Rees Vaughn (23 February 1935 – 6 February 2010; age 74) was the actor who played Latimer in the Star Trek: The Original Series first season episode "The Galileo Seven".
Vaughn was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania and graduated from Berwick Area High School in 1953. He earned a Bachelor of Science in philosophy from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he also minored in drama. He then moved to New York City, where he studied acting and performed in off-Broadway productions. Following a brief stint in the US Army, during which he served in Germany, Vaughn headed to Los Angeles to continue his acting career.
He made his television debut in 1962, appearing in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode "The Big Kick", written by Robert Bloch. He subsequently appeared on such programs as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (including an episode with Rex Holman, Joseph Ruskin, and Lawrence Tierney), Wagon Train (in an episode written by Gene L. Coon and featuring Brian Keith), The Virginian (working with Paul Carr and Paul Comi), 12 O'Clock High (with Frank Overton, Harry Townes, and Anthony Zerbe), and the long-running CBS western Gunsmoke.
Vaughn's sole feature film credit is 1965's The Playground, in which he had the lead role. His last on-screen work was in the 1970 TV movie House on Greenapple Road, which also featured Tim O'Connor, Paul Fix, Joanne Linville, Ned Romero, and William Windom. His appearance on Star Trek was his final episodic television work.
After House on Greensapple Road, Vaughn left acting and returned to school, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. He received certification as a teacher and, for a brief time, he taught school in Maryland. He later returned to acting, performing with various California stock companies. On 23 February 2010, Vaughn died in his sleep at his home in San Diego, California, at the age of 74. [1] [2]