easily make love for his roles inRoboCopandThat ' 70s Show , Kurtwood Smith has played four different fictional character inStar Trekmovies and telecasting display . Smith ’s breakthrough movie function was Clarence Boddicker oppositeStar Trek into Darkness ' Peter Weller as Alex Murphy / RoboCop in Paul Verhoeven ’s brutal sci - fi satire . AfterRoboCop , Kurtwood Smith went on to asterisk in an eclectic appeal of motion-picture show fromRambo IIItoDead Poet ’s Society . In tandem with his movie career , Kurtwood Smith made many Edgar Albert Guest appearances on popular display such asThe X - Files,3rd Rock from the Sun , and twoStar TrekTV shows .

In 1998 , Kurtwood Smith was cast as Red Forman inThat ' 70s Show , starring in 200 episodes of the nostalgic sitcom . One of Kurtwood Smith’sThat ' 70s Showco - stars was Don Stark , who is best known toStar Trekfans as the player who played Nicky the Nose in 1996’sStar Trek : First Contact . Kurtwood Smith starred in another of thebestStar Trekmovies , Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country , after working with the movie ’s film director , Nicholas Meyer on the espionage thriller , Company Business . Kurtwood Smith ’s casting inStar Trek 6began a connectedness between the actor and the franchise that continued into the 2020s .

From exploring strange young man to fighting to uncover the truth , many actor have come along on both Star Trek and The X - Files .

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Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Kurtwood Smith ’s firstStar Trekrole was as the Federation President inStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country . The Federation President ’s species was given as Efrosian in some publicity material forStar Trek 6 , but was never confirmed on - screen . With his cranial ridges , long whitened hair and barbate beard , Kurtwood Smith cut quite a figure as the head of the United Federation of Planets . Smith discussed his theatrical role as the Federation President inThe Official Star Trek : Voyager Magazine result 18 , right smart back in 1998 :

" It was n’t really an acting role . I had to achieve a quick sense of presence and then be shot at . I also had that picture in the office with all the boy [ …. ] I was pleased to be a part of it . "

The President was targeted for assassination as part ofStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country ’s vast Khitomer confederacy to jump public security talks with the Klingon Empire . Thankfully , the gang of the USS Enterprise and USS Excelsior chance upon the Sojourner Truth about the confederacy in prison term to stop the attempt on the President ’s life . Captain Montgomery Scott ( James Doohan ) toss off the assassin , restoring order to the peace group discussion . It may have been a small role for Kurtwood Smith , but despite his lack of screentime , the President who oversaw the Klingon public security procedure is a enormously important character inStar Trek ’s fictional account .

Star Trek Patrick Stewart Picard Avery Brooks Sisko William Shatner Kirk

The small black glass the Federation President wears during the saving operation scene inStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Countrywere supposed to denote that the theatrical role was blind , but the fact was never cite in dialog .

Thrax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Season 5, Episode 8, “Things Past”

Kurtwood Smith roleplay Thrax , the Cardassian predecessor of Constable Odo ( Rene Auberjonois ) from whenDeep Space Nine was Terok Nor . Thrax appears inStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 5 , installment 8 , " thing Past " , in which a freak two-seater accident created a telepathic link between Odo , Captain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) , Lt . Commander Jadzia Dax ( Terry Farrell ) and Elim Garak ( Andrew Robinson ) . The linkup takes them back to a dark second from Odo ’s past , during which Thrax order the execution of three free Bajorans who had been accused of attempting to murder Gul Dukat ( Marc Alaimo ) .

" Things Past " was the second time that Kurtwood Smith had worked with Rene Auberjonois onStar Trek , after they share a scene together as the Federation President and Colonel West inStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country .

At the end of " thing Past " , it was revealed that it was n’t Thrax who ordered the performance , but Odo . Kurtwood Smith was , therefore , toy quite a complicated character in the episode . Thrax was essentially an amalgam of the original Cardassian security officer , and Odo ’s own guilt . In a 2017 consultation withthe officialStar Trekwebsite , Kurtwood Smith reflected on the duality of hisStar Trek : Deep Space Ninerole , saying :

Robin Curtis and Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek.

" [ Thrax ] was a character within a character , and he was also a mirror of Rene ’s eccentric from a different meter . I make out the depth of it . I always like the sizing of the characters onStar Trek . It reminds me of when I used to do a lot of Shakespeare , back when I was first issue forth up . It has that feel about it , you screw , because you ’ve bring forth all this stuff on , and you ’re deal with enhanced language . They ’re just very fun , complicated lineament . "

To reword William Shakespeare : " All the galaxy ’s a point , and all the men and cleaning woman ( and aliens and androids ) but players . "

Annorax in Star Trek: Voyager, Season 4, Episodes 8 & 9, “Year of Hell”

Annorax is Kurtwood Smith ’s biggestStar Trekrole to escort , appear in the epicStar Trek : Voyagertwo - parter , " Year of Hell" . Annorax was a secular scientist who had built a devastating weapon system that could remove elements from the space - time continuum . Using his artillery , Annorax set about restoring the aura of the Krenim Imperium , which had been ravage by a war with the Rilnar . Star Trek : Voyager ’s Krenim villainswere so brawny that , in multiple alternate timeline , they destruct Captain Kathryn Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) and the bulk of the USS Voyager crew .

To prepare for the role of Annorax , Kurtwood Smith watchedStar Trek : Voyagerepisodes to see what was expected of the show ’s guest performer .

Annorax was a tyrant , but he was also a tragical figure , as his temporal weapon had accidentally destroyed a Krenim colony , kill his wife . However , having nothing left repel Annorax to more and more uttermost quantity as he struggled to reorganize the flow of history in his party favour . It ’s a compelling performance from Kurtwood Smith and his scenes with his formerZoot Suitco - asterisk Robert Beltran as Commander Chakotay are some of the standout moments from theStar Trek : Voyagertwo - parter . Kurtwood Smith discussed how Thrax inStar Trek : Deep Space Nineinfluenced his delineation of Thrax inThe Official Star Trek : Voyager Magazine , saying that :

Kurtwood Smith as Clar in Star Trek: Lower Decks and as the Federation President in Star Trek 6

" I judge the producers liked what I did onDeep Space Nine , and ask me to come back , which was ok with me.[ … ]Because Thrax was actually in the imagery of another character [ … ] he was n’t quite as interesting to play as Annorax . He did n’t have nearly as much to do . "

Imperium Magistrate Clar in Star Trek: Lower Decks, Season 1, Episode 8, “Veritas”

empire Magistrate Clar was a much lighterStar Trekrole for Kurtwood Smith , as the character featured in the animated clowning seriesStar Trek : Lower deck of cards . In " Veritas " , the Lower Deckers are seemingly put on run by Imperium Magistrate Clar as he interrogates them about the USS Cerritos ' senior stave . However , Clar is n’t putting the crew of the USS Cerritos on trial , he ’s instead honour them accord to his planet ’s tradition . However , Jack Quaid ’s Boimlerand his fellow Lower Deckers torpedo the whole ceremonial by misunderstanding Clar ’s line of questioning , which is design to show them all as infallible hero sandwich .

The purpose of the alien court is reminiscent of the Klingon court of law inStar Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country , a nod to Kurtwood Smith ’s firstStar Trekappearance .

While it ’s a voice execution , Kurtwood Smith is clearly bear play in the theatrical role of Imperium Magistrate Clar , perhaps delighting in sending up his previous baddie persona . Just as Annorax inStar Trek : Voyagerwas Kurtwood Smith ’s lastStar Trekrole beforeThat ' 70s Show , Clar was his last role beforeThat ' 90s Show . Hopefully , Kurtwood Smith can turn back toStar TrekonceThat ' 90s Showseason 2 drops on Netflix later in the year .

Star Trek VI Federation President Kurtwood Smith

Star Trek VI : The Undiscovered Country is streaming on Max .

Star Trek : Deep Space Nine , also known as DS9 , is the fourth serial in the long - melt Sci - Fi enfranchisement , Star Trek . DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller , and star Avery Brooks , René Auberjonois , Terry Farrell , and Cirroc Lofton . This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor .

In this sci - fi serial , the spaceship Voyager becomes maroon in the Delta Quadrant , 70,000 light - years from Earth . The diverse crew , led by Captain Janeway , embarks on a parlous journeying home , meet unfamiliar species and challenges while adhere to Federation principles in uncharted space .

Star Trek DS9 Things Past Kurtwood Smith

The animated comedy series Star Trek : Lower Decks postdate the documentation crew on one of Starfleet ’s least significant ships , the U.S.S. Cerritos , in 2380 . Ensigns Mariner ( Tawny Newsome ) , Boimler ( Jack Quaid ) , Rutherford ( Eugene Cordero ) , and Tendi ( Noël Wells ) have to keep up with their responsibility and their societal lives often . At the same time , the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci - fi anomalies .

Star Trek Deep Space Nine Poster

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Star Trek Voyager Poster

In this sci-fi series, the starship Voyager becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant, 70,000 light-years from Earth. The diverse crew, led by Captain Janeway, embarks on a perilous journey home, encountering unfamiliar species and challenges while adhering to Federation principles in uncharted space.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 5 Official Poster

The animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks follows the support crew on one of Starfleet’s least significant ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner (Tawny Newsome), Boimler (Jack Quaid), Rutherford (Eugene Cordero), and Tendi (Noël Wells) have to keep up with their duties and their social lives often. At the same time, the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Voyager