack O'Neill in Stargate SG-1 from 1997 through 2007, Stargate Atlantis from 2004 to 2007 and Stargate Universe from 2009-2010.

Teri Austin

Teri Austin is a Canadian former actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [3]

Austin is best known for her role as Jill Bennett in Knots Landing between 1985 and 1989. She has also appeared in such series as Quantum Leap (starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell), Wings, Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom) and Models, Inc..

James Avery

Main article: James Avery

James Avery was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available due to co-starring in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at the time. [4] Avery later appeared as K'Vagh in ENT: "Affliction" and "Divergence".

Brigitte Bako

Brigitte Bako was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [5]

Bako is a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in such series as Red Shoe Diaries and Californication, and such films as Strange Days (1995). She also lent her voice to such animated shows like Godzilla: The Series and Gargoyles.

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is a multiple award-winning actress, who was considered for the role of Opaka, however she did not do television projects at the time. [6]

Richard Beymer

Main article: Richard Beymer

Richard Beymer was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was busy directing a film at the time. [7] Later, Beymer played Li Nalas in the second season episodes "The Homecoming", "The Circle" and "The Siege".

Lisa Blount

Lisa Blount (1957 - 2010) was an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [8]

Blount appeared in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Cease Fire (1985), and Blind Fury (1989), and series such as Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom), Picket Fences, Cracker (1997, starring Carolyn McCormick and Robert Wisdom, with Kellie Waymire), and Judging Amy (2002, starring Kevin Rahm, with Susan Gibney).

She also played a lead role in Prince of Darkness (1987, co-starring Jessie Lawrence Ferguson).

Jesse Borrego

Jesse Borrego was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [9]

Kim Braden

Main article: Kim Braden

Kim Braden was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [10] Braden is the wife of "Emissary" director David Carson. She had previously appeared as Janet Brooks in TNG: "The Loss", and went on to play Elise Picard in Star Trek Generations, directed by Carson.

Suanne Braun

Suanne Braun auditioned and was initially accepted for the role of Arandis. However, by the time she arrived for her costume fitting, she was informed that Vanessa Williams had expressed interest in the role the night before and had been subsequently cast. [11]

Immediately following, Braun would go on to audition and be accepted for the role of Hathor in Stargate SG-1.

Claude Brooks

Claude Brooks was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [12]

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in doing a television series at the time. [13]

Brosnan is most famous for Remington Steele and for playing James Bond in four films, including GoldenEye (1995) with Famke Janssen, and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997, with Teri Hatcher, Michelle Yeoh and Vincent Schiavelli).

Clancy Brown

Main article: Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available due to back surgery at the time. [14] A decade later, Brown appeared as Zobral in ENT: "Desert Crossing".

Ron Canada

Main article: Ron Canada

Ron Canada was considered and auditioned for the role of Martok (or technically the Changeling impersonating Martok) in "The Way of the Warrior". He impressed casting directors enough to earn a second, and was called at home and given feedback for his callback by Ronald D. Moore. Ultimately, however, the role went to J.G. Hertzler, a former roommate of his. Later that season, Canada would appear as Ch'Pok, another Klingon, in "Rules of Engagement". [15]

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [16] [17]

Capaldi is a Scottish actor, most famous for playing the Twelfth Doctor Doctor Who from 2013 to 2017. He also played spin doctor Malcom Tucker in The Thick of It from 2005 to 2012. He also appeared in films such as Bean (1997, with Harris Yulin, Danny Goldring and Larry Drake), Max (2002), In the Loop (2009), and The Fifth Estate (2013, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, with Alexander Siddig).

Bernie Casey

Main article: Bernie Casey

Bernie Casey was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266) He later appeared as Calvin Hudson in two episodes of DS9.

Kim Cattrall

• See: Kim Cattrall

Lanei Chapman

Main article: Lanei Chapman

Lanei Chapman was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [18] Chapman had previously appeared as Ensign Sariel Rager in TNG: "Galaxy's Child", "Night Terrors", "Relics" and "Schisms".

Morris Chestnut

Morris Chestnut was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [19]

Claudia Christian

• See: Claudia Christian

Doran Clark

Doran Clark is an American actress who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [20]

Clark has appeared in several series in guest roles, such as MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom), Quantum Leap (starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell), and Chicago Hope.

Scott Coffey

Scott Coffey was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [21]

Jeff Conaway

Jeff Conaway was reportedly approached for an unspecified guest role on either Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or Star Trek: Voyager, but declined. Conaway mentions the offer in the DVD audio commentary for the Babylon 5 TV movie Babylon 5: Thirdspace. Conaway was a series regular as Security Chief Zack Allan on the Babylon 5 series, along with Andreas Katsulas, Bill Mumy, Patricia Tallman, Robert Rusler and Tracy Scoggins. He also reprised the role in Thirdspace (which co-starred Clyde Kusatsu), River of Souls (with Joel Brooks), and A Call to Arms (with Tony Todd). Conaway is best known for his role as Kenicke in Grease (1978) and as taxi-driver/struggling actor Bobby Wheeler on Taxi (with Christopher Lloyd and Carol Kane).

Sean Connery

• See: Sean Connery

James Cromwell

Main article: James Cromwell

James Cromwell was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [22] Cromwell had previously appeared as Nayrok in TNG: "The Hunted". He went on to play Jaglom Shrek in TNG: "Birthright, Part I" and "Birthright, Part II", Hanok in DS9: "Starship Down", and Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact, ENT: "Broken Bow" and LD: "Grounded".

Mary Crosby

Main article: Mary Crosby

Mary Crosby was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [23] Crosby later appeared as Natima Lang in "Profit and Loss".

Ben Cross

Main article: Ben Cross

Ben Cross was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [24] Cross later went on to portray Sarek in Star Trek.

Melinda Culea

Main article: Melinda Culea

Melinda Culea was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [25] Culea had previously appeared as Soren in TNG: "The Outcast".

Liane Curtis

Liane Curtis is an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [26]

Curtis started her career as a child actress at the age of 4, and subsequently appeared in films such as Sixteen Candles (1983), The Brother from Another Planet (1984, starring Joe Morton, with Bill Cobbs and Tom Wright), and Benny & Joon (1993), and series such as Married... with Children and ER.

Stephen Davies

Main article: Stephen Davies

Stephen Davies was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [27] Davies went on to play the Saratoga Tactical officer in "Emissary", Arak'Taral in "Hippocratic Oath", and Nakahn in VOY: "Darkling".

Elizabeth Dennehy

Main article: Elizabeth Dennehy

Elizabeth Dennehy was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [28] Dennehy had previously appeared as Elizabeth Shelby in TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds" and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II".

Cliff DeYoung

Main article: Cliff DeYoung

Cliff DeYoung was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [29] DeYoung later appeared as Croden in "Vortex".

Susan Diol

• See: Susan Diol

Tate Donovan

Tate Donovan was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [30]

Michael Dorn

Main article: Michael Dorn

Michael Dorn was to appear as mirror universe Worf in "Crossover". The schedule conflicted with the filming of TNG. [31]

Less than two years later, Dorn became a regular on the series and he finally played the character in "Shattered Mirror" and "The Emperor's New Cloak".

Maria Doyle

Maria Doyle Kennedy in an Irish singer and actress, who was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she was not available due to music commitments at the time. [32]

Doyle is best known for her television roles in such series as Father Ted (1998), The Tudors (2007-10), Downtown Abbey (2011), and Orphan Black (2013-17).

Marta Dubois

Main article: Marta Dubois

Marta Dubois was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [33] Dubois had previously appeared as Ardra in TNG: "Devil's Due".

Kurt Deutsch

Kurt Deutsch was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [34]

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall was considered for the role of Opaka. [35]

Samantha Eggar

Main article: Samantha Eggar

Samantha Eggar was considered for the role of Opaka. [36] Eggar has previously appeared as Marie Picard in TNG: "Family".

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in doing a television series at the time. [37]

Fishburne is most famous for playing Morpheus in The Matrix (1999) and its two sequels and Doctor Raymond Langston in three seasons of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (co-starring Paul Guilfoyle, Wallace Langham and Liz Vassey). He also appeared in such films as King of New York (1991, co-starring Christopher Walken), Boyz n the Hood (1991, with Angela Bassett), and Man of Steel (2013).

Michelle Forbes

Main article: Michelle Forbes

Michelle Forbes was originally planned to reprise her role as Ro Laren in the series, turning the character into a regular (possibly the first officer of Deep Space 9). Forbes turned down the offer, and the character became the basis for Kira Nerys. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

As Forbes explained: "It was, again, about wanting variety in my career. If I'd gone on to do DS9, I might not have had the variety I've been lucky to have in my career. That's not to say I wasn't grateful for the opportunity; I genuinely was. However, I had to make a choice that felt right for me, which was a difficult one, especially as a young actor being offered a steady job." (TV Zone Magazine, January 2005)

John Fleck

Main article: John Fleck

John Fleck was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [38] Fleck had previously appeared as Taibak in TNG: "The Mind's Eye". He later went on to play a Cardassian overseer in DS9: "The Homecoming", Ornithar in DS9: "The Search, Part I", Koval in DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", Abaddon in VOY: "Alice", and finally landed in the recurring role of Silik in Star Trek: Enterprise.

Meg Foster

Main article: Meg Foster

Meg Foster was considered for the role of Opaka. [39] Foster later appeared as Onaya in "The Muse".

Robert Foxworth

Main article: Robert Foxworth

Robert Foxworth auditioned for a guest role in "Hippocratic Oath" (most likely as Goran'Agar). (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 299) He would be cast later in the season as Leyton in the two-part "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", as well as V'Las in the Star Trek: Enterprise season four episodes "The Forge", "Awakening" and "Kir'Shara".

Don Franklin

Don Franklin was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [40]

John Glover

Main article: John Glover

John Glover was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [41] Glover later went on to play Verad Dax in "Invasive Procedures".

Whoopi Goldberg

Main article: Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg was approached to do a cameo as Guinan in "Rivals" (where Martus Mazur would be revealed to be her wayward son), but had to turn it down as it conflicted with the filming of other projects (Goldberg also did not appear in any Next Generation episodes in the 1993-94 season). All references to Guinan were then removed from the episode's script. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 109)

Barry Gordon

Main article: Barry Gordon

Barry Gordon was considered and auditioned for the role of Quark. [42] Gordon later appeared as Nava in "The Nagus" and Ardon Broht in VOY: "Author, Author".

Robert Goulet

Robert Goulet was a Canadian singer and actor, who was approached to play Vic Fontaine after Frank Sinatra, Jr. turned down the role. He also passed on the offer. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 563)

James Darren was the final choice to play both prime universe Vic Fontaine, and his mirror universe counterpart in "The Emperor's New Cloak".

Goulet played a variety roles in film and television, including the TV-movie version of the musicals Brigadoon (1966), Carousel (1967), and Kiss Me Kate (1968), and appearances on such series as Mission: Impossible, Fantasy Island (starring Ricardo Montalban), The Love Boat, and Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom). He also appeared in movies like Beetlejuice (1988, with Winona Ryder) and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991, with Peter Mark Richman, Tim O'Connor and John Fleck). Goulet provided his singing voice for Toy Story 2 (2000), which also featured the voices of Wallace Shawn and Kelsey Grammer.

Gary Graham

Main article: Gary Graham

Faye Grant

Faye Grant was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she turned down the offer. [43]

Grant is an American actress best known for her role as Julie Parrish in the 1983 science fiction miniseries V and its follow-ups, V: The Final Battle (1984) and V: The Series (1984-85). Grant was married to Star Trek: The Motion Picture actor Stephen Collins between 1985 and 2015.

Bruce Greenwood

Main article: Bruce Greenwood

Bruce Greenwood was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [44] Greenwood later went on to play Christopher Pike in Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Max Grodénchik

Main article: Max Grodénchik

Max Grodénchik was considered and auditioned for the role of Quark. [45] Grodénchik was eventually cast in the recurring role of Quark's brother, Rom. He had previously appeared as Sovak in TNG: "Captain's Holiday" and Par Lenor in TNG: "The Perfect Mate".

Ronald Guttman

Main article: Ronald Guttman

Ronald Guttman was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [46] Guttman later appeared as Gathorel Labin in VOY: "Prime Factors".

Martha Hackett

Main article: Martha Hackett

Martha Hackett auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax, but lost out to Terry Farrell. ("Behind the Masks" panel at Destination Star Trek Birmingham, 21 October 2018) She was subsequently cast as Androna in the final Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "All Good Things...", only to have her scene cut from the episode. Nevertheless, she was cast on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, months later as the T'Rul in "The Search, Part I" and "The Search, Part II". Soon after, she was approached for yet another role, this time on Star Trek: Voyager, in the role of the treacherous Seska.

Molly Hagan

Main article: Molly Hagan

Molly Hagan was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was unavailable at the time due to co-starring in Herman's Head [47] Hagan later appeared as Eris in "The Jem'Hadar".

Hagan was due to reprise her role as Eris both in "The Search, Part II" and "The Ship", but she was unavailable both times.

Charles Hallahan

Charles Hallahan was a veteran character actor who was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [48]

Five years later, he had been cast to play Liam Bilby in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Honor Among Thieves". He and actor Nick Tate were both up for the role, but director Allan Eastman (who had suggested Tate for the role) and producer Ira Steven Behr (who suggested Hallahan) chose Hallahan due to his resemblance to Miles O'Brien actor Colm Meaney, which they believed would give the characters a father-son quality to them. Sadly, Hallahan died of a heart attack before production began, and Tate assumed the role in Hallahan's memory. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 541; Find a Grave entry)

Hallahan is best known for his role in The Thing (1982). His other film credits include Silkwood (1983), Pale Rider (1985), Fatal Beauty (1987, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Harris Yulin), True Believer (1989), Dave (1993, with Frank Langella, Parley Baer, Stefan Gierasch, Stephen Root, Dawn Arnemann, Dendrie Taylor, Paul Collins, Peter White, Robin Gammell, Dan Butler, Tory Christopher and Pam Pruitt-McGeary), Stuart Baird's Executive Decision (1996, with Joe Morton, Andreas Katsulas, Ken Jenkins, Warren Munson, Brad Blaisdell, Tim Kelleher, Richard Riehle, Eugene Roche and Dey Young). and Dante's Peak (1997). He also made guest appearances on shows like Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote, and NYPD Blue and had recurring roles on Hunter, The Paper Chase, and Grace Under Fire.

Jerry Hardin

Main article: Jerry Hardin

Jerry Hardin was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [49] Hardin had previously appeared as Radue in TNG: "When The Bough Breaks" and as Samuel Clemens in TNG: "Time's Arrow" and "Time's Arrow, Part II". He later appeared as Neria in VOY: "Emanations".

Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [50]

Hargitay is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actress, best known for playing Detective Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999, with Michelle Hurd in the first two seasons.

Roxanne Hart

Roxanne Hart was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, however, she turned down the offer. [51]

Hart is an American actress, best known for Highlander (1986), which co-starred Clancy Brown, and her role as Nurse Camille Shutt in Chicago Hope (1994-98, co-starring Jayne Brook).

Teri Hatcher

Main article: Teri Hatcher

Teri Hatcher was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she turned the offer down. [52] Hatcher had previously appeared as the uncredited B.G. Robinson in TNG: "The Outrageous Okona".

Jennifer Hetrick

Main article: Jennifer Hetrick

Jennifer Hetrick was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [53] Hetrick had previously played Vash in TNG: "Captain's Holiday" and TNG: "Qpid", and went on to reprise the role in "Q-Less".

Leslie Hope

Main article: Leslie Hope

Leslie Hope was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [54] Hope later appeared as Kira Meru in "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night".

Jana Marie Hupp

Main article: Jana Marie Hupp

Jana Marie Hupp was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [55] Hupp had previously played Pavlik in TNG: "Galaxy's Child" and Monroe in TNG: "Disaster".

Famke Janssen

Main article: Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen was offered the role of Jadzia Dax but turned it down, wanting to focus on a film career rather than television. She had previously played Kamala in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Perfect Mate". The role of Jadzia Dax eventually went to Terry Farrell. Interestingly the forehead ridges seen on Trill in "The Host" were discarded in favor of spots similar ones seen on Kamala. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 7)

Salome Jens

Main article: Salome Jens

Salome Jens was considered for the role of Opaka. [56] Jens later appeared as an Ancient humanoid in TNG: "The Chase", and was eventually cast in the recurring role of the Female Changeling from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's third season onward.

James Earl Jones

James Earl Jones (1931-2024) was among the final few actors considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, but eventually the role went to Avery Brooks. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. ?)

During a career which spanned more than seventy years, Jones appeared in numerous film and television projects. He is probably most famous for voicing the character of Darth Vader (played by David Prowse) in the original Star Wars trilogy and subsequent films and video games – a role which in the radio dramatizations of the films was handled by Brock Peters, who, in fact, played Joseph Sisko during DS9's run. He also lent his voice to the acclaimed animated feature The Lion King (1994), which also featured the voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Madge Sinclair, Frank Welker and Brian Tochi. In live-action, Jones played the first African-American president in The Man (1972), which was directed by Joseph Sargent and also featured William Windom, Barry Russo, Garry Walberg, Vince Howard and music by Jerry Goldsmith. His other feature film credits include Swashbuckler (1976, with Sid Haig and directed by James Goldstone), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977, with Louise Fletcher), Coming to America (1988, starring Eddie Murphy, with Madge Sinclair), Three Fugitives (1989, with Alan Ruck, Bruce McGill and Brian Thompson), The Hunt for Red October (1990, starring Sean Connery, with Gates McFadden and Daniel Davis), Patriot Games (1992, with music by James Horner) and Sommersby (1993, with William Windom). His television credits include guest roles in series such as L.A. Law (starring Corbin Bernsen), Stargate SG-1, and Homicide: Life on the Streets (starring Michelle Forbes). He also appeared in miniseries such as Jesus of Nazareth (1977, with Christopher Plummer) and Roots: The Next Generations (with Percy Rodrigues, Jason Wingreen, Brock Peters, Paul Winfield, Logan Ramsey, Bill Quinn, Patricia Smith, music by Gerald Fried, and partially directed by John Erman).

Leilani Jones

Leilani Jones was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [57]

Jones is an accomplished stage actress and singer, whose Broadway credits include the musical Grind, for which she won a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She is also a voice actress, whose credits include such the popular Monkey Island computer game series.

Renée Jones

Main article: Renée Jones

Renée Jones was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [58] Jones later appeared as Aquiel Uhnari in TNG: "Aquiel".

Andreas Katsulas

Main article: Andreas Katsulas

Andreas Katsulas was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [59] Katsulas had previously appeared as Commander Tomalak in TNG: "The Defector" and "Future Imperfect", and later reprised the role in "All Good Things...". He later also appeared as Drennik in ENT: "Cogenitor".

Jack Kehler

Main article: Jack Kehler

Jack Kehler was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [60] Kehler later appeared as Jaheel in "Babel".

Brian Krause

Brian Krause was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [61]

Clyde Kusatsu

Main article: Clyde Kusatsu

Clyde Kusatsu was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [62] In an interview, Kusatsu claimed he had been auditioned for the role of Quark. [63]

Kusatsu had previously appeared as Nakamura in TNG: "The Measure Of A Man". He later reprised the role in TNG: "Phantasms" and TNG: "All Good Things...".

Eriq La Salle

• See: Eriq La Salle

Ed Lauter

Main article: Ed Lauter

Ed Lauter was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [64] Lauter had previously appeared as Lieutenant commander Albert in TNG: "The First Duty".

Sheryl Lee

Sheryl Lee was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was deemed too expensive for the series' budget. [65]

German-born Lee is most famous for portraying Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990-91) and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). She later appeared in films such as Backbeat (1994), Mother Night (1997) and series such as One Tree Hill and Desperate Housewives (starring Teri Hatcher).

Ted Levine

Ted Levine was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [66]

Levine is most famous for portraying the serial killer "Buffalo Bill" in The Silence of the Lambs (1991, featuring Charles Napier), and Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in Monk (with Stanley Kamel) from 2002 to 2009. He also appeared in Moby Dick (1998, starring Patrick Stewart as Captain Ahab) and in films such as Flubber (1997, starring Robin Williams, with Christopher McDonald, Wil Wheaton and Clancy Brown), Wild Wild West (1999), Ali (2001, Jon Voight, with LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Joe Morton and Albert Hall), American Gangster (2007), and Shutter Island (2010).

Kamala Lopez-Dawson

Main article: Kamala Lopez-Dawson

Kamala Lopez-Dawson was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [67] She later appeared as Tincoo in VOY: "Virtuoso".

Charles Lucia

Main article: Charles Lucia

Charles Lucia was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [68] Lucia had previously appeared as Ves Alkar in TNG: "Man Of The People", and later went on to play Mabus in VOY: "Alliances", and Keene in ENT: "Fortunate Son".

Franc Luz

Main article: Franc Luz

Franc Luz was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [69] Luz had previously played Odan in TNG: "The Host".

Stephen Macht

• See: Stephen Macht

Chase Masterson

Main article: Chase Masterson

Chase Masterson auditioned for the role of Jake Sisko's girlfriend Mardah in "The Abandoned". Actor Avery Brooks, who was directing the episode, did not find their age difference between her and Cirroc Lofton plausible as a love interest for Jake.(Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 238) Nevertheless, producers liked Masterson's playful performance enough that they would later bring back as another Bajoran dabo girl and love interest, Leeta, who, unlike the single-appearance Mardah, recurred in seventeen episodes over five seasons.

Jeff McCarthy

Main article: Jeff McCarthy

Jeff McCarthy was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [70] McCarthy had previously appeared as Roga Danar in TNG: "The Hunted", and went on to play the ill-fated Chief Medical Officer in VOY: "Caretaker".

Roddy McDowall

• See: Roddy McDowall

Malcolm McDowell

Main article: Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell wanted to play a role on Deep Space Nine. He only wanted to appear in an episode directed by his nephew, Alexander Siddig, and after his appearance as Doctor Tolian Soran in Star Trek Generations, he would have needed to play an alien, which he did not want to do. ^{(citation needed • edit)}

Bruce McGill

Main article: Bruce McGill

Bruce McGill was considered for the role of Odo, however, he was not available due to filming a project titled Smouldering Lust at the time. [71] Later, McGill appeared as Braxton in VOY: "Relativity".

Stephen McHattie

Main article: Stephen McHattie

Stephen McHattie was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [72] McHattie later appeared as Senator Vreenak in "In the Pale Moonlight", and as an Alien foreman in ENT: "The Xindi".

Kate McNeil

Main article: Kate McNeil

Kate McNeil was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however, she was unavailable at the time due to co-starring in the series Bodies of Evidence.[73] McNeil later appeared as Commander Collins in ENT: "Affliction".

Eric Menyuk

• See: Eric Menyuk

Tracy Middendorf

Main article: Tracy Middendorf

Tracy Middendorf also auditioned for the role of Mardah in "The Abandoned" (Cinefantastique, vol. 28, no. 4/5, p. 63) though Jill Sayre ultimately won the role. Middendorf would later become the second of three actresses to play Tora Ziyal, appearing once in "For the Cause".

Katherine Moffat

Main article: Katherine Moffat

Katherine Moffat was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [74] Moffat had previously appeared as Etana in TNG: "The Game", and later went on to play Vaatrik Pallra in DS9: "Necessary Evil".

Cathy Moriarty

Cathy Moriarty was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she was not interested in doing a television series at the time. [75]

Moriarty is an Academy Award-nominated actress, best known for starring in Raging Bull (1980), and also appearing in such films as Neighbors (1981), Kindergarten Cop (1990, featuring Jayne Brook), The Mambo Kings (1992), Matinee (1993, featuring Robert Picardo, William Schallert and Dick Miller), Casper (1995), and Analyze That (2002). She also appeared in such series as Tales from the Crypt and Law & Order.

Phil Morris

Main article: Phil Morris

Phil Morris was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [76] Morris had previously appeared as an Only boy in TOS: "Miri", and Foster in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and later went on to play Thopok in DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places", Remata'Klan in DS9: "Rocks and Shoals", and John Kelly in VOY: "One Small Step".

Tim Blake Nelson

Tim Blake Nelson is the American actor, writer and director who auditioned for the role of Quark. Nelson thought the role was a natural fit for him, asserting that he "basically [is] a Ferengi." The part went to Armin Shimerman, which Nelson claimed left him "heartbroken." He began finding steady film work years later with directors such as Joel and Ethan Coen who, according to Nelson, were looking for "Human Ferengis." As Nelson stated, his "Ferengi career came, it just came later." [77]

Nelson first achieved recognition for his role as Delmar in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000, starring Holly Hunter). He has since had supporting roles in Minority Report, (2002, starring Max von Sydow, with Patrick Kilpatrick, Neal McDonough, and George D. Wallace), Holes (with Eric Pierpoint, Jeff Ricketts, and Rick Worthy), Syriana (with Alexander Siddig, Christopher Plummer, Robert Foxworth, and David Clennon), The Astronaut Farmer (starring Virginia Madsen), and 2008's The Incredible Hulk. He has also written and directed such films as 2001's The Grey Zone (based on his own play) and Leaves of Grass (for which he cast Josh Pais). In 2019, Nelson starred in Watchmen.

Sandra Nelson

Main article: Sandra Nelson

Sandra Nelson was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [78] Nelson later appeared as Marayna in VOY: "Alter Ego" and as Tavana in DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire".

David Newsom

David Newsom was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [79]

Julia Nickson

Main article: Julia Nickson

Julia Nickson was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was unavailable at the time due to filming a project titled Genghis Kahn.[80] Nickson has previously appeared as Lian T'Su in The Next Generation episode "The Arsenal of Freedom" and later went on to play Cassandra in the Deep Space Nine episode "Paradise".

Natalia Nogulich

Main article: Natalia Nogulich

Natalia Nogulich was considered for the role of Opaka. [81] Nogulich was later cast as Alynna Nechayev in several episodes of both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Michael Nunez, Jr.

Michael Nunez, Jr. was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [82]

Tricia O'Neil

Main article: Tricia O'Neil

Tricia O'Neil was considered for the role of Opaka. [83] O'Neil had previously played Rachel Garrett in TNG: "Yesterday's Enterprise". She later appeared as Kurak in TNG: "Suspicions" and as Korinas in DS9: "Defiant".

Terry O'Quinn

Main article: Terry O'Quinn

Terry O'Quinn was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in science fiction projects at the time. [84] Later, O'Quinn appeared as Erik Pressman in TNG: "The Pegasus".

Ed O'Ross

Main article: Ed O'Ross

Ed O'Ross was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [85] O'Ross later appeared as Gaavrin in ENT: "Bounty".

Corey Parker

Corey Parker was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [86]

Eric Pierpoint

Main article: Eric Pierpoint

Eric Pierpoint was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [87] Pierpoint later appeared as Voval in TNG: "Liaisons", Sanders in DS9: "For the Uniform", Kortar in VOY: "Barge of the Dead", Shiraht in ENT: "Rogue Planet", and Harris in ENT: "Affliction", "Divergence", "Demons", and "Terra Prime".

Glenn Plummer

Glenn Plummer was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [88]

Jon Polito

Jon Polito was considered for the role of Quark, however, he turned the offer down. [89] ^{(citation needed • edit)} Polito was a prolific character actors in both films and television, often playing policemen, such as Detective Steve Corsetti in Homicide: Life on the Street, which co-starred Michelle Forbes. He appeared in five films by the Coen brothers, including Miller's Crossing (1990) and The Big Lebowski (1998) (co-starring David Huddleston).

Iggy Pop

Main article: Iggy Pop

Iggy Pop was approached to play Grady in "Past Tense, Part II", but he was unavailable due to a music tour in Spain. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 200) Ira Steven Behr, a fan of his work, pushed Iggy Pop to be cast for a role in the series, which resulted in him getting to play Yelgrun in "The Magnificent Ferengi" three years later.

James Read

Main article: James Read

James Read was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [90] Read later appeared as Jaffen in VOY: "Workforce" and "Workforce, Part II".

Richard Riehle

Main article: Richard Riehle

Richard Riehle was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [91] Riehle had previously appeared as Batai in TNG: "The Inner Light", and went on to play Seamus in VOY: "Fair Haven" and "Spirit Folk", and Doctor Jeremy Lucas in ENT: "Cold Station 12" and "The Augments".

Charles Rocket

Main article: Charles Rocket

Charles Rocket was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [92] Rocket later appeared as Jippeq in VOY: "The Disease".

Andrew Robinson

Main article: Andrew J. Robinson

Andrew J. Robinson originally auditioned for the role of Odo, and was briefly considered for the role of Laas in "Chimera", before they ultimately decided on J.G. Hertzler for the part. The creative staff thought Robinson's voice was unmistakable, and fans of Garak were very protective of the character, and wouldn't allow Robinson to play another role. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 657)

Stephen Root

Main article: Stephen Root

Stephen Root was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [93] Root had previously appeared as Captain K'Vada in TNG: "Unification II" and TNG: "Unification I".

William Sadler

Main article: William Sadler

William Sadler was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [94] Sadler later went on to portray Luther Sloan in "Inquisition", "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", and "Extreme Measures".

Carolyn Seymour

Main article: Carolyn Seymour

Carolyn Seymour was considered for the role of Opaka. [95] Seymour has previously appeared as Taris in TNG: "Contagion" and as Mirasta Yale in TNG: "First Contact". She was last cast as Toreth in TNG: "Face Of The Enemy" and as Mrs. Templeton in VOY: "Cathexis" and VOY: "Persistence of Vision".

Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen is the multiple award-winning American actor, who was originally considered for the role of Luther Sloan in "Inquisition" and consequent episodes. Producers finally chose William Sadler for the part. As Ira Steven Behr explained, "We needed someone who had real power as an actor, who could keep you from jumping to a final conclusion about his character." (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 553)

Since the early 1960s, Sheen has established himself as a successful actor in both film and television. One of his earliest credits is "Nightmare", a 1963 episode of The Outer Limits, directed by John Erman, written and produced by Joseph Stefano and featuring Willard Sage, Whit Bissell, David Frankham, Bernard Kates, John Anderson, and Vic Perrin as the Control Voice. Also, Fred B. Phillips provided make-ups for the series, while Robert H. Justman served as first assistant director. His other television credits include episodes of Mission: Impossible (1969, with Dick Dial and John Crawford), Hawaii Five-O (1970 twice, starring Jack Lord, latter with Diana Muldaur), The F.B.I. (including "A Second Life", directed by Ralph Senensky and featuring George Sawaya, "Condemned" with James B. Sikking and "The Dynasty" with Ian Wolfe), Medical Center (1970 & 1973, starring James Daly, former with Marj Dusay), Columbo, and Two and a Half Men. In 1998 Sheen starred in Babylon 5: The River of Souls. This telefilm also featured Tracy Scoggins. Sheen's most famous television role is that of President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing, which ran from 1999 to 2006.

In feature films, Sheen has appeared in numerous acclaimed projects, including Apocalypse Now (1979, starring Marlon Brando), The Final Countdown (1980), Gandhi (1982), David Cronenberg's The Dead Zone (1983, with Anthony Zerbe), Wall Street (1987, with Lauren Tom, Paul Guilfoyle, Saul Rubinek and Jeff Rector), Gettysburg (1993, with W. Morgan Sheppard), Dillinger and Capone (1995, with F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Davies, Catherine Hicks, Jeffrey Combs, Clint Howard, and Bert Remsen), Catch Me If You Can (2002, with Thomas Kopache and Malachi Throne), and The Departed (2006, with Mark Rolston).

Sheen has also branched out into video games with his portrayal of the Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2 (2010) and Mass Effect 3 (2012), which also featured the voices of Jennifer Hale, Raphael Sbarge, Robin Sachs, Keith Szarabajka, Michael Dorn, Armin Shimerman and Dwight Schultz.

Gregory Sierra

Main article: Gregory Sierra

Gregory Sierra was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [96] Sierra later appeared as Entek in "Second Skin".

Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Frank Sinatra, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, conductor and occasional actor, the son of Frank Sinatra. He was originally approached to play Vic Fontaine during the fourth season, after he turned out to be a fan of the show. Despite finding the role interesting, Sinatra turned it down, saying he only wanted to play an alien character. Finally the role went to James Darren. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, p. 562)

Sinatra is best known as a vocalist and composer, who worked as his father's musical director and conductor from 1988. He also performed successfully with his own acts, touring thirty countries as early as 1968. Alongside his musical career, he occasionally appeared in film and television, including A Man Called Adam (1966, directed by Leo Penn), Zebra Force (1976, featuring Charles Dierkop and Anthony Caruso) and episodes of The Dean Martin Comedy Hour, Mercus Welby, M.D., and The Love Boat. He also voiced himself in three episodes of Seth MacFarlane's Family Guy.

Kurtwood Smith

Main article: Kurtwood Smith

Kurtwood Smith was considered for the role of Odo, however, he did not want to play a role requiring special makeup prosthetics. [97]

Interestingly enough, Smith later appeared in "Things Past" as the Cardassian Thrax, wearing prosthetic makeup and playing the predecessor of Odo as security chief of Terok Nor. Smith also played the Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (in which he shared scenes with Rene Auberjonois), and Annorax in VOY: "Year of Hell" and VOY: "Year of Hell, Part II".

Rebecca Staab

Rebecca Staab was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [98]

Staab is a former beauty queen, model and actress, known for her roles in such series as Guiding Light, Wonder Years and The Young and the Restless. She also played The Invisible Girl in the 1994 Roger Corman version of The Fantastic Four.

Adam Storke

Adam Storke was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [99]

Brenda Strong

Main article: Brenda Strong

Brenda Strong was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [100] Strong had previously appeared as Rashella in TNG: "When The Bough Breaks".

Cali Timmins

Cali Timmins was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [101]

Timmins is a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in Ryan's Hope and Another World. She also appeared in guest roles in such series as Walker, Texas Ranger, Frasier (starring Kelsey Grammer), and Highlander: The Series.

Hallie Todd

Main article: Hallie Todd

Hallie Todd was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [102] Todd had previously appeared as Lal in TNG: "The Offspring".

Tony Todd

Main article: Tony Todd

Tony Todd was one of the original actors considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko but was beat out by Avery Brooks. [103]

Besides appearing as Worf's brother Kurn in episodes of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, Todd played Sisko's son, Jake in "The Visitor". He also appeared later as a Hirogen in "Prey". He also provided his voice for a number of Star Trek video games.

Liz Vassey

Main article: Liz Vassey

Liz Vassey was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. [104] Vassey had previously appeared as Kristin in TNG: "Conundrum".

John Vickery

Main article: John Vickery

John Vickery was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [105] Vickery had previously appeared as Andrus Hagan in TNG: "Night Terrors", and later went on to play Gul Rusot in DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil", "When It Rains...", and "Tacking Into the Wind", and Orak in ENT: "Judgment".

Chuck Wagner

Chuck Wagner claimed that he auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266)

Robert Walker

Main article: Robert Walker

Robert Walker was approached in 1997 by the producers for a role on the sixth season of Deep Space Nine. He turned down the offer, as he was "not interested in renewing his acting career." (AOL chat, 1997)

Basil Wallace

Main article: Basil Wallace

Basic Wallace was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [106] Wallace had previously appeared as a Klingon guard in TNG: "Reunion".

Dylan Walsh

Dylan Walsh was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. [107]

Gwynyth Walsh

Main article: Gwynyth Walsh

Gwynyth Walsh was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [108] Walsh had previously played B'Etor in TNG: "Redemption" and TNG: "Redemption II". She went on to reprise the role in DS9: "Past Prologue", TNG: "Firstborn", and Star Trek Generations. Later, she also appeared as Chief Examiner Nimira in VOY: "Random Thoughts".

Sydney Walsh

Sydney Walsh is an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. [109]

Walsh has appeared in films such as 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990) and Point Break (1991), and in television series such as T. J. Hooker (starring William Shatner, James Darren and Richard Herd), Melrose Place, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (starring Teri Hatcher), ER, and Crossing Jordan.

David Warner

Main article: David Warner

David Warner was approached by the producers for the role of Akorem Laan in "Accession". According to Ira Steven Behr, Warner wanted to do the role, but his wife talked him out of it, as they were on a vacation. (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages)

Previously Warner played three roles in Star Trek: St. John Talbot in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Gorkon in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and Madred in TNG: "Chain Of Command, Part I" and "Part II".

Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266)

Edward Wiley

Main article: Edward Wiley

Edward Wiley was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. [110] Wiley had previously appeared as Vagh in TNG: "The Mind's Eye", and later played Toran in DS9: "Profit and Loss".

Barbara Williams

Main article: Barbara Williams

Barbara Williams was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she turned down the offer. [111] Williams later appeared as Anna in TNG: "Liaisons".

Fred Williamson

Main article: Fred Williamson

Fred Williamson was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [112] Williamson had previously appeared as Anka in TOS: "The Cloud Minders".

Ray Wise

Main article: Ray Wise

Ray Wise was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available at the time. [113] Wise had previously played Liko in TNG: "Who Watches The Watchers", and later went on to play Arturis in VOY: "Hope and Fear".

Tom Wright

Main article: Tom Wright

Tom Wright was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. [114] Wright later went on to play Tuvix in VOY: "Tuvix", and Ghrath in ENT: "Storm Front".