10 Star Trek Characters You Totally Forgot Existed
1. Yeoman Smith
The original Character You Forgot Existed, Yeoman Smith was a key part of the promotion work for the second pilot of Star Trek, appearing alongside William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Smith, played by Andrea Dromm, was intended to fulfil the role vacated by Lauren Goodwin's Yeoman Colt. In fact, Dromm could even share this honourable position with Paul Fix who portrayed Dr Piper for this lone outing.
Press releases for the second pilot highlighted her character as the captain's secretary, a dispenser of coffee and perhaps most degrading, a "change of scenery from long hours scanning the vast reaches of space". How lovely to perceive the role as such on a show that was all about equality and respect to all.
A precursor to the short-lived Yeoman Janice Rand, Smith's "non-role" was given much more presence than might have been expected thanks, perhaps, to the interests of one Gene Roddenberry. However, Dromm, who had a fairly successful career aside from Star Trek, would not be called back to take on her role for the main series. Step forward Grace Lee Whitney who would take on the duties of Kirk's assistant for a chunk of the first season.