Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Lt. Barclay
2. Dwight Schultz Lobbied For The Role Of Reg
As a character actor previously best known for playing "Howlin Mad" Murdock in The A-Team, Dwight Schultz had worked with a number of people related to Star Trek: The Next Generation prior to being cast as Reg Barclay. He had worked with Worf actor Michael Dorn in an episode of CHiPS, and knew Whoopi Goldberg from their time on the film The Long Walk Home.
As a huge sci-fi fan, Schultz was keen to take on a role in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and expressed his interest to TNG's executive producer Rick Berman. However, it was his friendship with Whoopi Goldberg that was instrumental in getting him the role of Barclay. She saw what a great fit Schultz was for the show, and said as much to Star Trek's producers.
Schultz swiftly received a phonecall from his agent about the role of Reg Barclay. As a Star Trek fan, who gets to take his place on the USS Enterprise, Schultz reflected that he was "the lucky one chosen" in an interview with TV Zone. It's that love of Star Trek, and Reg's own self-conscious and nervous personality that resonated so well with fans, who got to live their own Star Trek fantasies vicariously through him.