10 Great Contributions To Humanity By Star Trek Actors

2. James Doohan

James Doohan Scotty Star Trek Generations
Paramount Pictures

Aside from contributing many a lifesaving engineering miracle board the USS Enterprise, James Doohan's life was perhaps even more of an adventure story than the science fiction world of Star Trek.

Part of the D-Day landings, Doohan was involved in the retaking of France in 1944. The loss of his finger on the Normandy beaches (one of six shots from friendly fire that hit the actor) led to some "creative" direction to cover it up onscreen.

But perhaps the most amazing story is one in which Doohan is credited with saving the life of a Star Trek fan.

Doohan recalled receiving a letter from a fan. This letter was a suicide note. Calling her back, the actor invited the girl down to a convention in Indianapolis and upon meeting knew how serious it was.

Doohan would see the woman at multiple conventions over the next few years before she would disappear without a word. Eight years later he received a letter saying thank you and that the woman had completed her Masters degree in Electrical Engineering. "To me the best thing I've ever done in my life and still brings tears to my eyes everytime I tell the story."

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A Star Trek fan from birth, I love to dive into every aspect of the franchise in front and behind the screen. There's something here that's kept me interested for the best part of four decades! Now I'm getting back into writing and using Star Trek as my first line of literary attack. If I'm not here on WhatCulture then you're more than welcome to come and take a look at my blog, Some Kind of Star Trek at http://SKoST.co.uk or maybe follow me on Twitter as @TheWarpCore. Sometimes I force myself not to talk about Star Trek.