Redshirts Always Die continues its crossover coverage celebrating nearly 60 years of Star Trek and Adam West's Batman. Sure, enthusiasts from both fandoms remember the most iconic performers who appeared on these beloved shows in the 1960s, including Frank Gorshin (Riddler), Julie Newmar (Catwoman), and Yvonne Craig (Batgirl).
However, the following performers probably slipped through the cracks for many television viewers. So, with that in mind, check out the first installment of our Star Trek & Batman actors fans forgot starred in both shows series of articles below.
Grace Lee Whitney
Grace Lee Whitney isn't a stranger to Trekkies who love her brief but memorable stint on Star Trek: The Original Series as Yeoman Janice Rand. After eight episodes in season 1, though, Whitney's time on TOS sadly ended.
Meanwhile, the accomplished actress crossed over to play Neila in the Batman season 2 episodes "King Tut's Coup" and "Batman's Waterloo." Whitney portrays a villain who is nothing like the beloved and kindhearted Yeoman Rand. Neila is tangled up with the show's special guest villain, King Tut (Victor Buono).
Even for Trekkies who are not Batmaniacs, too, it's hard not to have seen the images of Whitney's character tied up with Lee Meriwether's milk-and-cookies (if you know, you know) loving Lisa Carson online.
Meritwether, of course, is one of the most iconic Star Trek/Batman crossover performers ever because she played the role of Catwoman in Batman: The Movie (1966) and Losira in the TOS season 3 episode "That Which Survives."
Roger C. Carmel
Roger C. Carmel’s beloved Harcourt Fenton Mudd showed up in both TOS season 1 (“Mudd’s Women”) and season 2 (“I, Mudd”) to aggravate Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise. However, the famed Harry Mudd actor also appeared on the Batman television series as an equally annoying villain tormenting the Caped Crusader (Adam West) and Robin the Boy Wonder (Burt Ward).
Colonel Gumm (Carmel) was the alphabet soup-obsessed character created specifically for the 1960s TV show, and he appeared in two episodes during Batman season 2, including “A Piece of the Action” — not to be confused with the iconic TOS episode — and “Batman’s Satisfaction.” These episodes also featured the first full appearance of Bruce Lee as the Green Hornet's sidekick, Kato, on the Batman television show.
Ted Cassidy
Blink and you’ll miss Ted Cassidy’s cameo in the season 2 episode of Batman titled “The Penguin’s Nest.” While climbing up the side of a building with their Batropes, the Caped Crusader (West) and Robin (Ward) disturb Lurch from The Addams Family. Cassidy reprises his most famous role by opening up a large window, so he can briefly converse with the Dynamic Duo.
Lurch claims to have been startled by Batman and the Boy Wonder, in what was one of the show's many famous window cameos, to which West’s costumed crimefighter replies, “Yes, citizen, you may return to your harpsichord.”
Meanwhile, Cassidy is best known by Trekkies for playing Ruk in the The Original Series season 1 episode, “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” However, Cassidy worked on multiple installments of TOS, including “The Corbomite Maneuver,” as the terrifying voice of Balok’s fearsome-looking façade. Plus, Cassidy provided the voice for the Gorn in “Arena,” but the actor’s distinct voice is slightly disguised as the creature taunts Captain Kirk throughout their one-on-one conflict.
Sherry Jackson
Another Star Trek actor who appeared in “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” showed up in the Batman TV series. Sherry Jackson portrayed one of Dr. Korby’s (Michael Strong) advanced androids, Andrea, in season 1 of TOS, and she also played Pauline in the back-to-back season 1 episodes of Batman titled “Death in Slow Motion” and “The Riddler’s False Notion.”
Pauline’s aspirations to become an actress never come to fruition, so she turns to a life of crime. However, Jackson’s Pauline is no ordinary villain. No, she becomes a henchman working for the notorious Batman villain known as the King of Conundrums: Frank Gorshin’s Riddler.
Theo Marcuse
Theo Marcus also appears in Sherry Jackson's Riddler episodes, which means there were a total of three Star Trek crossover actors featured in “Death in Slow Motion” and “The Riddler’s False Notion” — Gorshin, Jackson, and Marcuse. "Death in Slow Motion" is also famous for Riddler's fun opening sequence at the silent movie theater in which he emulates the great Charlie Chaplin.
Marcuse portrayed Korob in the Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episode "Catspaw," while the actor played Von Bloheim in Batman. Von Bloheim is yet another of the Riddler's inept henchmen, but it's hilarious seeing Marcuse dressed up as a baker while piano music resonated from nowhere.
Joan Collins
In the best episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, “The City on the Edge of Forever,” Joan Collins guest starred as Edith Keeler. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock meet her in the past, and Kirk falls in love with the beautiful idealist. Unfortunately, in order to set things right in the 23rd Century, Edith must die in the 20th century, which devastates Kirk because he can’t save her from destiny.
Collins portrayed a villain in the Batman television series, who worked closely with Frank Gorshin’s Riddler. The Siren (Collins) appeared in the season 3 episodes “Ring Around the Riddler” and “The Wail of the Siren.” Collins' character could hypnotize men to do her bidding, with her siren song, most notably Bruce Wayne (West).
Unfortunately, The Siren’s song had no affect on women, as demonstrated when she came face to face with Batgirl (Yvonne Craig) — one of the most iconic Batman/Star Trek crossover actors ever.
Charles Dierkop
Trekkies will immediately recognize Charles Dierkop (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting) as Morla from the TOS season 2 horror episode "Wolf in the Fold." Dierkop's character didn't have a large role, but he, like Scotty (James Doohan), was questioned for the murder of the belly-dancing Kara (Tanya Lemani) on Argelius II.
Meanwhile, Dierkop appears only once on Batman as one of the Penguin's (Burgess Meredith) henchmen, Dustbag. There's no mistaking the name of Dierkop's character either as it is printed in big, white-block letters on his black shirt.
Did your favorite Star Trek/Batman crossover actors show up on our first list? If not, don't worry.
Look for a new entry in our Star Trek/Batman crossover content "same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!" Translation: every Tuesday this month. Up next: Star Trek & Batman actors fans forgot starred in both shows (Part 2), which drops on Nov. 18.
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Live long and prosper, Trekkies! And you, too, Batmaniacs!