I’m going with William Windom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7cK-mQ0fQ&t=134s

Staving off reality:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmnpz6TheSs

Doing a villain turn by seizing control:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83tW0jhEvZE

Matt’s heroic sacrifice:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_mwtoeqneM

Finally, one of the most nail-biting scenes ever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHmsnQ8WVpw

Personal notes: across all TV and media, I’ve rarely seen a character go from totally sympathetic, to total heel-turn villain, to total martyr like that.

In terms of ST series, maybe Dukat from DS…?

Runner-ups?

  • Mark Lenard as the Romulan commander

  • Robert Walker as “Charlie X”

  • Roger C. Carmel as “Harry Mudd”

Daggit, I know I’m forgetting some actors, here…

  • Daniel Quinn@lemmy.caEnglish
    14·
    10 months ago

    Excluding the obvious choice of Jeffrey Combs as… well anyone really, I’m rather fond of Andreas Katsulas, though I may be partial to him for his phenomenal role as G’Kar on Babylon 5.

  • Grabthar@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    10 months ago

    Not going to state the obvious with Ricardo Montalban, but I always enjoyed William Campbell’s Trelaine. And yeah, Windom was solid as Decker. Great episode all around.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.caEnglish
    5·
    10 months ago

    I haven’t seen all of them yet (half way through season 2) but right now I’d say

    William Campbell

    In … The Squire of Gothos … and also appeared as Klingon Captain Koloth

    His acting and persona is equal parts lovable and hateable … the kind of guy you could be friends with while also wanting to stay away from as much as possible.

    The other guest actor that I felt the same about was

    Roger C. Carmel

    In … Mudd’s Women … and later in … I, Mudd

    • Pandantic [they/them]@midwest.socialEnglish
      2·
      10 months ago

      William Campbell is my favorite, too. His characters were all so over the top.

      TNG spoilers:

      Hey, was he one of the Q? Just never revealing himself?! Playing with this great starship captain for amusement.

  • Venator@lemmy.nzEnglish
    2·
    10 months ago

    Was expecting the title to end with “, and why is it William Windon?” before I read the second half of the sentence 🤣