Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Tuvok

8. Combing Through Trek Roles

Tim Russ was no stranger to the final frontier when he was cast as Tuvok. He had previously appeared in the Mel Brooks comedy film Spaceballs, combing the desert and coming up trumps. He had also appeared in Star Trek before, though he almost nabbed a recurring role around the time he wasn't finding shit.

Russ auditioned for the role of Geordi LaForge while The Next Generation was still in pre-production, though lost the role to LeVar Burton. Though he got as far as screen testing, it wasn't his time. He did however appear in the sixth season episode Starship Mine as Devor, one of the terrorists attempting to steal trilithium resin, though he became the ironic victim of a Vulcan neck pinch.

He also appeared in Deep Space Nine before donning the ears, instead sporting a Klingon headpiece in Invasive Procedures. He then popped up on the bridge of the Enterprise-B in Star Trek: Generations, making him one of the few actors to appear beside several captains of the Enterprise -  Kirk, Harriman, Picard and, thanks to her promotion in Star Trek: Picard, Seven Of Nine.