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Michael Ansara

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Michael George Ansara ( 15 April 1922 – 31 July 2013 ; age 91) [1] was the Lebanese-American actor who played Kang in the Star Trek: The Original Series third season episode " Day of the Dove ", the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine second season episode " Blood Oath ", and the Star Trek: Voyager third season episode " Flashback ". He later appeared as Jeyal in the Deep Space Nine fourth season episode " The Muse ".

He filmed his scenes for "Day of the Dove" between Friday 23 August 1968 and Thursday 29 August 1968 at Desilu Stage 9 and Stage 10 .

Ansara, as Kang, was one of fourteen actors to play their respective characters on three different Star Trek TV series. The other actors who hold this distinction are Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , James Doohan , Mark Lenard , George Takei , Jonathan Frakes , Marina Sirtis , Armin Shimerman , Patrick Stewart , John de Lancie , Richard Poe , Michael Dorn and LeVar Burton .

• 2.1 Television
• 2.2 Voicing Mr. Freeze
• 3 Star Trek interviews
• 4 External links

Personal [ ]

Ansara was born in a Lebanese family a small village in what was then the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon in 1922 and emigrated with his family to the United States when he was two years old. They resided in Lowell, Massachusetts, until they moved to California ten years later. Ansara enrolled in the Los Angeles City College intending to become a doctor but ultimately decided to become an actor. [2]

He was married to I Dream of Jeannie actress Barbara Eden from 1958 through 1974. He also worked with her on several projects, including directing and appearing on several episodes of Jeannie . He and Eden had one child, a son named Matthew, who died of a drug overdose in 2001.

Ansara married actress Beverly Kushida in 1977. He retired from acting in 2001. He died at his home in Calabasas, California, on 31 July 2013. He was 91. [3]

Television [ ]

Due to his complexion, Ansara was often cast in the role of a Native American. This was the case for his starring role as Chief Cochise on the ABC TV western series Broken Arrow from 1956 through 1958, for which he is probably best remembered. He then starred as Native American US Marshal Sam Buckhart on NBC 's short-lived Western television series Law of the Plainsman .

He also played a Native American character in the 1978 mini-series Centennial . This series also featured such Trek alumni as Henry Darrow , Cliff DeYoung , Robert DoQui , Robert Easton , Sally Kellerman , Brian Keith , Nick Ramus , Clive Revill , James Sloyan , Morgan Woodward , and Anthony Zerbe .

Ansara won a Bronze Wrangler for his performance in the 1963 Rawhide episode "Incident of Iron Bull". He appeared in two other episodes of Rawhide , including "Incident at Rio Doloroso", in which he and fellow Original Series guest star Madlyn Rhue portrayed husband-and-wife.

Ansara had a role in the pilot for the 1975 TV series Barbary Coast , starring William Shatner . He previously co-starred with Shatner in his pre- Trek days in a 1964 episode of Burke's Law . Ansara also worked with Leonard Nimoy twice before they appeared together on Star Trek , first in a 1957 episode of Broken Arrow and again in a 1965 episode of The Virginian .

In addition, Ansara and Original Series regular James Doohan co-starred together in a 1964 episode of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea . Also in 1964, Ansara and Tim O'Connor worked together in the "Soldier" episode of The Outer Limits , which was written by Harlan Ellison . Ansara then worked with George Takei in an episode of The Wackiest Ship in the Army in 1965.

After co-starring together on "Day of the Dove", Ansara and Susan Howard (who played Kang's wife, Mara ) reunited for an episode of Here Come the Brides in 1969. Original Series guest stars Robert Brown , Mark Lenard , and David Soul were regulars on this series.

Ansara played the villain Killer Kane in four episodes of the 1979-1981 sci-fi TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century , on which Erin Gray and Tim O'Connor was a regular cast member. In the 1980s, he guest-starred on such television series as Fantasy Island (starring Ricardo Montalban and Wendy Schaal ), CHiPs (starring Robert Pine ), Simon & Simon (in an episode directed by Mike Vejar ), Hardcastle and McCormick (starring Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly ), and Murder, She Wrote (directed by Vincent McEveety ).

In 1994, Ansara appeared as a technomage on the science fiction television series Babylon 5 at the start of the second season, alongside various Star Trek guest actors such as Andreas Katsulas , Bill Mumy , and Mary Kay Adams .

Ansara was partnered with future Klingon John Schuck in an episode of the 1970s game show Celebrity Bowling (they lost).

Voicing Mr. Freeze [ ]

Ansara became recognizable as the voice of the DC Comics character Mr. Freeze on various animated Batman series. He voiced the character several times between 1992 and 2009, beginning with Batman: The Animated Series . He later voiced the role in the animated series The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond . Other major villains on the various animated Batman shows were voiced by Adrienne Barbeau (Catwoman), John Glover (The Riddler), David Warner (Ra's al Ghul), Paul Williams (The Penguin), and Ron Perlman (Clayface). Loren Lester voiced the role of Robin, while Robert Costanzo provided the voice of Detective Harvey Bullock.

In addition, Ansara voiced Mr. Freeze in the 1998 direct-to-video release SubZero , set between the events of Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures . The aforementioned Loren Lester and Robert Costanzo also lent their voices to this movie, again playing their respective characters of Robin and Detective Bullock. More recently, Ansara voiced Freeze in the video game Batman: Vengeance , which also featured the voices of the aforementioned Paul Williams (as The Penguin) and David Warner (as Ra's al Ghul), as well as Clancy Brown (as Killer Croc). Incidentally, Clancy Brown also voiced the character of Mr. Freeze on TV's The Batman .

Ansara's final appearance as Mr. Freeze was in the Batman Beyond episode "Meltdown", co-starring Sherman Howard .

Ansara's many feature film credits include Julius Caesar (1953, co-starring fellow Original Series veterans John Hoyt , Richard Hale , Ian Wolfe , and Lawrence Dobkin ), The Comancheros (1961, starring John Wayne), and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961). Ansara also appeared in Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1954). As the Hittite commander in The Egyptian (1954), he had only two lines, but presented a Klingon-like appearance, declaring " No Hittite warrior cries out in pain! "

Ansara also made uncredited appearances in 1950's Kim (starring Dean Stockwell in the title role, and co-starring Arnold Moss and Hamilton Camp ), and the biblical epics The Robe (1953, with Jean Simmons and Jay Robinson ) and The Ten Commandments (1956). The latter film also featured the likes of Judith Anderson , Lawrence Dobkin , and Robert Herron .

Ansara worked with Ricardo Montalban in three feature films. The first was the 1954 romantic adventure The Saracen Blade , which was followed in 1968 by the crime drama Sol Madrid . Then, in 1977, the two co-starred opposite each other in the western Mission to Glory: A True Story .

In Irwin Allen's 1961 science fiction classic Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea , Ansara portrayed scientist Miguel Alvarez. That same year, he had a supporting role in The Comancheros , along with Nehemiah Persoff . Ansara later played a prince in Elvis Presley 's Harum Scarum (1965, directed by Gene Nelson and co-starring Theo Marcuse ) and a Comanche chief in Texas Across the River (1966, with Rosemary Forsyth , Andrew Prine , and George D. Wallace ).

In 1974, Ansara played The Captain in It's Alive . In 1976, Ansara and fellow Original Series guest star Michael Forest starred in The Message (1976 film)The Message . Ansara then starred in The Manitou (1978), for which he received a Saturn Award nomination from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films as Best Supporting Actor.

Ansara's subsequent films include Bayou Romance (1982) and Access Code (1984), both with Michael Durrell . He later appeared in KGB: The Secret War (1985, with Walter Gotell and Sally Kellerman ) and Assassination (1987, with Jill Ireland ). Ansara then appeared in Border Shootout (1990, featuring fellow Original Series guest actor Michael Forest ). Ansara's last feature film was The Long Road Home (1999).

Star Trek interviews [ ]

• "Michael Ansara, Klingon with a Cause", Mark Phillips, Starlog , issue 138, January 1989, pp. 32-33
• "Noble Presence", Tom Weaver, Starlog , issue 225, April 1995, pp. 56-61

External links [ ]

• Michael Ansara at Wikipedia
• Michael Ansara at the Internet Movie Database
• Michael Ansara at the Internet Broadway Database
• Michael Ansara at the Babylon 5 wiki
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

• Cast & crew
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Day of the Dove

• Episode aired Nov 1, 1968

Both humans and Klingons have been lured to a planet by a formless entity that feeds on hatred and has set about to fashion them into a permanent food supply for itself. Both humans and Klingons have been lured to a planet by a formless entity that feeds on hatred and has set about to fashion them into a permanent food supply for itself. Both humans and Klingons have been lured to a planet by a formless entity that feeds on hatred and has set about to fashion them into a permanent food supply for itself.

• Marvin J. Chomsky
• Gene Roddenberry
• Jerome Bixby
• Arthur H. Singer
• William Shatner
• Leonard Nimoy
• DeForest Kelley
• 27 User reviews
• 11 Critic reviews

• Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

• Mister Spock

• Lt. Johnson
• (as David Ross)

• Klingon Soldier
• (uncredited)

• Klingon Crewman
• Security Guard

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia Near the end of the episode, Scotty tells Kirk that the ship's dilithium crystals are deteriorating. Kirk asks "Time factor?" Scotty replies "In 12 minutes we'll be totally without engine power." This happens with exactly 12:00 minutes left in the episode.
• Goofs When Kirk pulls Chekov from Mara and puts him against a wall Chekov runs his palms against the wall and smears on it Mara's bronzing makeup.

Dr. McCoy : Gentlemen, if we are pawns, you're looking at one who is extremely sorry.

Mr. Spock : I understand, Doctor. I, too, felt a brief surge of racial bigotry. Most distasteful.

• Alternate versions Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
• Connections Featured in Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
• Soundtracks Theme Music credited to Alexander Courage Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews 27

• Feb 13, 2021
• November 1, 1968 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Stage 31, Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Paramount Television
• Norway Corporation
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 51 minutes

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Published Apr 14, 2017

Michael Ansara: Good Guys, Bad Guys & Guys in Between

Our heroes keep passing away at an increasingly alarming rate, but so too do our villains. Neither, it seems, triumphs in the end. Michael Ansara -- who would have turned 95 years old today; he died in 2013 at the age of 91 -- played both hero and villain, and some characters in between. But in reading the first two obituaries I caught in the mainstream media following his death four years ago, I was struck by the prominence that his part as Klingon Captain Kang in Star Trek 's " Day of the Dove " received. It was the very first credit noted in both obits! You know, in that "Humphrey Bogart, star of Casablanca " way.

About this, I had -- and still have -- mixed feelings. On one hand, as a fan, I'm delighted by Star Trek 's continuing visibility and its influence on pop culture outlasting so many formerly-fashionable entertainment phenomena. And on the other hand, well, Kang really wasn't Ansara's most important role (though, sure, it's important to us here in Trekland).

No, I'd argue, first, to consider the Westerns. Ansara was the star of two pioneering TV Westerns, portraying Cochise in Broken Arrow (1956-58, derived from an earlier Jimmy Stewart film) and Marshal Sam Buckhart in the 1959-60 series Law of the Plainsman (one of Ansara's favorite acting jobs ever). Both are all but forgotten today, having no real afterlife I'm aware of in TV Valhalla (i.e. reruns, VHS/DVD releases, replay on nostalgia networks, streaming availability). In both shows, the Syrian-born Ansara portrayed Native American protagonists in a medium whose only significant previous Indian hero had been The Lone Ranger's Tonto. "I was sort of an innovator," Ansara said in 1996. "I helped make them real, human people." Several Indian tribes across America responded by making Ansara a blood brother.

With his then-wife Barbara Eden, he took a Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (Irwin Allen's 1961 movie that spawned the later TV series). He showed up on Lost in Space and Allen's other SF TV shows, too. Ansara also guested as the Blue Djinn (and other characters) on Eden's hit sitcom I Dream of Jeannie (even directing an episode). There were countless TV gigs (among them The Fugitive, Perry Mason, Rawhide, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible and The Untouchables ). He made movies both major (as Judas Iscariot in The Robe , 1953's Julius Caesar , Harum Scarum with Elvis Presley) and minor ( Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, The Manitou, Day of the Animals ). I really liked (i.e., loathed) him as a bad guy in Guns of the Magnificent Seven and The Comancheros (facing John Wayne). He was even Killer Kane in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series (though not its movie/pilot).

To me, though, his two most pivotal performances came in black & white ("Soldier" on the original Outer Limits ) and cartoon color ( Batman: The Animated Series ' "Heart of Ice"). Ansara was riveting as the brutal (and brutalized) Qarlo, an ultra-violent "Soldier" from tomorrow inadvertently come to our time to (perhaps) kill in the Harlan Ellison-scripted, 1964 Outer Limits classic (an admitted inspiration for The Terminator ). Almost three decades later, Ansara only needed his voice to portray the cold but compelling Mr. Freeze in the acclaimed "Heart of Ice" (which won writer Paul Dini an Emmy). It offered a new take on an old Batman baddie, making Dr. Victor Fries (a.k.a. Mr. Freeze) not a villain, but a chilling figure of pathos, a lonely, maddened scientist driven to crime to implement a cure for his diseased, cryogenically frozen wife.

If that icy scenario seems familiar now, it's because the 1992 "Heart of Ice" incarnation then became DC Comics' standard for Freeze's subsequent comic book appearances. The 1997 live-action flick Batman & Robin cannibalized the characterization and some story points -- but Arnold Schwarzenegger, the once and future Terminator, did a terrible job at following Ansara in this role. Ansara also voiced Freeze in Batman cartoon spinoff programs and the 1998 direct-to-DVD animated film Batman & Mr.Freeze: SubZero .

So, considering all this, did "Day of the Dove" really deserve that obituarial honor as the most identifiable Ansara role over some of these other credits? Perhaps. Personally, I'd give it to Broken Arrow or "Soldier." You may feel differently. The New York Times , at least, in their obituary (which I read later) gave equal billing to Cochise and Kang, contrasting them as warriors from different times.

As for Klingon Captain Kang, "What a magnificent character to play!" Ansara exclaimed when Starlog interviewed him (twice, Mark Phillips in issue #138, Tom Weaver, #225). "Immediately, just from reading the script, I knew how special the role was and how rare it was to find a character like this in either television or film. Kang had nobility and that's a quality that I have always been fascinated by. People seemed to like [that 1968 segment], and I loved doing it."

Ansara reprised the role 26 years later -- along with fellow Klingons John Colicos (Kor) and William Campbell (Koloth), "a very, very close friend" -- on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1994. "They [the producers] were a little worried, they thought we were rickety old men," Ansara told Weaver, "and they wondered if we could climb the stairs and do the swordfights. We sort of laughed about it."

Despite the "miserable-to-put-on" newish Klingon makeup, Ansara thought DS9 's " Blood Oath " was "fun. As I understand, it turned out to be one of the best episodes." He was Kang again in Star Trek: Voyager 's " Flashback " in 1996.

Ansara also returned to DS9 , briefly playing another character, one of Lwaxana Troi's husbands, in " The Muse ." But, I certainly agree with that critical assessment of "Blood Oath." It's bloody good. In fact, that DS9 episode is what brought the Klingons Three (Ansara, Colicos, Campbell) to the May 1995 SeaTrek Cruise, which is where I met him.

The major Trek celebs and "the little people" (minor guests like Starlog Special FX Editor David Hutchison and me) got to clamber aboard ship ahead of regular cruisegoers. "Hutch" and I soon headed to the early buffet, got plates heaping with goodies and grabbed a table portside. Not long afterward, my pals Bill and Tereza Campbell ambled by with their trays and joined us. Ten minutes later, Campbell flagged down Michael Ansara and third wife Beverly, who had been forlornly looking for a place to eat. Introductions were made by Campbell (the most extroverted guy I've ever met) and they sat down for lunch. Sorry to say but Klingon was not spoken.

Ansara seemed a little reticent, reserved, yet regal; his head, entirely shaven bald, was striking, a unique look he had apparently returned to after initially going full Picard in the 1960s for a production of The King and I .

Today, 22-plus years later, I only vaguely recall the topics of conversation (cruising, Hollywood, Trek fans, etc.). To me, Ansara appeared far more shy than the characters he had portrayed. Circumspect is really the right word to describe him. Maybe he was overwhelmed by the cruise or our mutual friend Campbell (anyone might seem shy compared to Campbell's exuberance), or perhaps merely careful while dining with strangers from Starlog .

Maybe, though, it's just me. I already knew almost all the other cruise celebs. And I admit to being a tad in awe of Ansara. After all, he had worked with Abbott & Costello, Peter Lorre and John Wayne. But, I did take the opportunity then to arrange contact info for that second Starlog interview, conducted months later by film historian Tom Weaver, so Ansara could talk to us about more than just Star Trek.

That's when Ansara declared, "I was never considered a leading man -- maybe a leading character actor," before listing his career regrets to Weaver. "You never think you do quite as much as you would like to do. I would have liked to have done more, gotten bigger, more important. But on the other hand, I had a long, long career, longer than so many people who would come, make a flash and disappear. So, I really have no complaints, and yet -- who is ever satisfied? You always would have liked to have done more."

David McDonnell, "the maitre’d of the science fiction universe," has dished up coverage of pop culture for more than three decades. Beginning his professional career in 1975 with the weekly "Media Report" news column in The Comic Buyers’ Guide , he joined Jim Steranko’s Mediascene Prevue in 1980. After 31 months as Starlog ’s Managing Editor (beginning in October 1982), he became that pioneering SF magazine’s longtime Editor (1985-2009). He also served as Editor of its sister publications Comics Scene, Fangoria and Fantasy Worlds . At the same time, he edited numerous licensed movie one-shots ( Star Trek and James Bond films, Aliens, Willow, etc.) and three ongoing official magazine series devoted to Trek TV sagas ( The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine, Voyager ). He apparently still holds this galaxy’s record for editing more magazine pieces about Star Trek in total than any other individual, human or alien.

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Michael Ansara, Kang on ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 91

By Allegra Tepper

Allegra Tepper

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Michael Ansara, perhaps best known for his role as Kang on “ Star Trek ,” died in his Calabasas, Calif. home on July 31 following a prolonged illness. He was 91.

Ansara played the Klingon commander on three different “Star Trek” TV series: the original “Star Trek” (1968), “Deep Space Nine” (1994) and “Voyager” (1996). He is beloved by fans of the franchise for being one of just seven actors to play the same character on three versions of the skein.

Ansara is also remembered for his starring role of  the Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise on the TV series “Broken Arrow.” The popular series was considered groundbreaking when it premiered in 1958, as it was one of few westerns to portray Native Americans in a positive light.

Despite being of Syrian descent, Ansara continued to be cast in Native American roles. He played another Apache, Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart, on the Peacock’s 1959 series “Law of the Plainsman.” His Buckhart character was again introduced in two episodes of another western at the Alphabet, “The Rifleman.”

“After that series I went two years without working at all,” Ansara remembered in a 1979 interview. “If you play one thing [in his case, a Native American], and you play it well, they would type you, and it would be difficult to get other roles.”

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Ansara also played major roles in such films as 1953’s “Julius Caesar” and “The Robe,” 1955’s “Jupiter’s Darling” with Esther Williams; 1961’s “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” (he also appeared in the spin-off TV series) and “The Comancheros” with John Wayne ;  “The Greatest Story Ever Told” (1965); “Guns of the Magnificent Seven” (1969); “The Bears and I” (1974); “The Message” (1977); and “It’s Alive” (1974).

Born in Syria, Ansara came to the U.S. with his American parents at the age of 2. When he attended Los Angeles City College he had intentions of becoming a doctor, but a foray into the drama department stole his attention.

Ansara went on to work at the Pasadena Playhouse, where his fellow students included Charles Bronson, Carolyn Jones and Aaron Spelling, before going on to lead roles on stage and screen.

Ansara’s many TV appearances also included “ The Untouchables ,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Perry Mason,” “The Outer Limits,” “ Lost in Space ,” “I Dream of Jeannie” (with his then wife, Barbara Eden) and “Hawaii Five-0”. He also voiced the part of Mr. Freeze on the animated “Batman” series.

Ansara was married to “I Dream of Jeannie’s” Barbara Eden from 1958-1974. Together, they had a son, Michael Matthew Ansara. The junior Ansara, also an actor, died in 2001 of an accidental heroin overdose. He was 35.

Ansara is survived by Beverly, his wife of 36 years, his sister, Rose Browers, niece Michelle Browers Lamey and nephew Michael John Browers.

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StarTribune

Actor michael ansara, who played klingon on the 'star trek' tv series, dies at 91.

LOS ANGELES — Michael Ansara, a television and movie actor whose roles included a Klingon on "Star Trek," has died.

A longtime friend and spokesman for Ansara says the actor died Wednesday at his home in Calabasas, Calif. after a long illness. He was 91.

Besides the "Star Trek" role, Ansara appeared on dozens of TV shows, including "Broken Arrow," "Law of the Plainsman," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Hawaii 5-0" and "Murder, She Wrote."

His film credits include "Julius Caesar," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Comancheros" with John Wayne.

Ansara was predeceased by his son, Matthew, with former wife Barbara Eden. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Beverly, a sister and a niece and nephew.

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Michael Ansara, "Star Trek"'s Kang, dies at 91

August 4, 2013 / 11:38 AM EDT / CBS/AP

LOS ANGELES Michael Ansara, a television and movie actor whose roles included the Klingon Kang on "Star Trek," has died.

A longtime friend and spokesman for Ansara told The Associated Press the actor died Wednesday at his home in Calabasas, Calif., after a long illness. He was 91.

Besides the "Star Trek" role, Ansara appeared on dozens of TV shows, including "Broken Arrow," "Law of the Plainsman," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Hawaii Five-0" and "Murder, She Wrote."

But, as CBS' StarTrek.com notes , "Star Trek" fans "embraced" Ansara's portrayal of Kang the Klingon commander. He reprised his role in two of the series' spinoff shows, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in 1994 and "Star Trek: Voyager" in 1996, according to the site.

Ansara's film credits include "Julius Caesar," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "The Greatest Story Ever Told" and "The Comancheros" with John Wayne.

Bob Schieffer remember Michale Ansara

Ansara was predeceased by his son, Matthew, with former wife Barbara Eden. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Beverly, a sister and a niece and nephew.

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