10 Actors Who Turned Down Star Trek

10. Robin Williams Was So Close To Appearing

It's no secret that the late great Robin Williams was a massive fan of geek culture. The legendary comedian even named his daughter after the classic Legend of Zelda series, and therefore it's not surprising to learn that he was a big Trekkie. However, unlike other fans who dream of visiting the USS Enterprise, Williams was actually offered a part in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sadly he turned it away due to scheduling conflicts.

In season five episode nine "A Matter of Time" of Star Trek: The Next Generation, you are introduced to the strange and eccentric Professor Berlinghof Rasmussen, and it'd be hard to blame you for thinking that the role would have suited the comedy megastar perfectly. It turns out there's a reason for that, as the role itself was written for Williams, thanks to his well-known passion for the franchise.

Sadly, he had to pass on it as his shooting schedule for the Spielberg classic Hook forbade it. Looking back on the episode, it's easy to see how Williams would have nailed the role. Although Matt Frewer did a solid job, this could have been one of the best guest appearances in the entire franchise.