Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor best known for his role as the Klingon character Worf in the Star Trek franchise, appearing in all seven seasons of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), and later reprising the role in seasons four through seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1995–1999) and season three of Star Trek: Picard (2023). Dorn has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise's history, spanning five films and 284 television episodes.
Outside of the Star Trek franchise, Dorn has appeared in the television series CHiPs (1979–1982), and has had voice roles as Coldstone and Taurus in the animated series Gargoyles (1994–1997), Kalibak in the DC Animated Universe, the eponymous protagonist of I Am Weasel (1997–2000), Mata Nui in Bionicle media, Lord Darkar in the Nickelodeon dub of Winx Club (2011), Castle (2009–2016) as a psychotherapist, Captain Mozar in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2015–2016) and Battle Beast in Invincible (2021–present).
Outside of shows and movies, he has had voice roles in several Star Trek-related games, as well as more obscure voice roles such as a major companion Marcus and the main antagonist Frank Horrigan of the action RPG game Fallout 2 (1998) and a Krogan character in Mass Effect 2 (2010), among many other similar roles.
Early life
Dorn was born in Luling, Texas, the son of Allie Lee (née Nauls) and Fentress Dorn Jr. He grew up in Pasadena, California, where he studied radio and television production at Pasadena City College. Following his graduation, he pursued a career in music as a performer with several different rock-music bands, traveling to San Francisco and then back to Los Angeles.
Career
Early work
Dorn first appeared on-screen in Rocky, in an uncredited role as Apollo Creed's bodyguard. Two years later, he appeared as a guest star on a 1978 episode of the television show W.E.B.. Impressed by his work, the show's producer introduced Dorn to an agent, through whom he met acting teacher Charles E. Conrad. Dorn studied with Conrad for six months, until he landed a regular role on the crime drama series CHiPs. His character proved so popular amongst fans that Dorn was added to the cast of spin-off series Deep Space Nine in an effort to boost ratings.
Dorn (as Worf) has the record for the most on-screen appearances of any Star Trek character. As Worf, he appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (missing only the episodes "Code of Honor", "Haven", and "Shades of Gray"), 102 episodes of Deep Space Nine, four Star Trek movies, and seven episodes of Star Trek: Picard, bringing his total to 288 appearances as the character. He also appeared as Worf's ancestor, Colonel Worf, in the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and directed the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes "In the Cards", "Inquisition", and "When It Rains...", and the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Two Days and Two Nights".
He was one of six actors to reprise his role, in voiceover, for the Star Trek: Captain's Chair virtual reality game. In 2014, he participated in the fan-produced Star Trek episode "Fairest of Them All", giving his voice to the computer of the Mirror Universe Enterprise.
In 2012, Dorn announced a desire to return to his Klingon role in a television series tentatively titled Star Trek: Captain Worf. He said: <blockquote>I had come up with the idea because I love [Worf] and I think he's a character that hasn't been fully developed and hasn't been fully realized. Once I started thinking about it, it became obvious to me that I wanted to at least put it out there, which I have, and the response has been pretty amazing. We've been contacted by different individuals–I can't say who and all that–about wanting to come on board and be part of this.</blockquote>
In April 2022, it was announced that he would reprise his role as Worf in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which aired in 2023.
Other work
Dorn has appeared in a number of TV shows, films and video games. <!-- Also in animation as I Am Weasel as the voice of the titular character. --> He has been the spokesman for Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, and has appeared in a Dodge Dart car commercial. He voiced Marcus and Frank Horrigan in Fallout 2 and would later reprise the role of Marcus in Fallout: New Vegas. He appeared in a 2012 tongue-in-cheek television commercial for Chrysler as "Future Guy", a time traveler sent from the future to assist development of the 2013 Dodge Dart. He also plays the role of General Thain in the Castlevania: Hymn of Blood web series.
Following his Star Trek career, he had supporting roles in a number of independent feature films, including Shadow Hours (2000), Lessons for an Assassin (2001) and The Santa Clause trilogy, in which he appeared in a minor role as the Sandman. Dorn reprised his role as Worf for cameo appearances on Webster and Family Guy, the latter with several of his fellow Next Generation castmates. He had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.
In March 2023, Dorn was announced as the writer for a comic starring Steel (John Henry Irons), whom he voiced in Superman: The Animated Series. Steelworks #1 was published on June 6, 2023, with art by Sami Basri.
Dorn provides the voice of the character Battle Beast in the animated series Invincible.
Personal life
A member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Dorn is an accomplished pilot. He has flown with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. a North American F-86 Sabre, and currently owns a North American Sabreliner. Dorn also serves on several aviation organizations, one of which is the Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation, where he is on the advisory board. Dorn was interviewed for the "Private Jets" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel.
Dorn stated in a 2010 interview that he had been diagnosed with an "early early" stage of prostate cancer, which led him to become a vegan.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1976
|Rocky
|Apollo Creed's bodyguard
|Film debut; uncredited
|-
|1977
|Demon Seed
|bit part (uncredited)
|
|-
|1985
|Jagged Edge
|Dan Hislan
|
|-
|1991
|Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
|Klingon Defense Attorney (Colonel Worf)
|
|-
|1994
|Star Trek Generations
|Lieutenant Commander Worf
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1995
|Timemaster
|Chairman
|
|-
|Mission Critical
|Commander
|
|-
|1996
|Star Trek: First Contact
|Lieutenant Commander Worf
|
|-
|1997
|Menno's Mind
|Simon, Menno's Friend
|
|-
|1998
|Star Trek: Insurrection
|Lieutenant Commander Worf
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Shadow Hours
|Detective Thomas Greenwood
|
|-
|The Prophet's Game
|Bob Bowman
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2001
|The Gristle
|Tar
|
|-
|Mach 2
|Rogers
|
|-
|Ali
|Black pilot
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2002
|Face Value
|Hitman
|
|-
|Star Trek: Nemesis
|Lieutenant Commander Worf
|
|-
|The Santa Clause 2
|Sandman
|Cameo
|-
| rowspan="3" |2003
|Shade
|Jack Thornhill
|
|-
|Lessons For an Assassin
|Quinn
|
|-
|The Interplanetary Surplus Male and Amazon Women of Outer Space
|Sam the Bartender
|Direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan="2" |2005
|Heart of the Beholder
|Lieutenant Larson
|
|-
|Thru the Moebius Strip
|King Tor
|Voice
|-
|2006
|The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
|Sandman
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |2007
|Fist of the Warrior
|Arnold Denton
|
|-
|Night Skies
|Kyle
|
|-
|The Deep Below
|Carl Bennett
|
|-
|2009
|Bionicle: The Legend Reborn
|Mata Nui
|Voice, direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|Supergirl
|Voice, episode: "Crisis on Earth-X"; uncredited
|-
|Transformers: Titans Return
|Fortress Maximus
|Voice, web series
|-
|2017–2018
|Justice League Action
|Atrocitus
|Voice, 2 episodes
|-
| 2025–present
| Armorsaurs
| Karter Klay
| Voice, main role
|-
| 2026
| Teen Titans Go!
| The Monitor
| Voice, episode "Use It Or Lose It"
|}
Video games
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1993
|Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
|Dr. John
|
|-
|2017
|XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
|Pratal Mox
|
|-
|2018
|Lego DC Super-Villains
|Kalibak
|
|-
|2019
|Indivisible
|Ravannavar
|
|}
Web series
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2010
| Mata Nui Saga
| Mata Nui
| Voice
|-
| 2014
| Star Trek Continues
| Computer Voice
| Voice, episode: "Fairest of Them All"
|-
| 2015
| Con Man
| Himself
| Episode: "Thank Your for Your Service"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Bravest Warriors
| Armada Pilot
| Voice, episode: "Dan of Future Past"
|-
| Transformers: Titans Return
| Fortress Maximus
| Voice, episode: "Aftermath and Rebirth"