Michael Forest, the strikingly handsome actor who gave life to the portrayal of a powerful alien claiming to be the Greek god Apollo in the Star Trek episode “Who Mourns for Adonais”, has passed away after a long and distinguished career as an actor of stage and screen.
Born Gerald Michael Charlebois April 18, 1929 in Harvey, Wells County, North Dakota, he passed away on October 14, 2026 in Sparks, Nevada at an assisted living home at the age of 97.
SciFi, Fantasy, and Horror Roles
Forest had over 100 film roles and 75 television guest roles, as well as numerous roles in traditional theater.
Forest was fluent in Italian and made more than 500 films during the decade he lived in Italy. Forest often worked with Roger Corman.
- Forest played the whip-cracking barbarian Zarko in The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1957)
- Atlas (1961)
- The Man From U.N.C.L.E. “The Terbuf Affair” – Season 1, Episode 4 (1964)
- The Beast from Haunted Cave (1959)
- One Step Beyond “Encounter” (1960)
- Deathwatch (1956)
- Twilight Zone “Black Leather Jackets” – Season 5, Episode 18 (1964)
- Armitage III (1975)
- The Castle of Cagliostro (1979)
- Lensman (1984)
- King Kong Lives (1986)
- Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise (1987)
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991)
- Ninja Scroll (1993)
- Saban’s The Masked Rider animated series (1996)
- Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue (2000)
- Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
- Appleseed (2004)
- Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006)
- WXIII: Patlobor the Movie 3 (2012)
Forest was a busy man. He appeared on such diverse shows as Gilligan’s Island, Disney’s Zorro, Rawhide, Bonanza, Combat!, and even The Dick Van Dyke Show. Watch your local station for reruns; you’ll probably catch one of his guest appearances. The role for which is probably most famous was his appearance as Apollo in the original TV series Star Trek.
Voice Acting
In addition to his many films and television appearances, Forest was also a busy voice actor, serving on the casts for the English versions of many Japanese anime projects. He did voices for the video games Dynasty Warriors 4, Seven Samurai 20XX, and Jade Cocoon: Story of the Tamamayu. He also dubbed English translations for several European movies.
Personal Life
Forest was married to actress Diana Hale for over fifty years. She predeceased him in 2022. Michael Forest was born in Harvey, North Dakota, but grew up in Seattle Washington. He attended San Jose State University, in San Jose, California, and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in English and drama. He attended the university of Washington for two years before moving to California.
Forest was a noted Shakespearean actor in the legitimate theater, and might have appreciated this quote from Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2:
“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
We will carry you in our hearts forever, Mr. Forest. Well done.
Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows. Her nonfiction book THEY ENDURED will be published by B Cubed Press in 2025 or 2026.
