Where would the original Star Trek series be without its fantastic array of guest stars who created unforgettable characters? From self-made "legitimate businessmen" to fearless women leaders of their people, here are three characters from the show's original run we fans would love to see again!
1. Elaan from "Elaan of Troyius" (S3E13)
This fierce, feisty, and beautiful Dohlman of Elas, who was portrayed by France Nuyen, lives in the hearts and minds of Trek fans who love a woman in charge. Granted, she stabs her Troyian attaché and nearly kills him before trying to kill Captain Kirk as well. Once she has him under the spell of her love potion tears, he's much easier for her to handle, but she's more interesting when she's throwing weapons and dinnerware around!
Many Star Trek fans would love to see Elaan again, preferably as a strong, confident leader of both Elas and Troyius, because if she learned anything from her time on the Enterprise, it was how to temper ferocity with wisdom. No doubt she aged with grace, and to see her growth would be satisfying.
2. Eleen from "Friday's Child" (S2E11)
Eleen (Julie Newmar), wife of the leader Akaar from Capella IV, carried herself with dignity and grace, even when she was heavily pregnant and moments from death. Her husband died in a coup that led to a new warrior, Maab, taking over leadership. With both the Klingons and the Federation seeking a mining contract, Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy flee the camp with Eleen, who keeps refusing her child, as on Capella IV, the men have all the rights to their offspring.
Eleen's devotion to her people's beliefs, despite her position, is a study in piousness. This makes her scenes with McCoy all the funnier, especially when she slaps him for touching her belly, and he gives a light slap back that surprises her more than anything! It's no wonder that McCoy and Kirk believe that she and her son, Leonard James Akaar, will rule wisely, and it would be interesting to return to Capella IV and see whether Elaan helped or hindered her people.
3. Bela Okmyx and Jojo Krako from "A Piece of the Action" (S2E17)
If I had worked at Paramount/Desilu back then, I would have given these two their own show! Okmyx and Krako even sounds like an Odd Couple exploitation series! These two copycat gangsters from Sigma Iotia II, who modeled themselves after information they found in a book about 1920s Chicago mobsters left by a long-lost starship a century before, are both intelligent and charismatic. They also have fantastic frenemy energy that set the episode up for a sequel, but alas!
Bela Okmyx (Anthony Caruso) and Jojo Krako (Vic Tayback) were perfect fodder for the type of episodes Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was dabbling in during its run, and the writers even considered it. There is one anecdote for these characters, though, as Caruso sent the studio a letter after the filming of the episode, written and signed by "Bella Oxmyx," that revealed their people were thriving, he wears a crewcut, and that he hoped to visit Las Vegas someday.
Sadly, if Okmyx and Krako are to reunite in the future, both roles will have to be recast. Tayback died of a heart attack in 1990. Caruso passed away 13 years later in 2003.
With so many excellent Star Trek characters in the original series, it's hard to choose one who appeared only once or twice. Who are your favorite guest stars? Which characters would you like to see again? Share your choices on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.