First Contact Day: Our 5 favorite secondary characters from Star Trek First Contact

Our celebration of First Contact Day continues with a highlighting of secondary characters from Star Trek: First Contact.

Star Trek: First Contact not only brought the Enterprise-E to our screen for the first time, but it also brought with it a killer story that featured some of the best secondary characters Star Trek has ever created for a story. Trek megastars Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Ronald D. Moore created the script (and cameoed in the film) while Jonathan Frakes (William Riker) directed it.

It was the apex of the era, and multiple lingering elements over the last decade came to a head in the film. Elements made so much better by the secondary cast that was brought back, or created just for the film.

Some of the characters that nearly made the list included Voyager’s Ethan Phillips cameoing as a hologram nightclub maitre d’, famed actor Adam Scott making his Star Trek debut as “Defiant helmsman No. 3”, and That 70’s Show standout Don Stark as Holo Novel character, Nicky the Nose.

So if they didn’t make our cut, who did?

Our five favorite secondary characters from Star Trek: First Contact

5. Enterprise-E EMH

The Enterprise-E had an Emergency Medical Hologram, who like Phillips, was also portrayed by a Voyager actor. Rober Picardo, who plays the “Doctor” in Voyager, another EMH, reprised his role (sort of) by playing a different version of the same program. His character was tasked with delaying the Borg, and the best he could come up with is some cream suggestions for their skin.

4. Hawk

While given very few lines (if any), Hawk makes the list because he was the most featured, non-main-character, of anyone on the Enterprise after the crew was split up. Hawk was played by Neal McDonough, an actor who would go on to have a rather bountiful career following his turn on Star Trek.

3. Zefram Cochrane

While nowhere as put together as he would be in the Original Series, Zefram Cochrane was an ace character. Cochrane, played by long-time Trek actor James Cromwell, brought a rogueish charm to Cochrane, who was a drunk and flirt, but also someone who eventually realized the enormity of what he’d one day accomplish.

2. Reginald Barclay

While Reg didn’t do a lot in the film, he did make things worse with Zefram Cochrane right at the height of Cochrane’s panic attack of sorts. So you really couldn’t ask for him to be any better, I think.

1. Lily Sloane

Lily was created to be every new Trek fan in the theaters. Unsure what was going on, needing constant explanation to new things, but also being wildly important. She was the voice of reason for Jean-Luc Picard, and it was her rage that ultimately caused Picard to realize she was right and that the crew had to be put above his desire for revenge. Alfre Woodard was exceptional in her role as Lily.