Our favorite Trek universe android, Data, was immortalized by Brent Spiner, who is 77 today.
Although Mr. Spiner is best known for playing Lt. Cmdr. Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation and its sequel movies, that is far from his only genre role.
He first came to prominence in the classic TV series Night Court, playing the iconic role of Bob Wheeler, the sad misfit who found himself in court seven times over seasons 2 and 3 before Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson). He was also Dr. Nigel Fenway in Threshold and Dr. Brakish Okun in Independence Day. He played Brother Adrian in Warehouse 13.
Spinder is also a noted voice actor, providing his voice to the Riddler in Justice League Action, Purple Man in The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and Puck in both the Disney cartoon Gargoyles and the live-action fantasy-adventure The Librarians. He voiced Dr. Gabriel Rylander in Generator Rex. He was the Silver Surfer in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. He was also in Star Wars Rebels as Gail Trayvis – and of course, his first breakout role was a recurring role as the pathetic and cursed-in-this-life Bob Wheeler.
Brent J. Spiner was born February 2, 1949, in Houston Texas. He began his acting career in local theater productions in Texas, before moving to New York City where he often performed off-Broadway. He moved to Los Angeles, CCCA in 1984, becoming a respected character actor in TV and movies until his big break in 1987 as Data.
He is married to Hollywood producer and publicist Loree McBride. They have a son, Jackson Spiner, who is at this writing a budding screenwriter.
February 2, 2026 is Brent Spiner’s 77th birthday. We at SCIFI.radio wish him a very happy birthday. Lt. Cmdr. Data is without a doubt his most famous role. Of the many parts he’s played on stage and screen, which is your favorite?
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