20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

20. A Presidential Vulcan

Laurence Luckinbill joined the ensemble for Star Trek V: The Final Frontier after Shatner saw him play a former US President. Lyndon B. Johnson had been the Vice-President for John F. Kennedy. His swearing-in after the assassination would later become the inspiration behind the inauguration of President Laura Roslin on Ronald D. Moore's re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series.

Luckinbill appeared as Johnson several times throughout his career. As an actor and playwright, he had created several productions about the man, but it was not one of his own creations that inspired Shatner to cast him as the emotional Vulcan, Sybok.

It was during a late-night channel surfing session that Shatner stumbled upon him, deciding in the moment that he had found Spock's half-brother. Though he may not have been the first choice for the role, Luckinbill's performance as Sybok remains one of the true highlights of Star Trek V. He brings charisma to the normal stoic race, playing brilliantly against Nimoy's usual straight-faced Spock.