Captain Christopher Pike has always been one of Star Trek's most compelling leaders, even if he hasn’t always been front and center. From the original pilot to modern-day portrayals, several actors have brought their own take to the role, shaping Pike’s legacy in the process. Now, here’s our ranking of the three best actors who have played him over the years.
1. Anson Mount
Anson Mount tops the list, and for good reason. He humanizes Pike, giving him purpose while simultaneously bolstering Star Trek: Discovery in ways that made it impossible not to build Star Trek: Strange New Worlds around him.
There was the memorable walk-and-talk with Tenavik (the late Kenneth Mitchell) in the Discovery Season 2 episode, “Through the Valley of Shadows,” where Pike treked through the Boreth monastery and caught a glimpse of his foreboding future. It was quiet, full of emotional gravitas, and perfectly performed.
Mount’s strength is in sharing the spotlight; he elevates co-stars and guest stars and never hogs the frame. Whether mentoring Spock (Ethan Peck), trading barbs with Number One (Rebecca Romijn), or reacting to a mysterious new threat, Mount always presents Pike as a fully realized, very human figure. Plus, he somehow makes a Starfleet uniform look both heroic and completely lived-in. And his spectacular hair has launched a million memes.