Christopher Collins' 4 Star Trek Roles Explained

Summary Christopher Collins portrayed multiple characters in Star Trek, including Captain Kargan and Captain Grebnedlog in TNG.

Collins' portrayal of Markalian Durg in DS9 showed his diverse acting range in the Star Trek universe.

Despite his brief appearances, Collins made a lasting impact on the franchise with his various roles.

Actor and stand-up comedian Christopher Collins played four different Star Trek characters in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In TNG's "Matter of Honor," Collins appeared as the Klingon Captain Kargan, who butted heads with his temporary First Officer, Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes). Collins played another Captain in TNG's "Samaritan Snare," this time a Pakled named Grebnedlog. In DS9, Collins appeared as Markalians in both of his appearances, one of whom was a mercenary named Durg, while the other was an unnamed guard.

Christopher Collins was an actor and comedian most known for his voice-over roles in animated projects. He provided the voice for Cobra Commander in several different versions of the animated G.I. Joe series. He also voiced Starscream and numerous other characters in the first Transformers animated series. In addition to his Star Trek appearances, Collins appeared in episodes of Doogie Howser, M.D., Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, and Married... with Children. He had a few minor film roles, including appearances in Road House, True Identity, and A Stranger Among Us. Collins also had a successful career in stand-up comedy and won the San Francisco International Stand-Up Comedy Competition in 1990. Tragically, Collins passed away in 1994 at the age of 44.

Christopher Collins originated the voice of Mr. Burns on The Simpsons, but had to turn over the role to Harry Shearer after only a few episodes. Shearer modeled his performance on that of Collins.

Related Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show The Star Trek franchise on Paramount+ continues with new series and made-for-streaming movies as well as more Discovery and animated shows.

4 Captain Kargan

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 8 - "A Matter of Honor"

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In Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Matter of Honor," Commander Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) participates in an officer exchange program and takes on the role of First Officer on the Klingon vessel, the Pagh. Christopher Collins portrays the Klingon commander of the Pagh, Captain Kargan, who is suspicious of Riker from the jump. When a strange bacteria is discovered on the Pagh's outer hull, Kargan suspects Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D are responsible.

"A Matter of Honor" updated the Klingons for TNG and established their culture moving forward.

When Kargan refuses to listen to his temporary First Officer, Riker has Kargan beamed over to the Enterprise and takes over command of the Pagh. After the Enterprise helps repair the Pagh, Kargan returns to his ship and dismisses Riker for being insubordinate. Still, it's clear Kargan has developed a certain amount of respect for Riker, despite all of his Klingon bluster. With its depictions of life aboard a Klingon ship, "A Matter of Honor" updated the Klingons for TNG and established their culture moving forward.

3 Captain Grebnedlog

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 17 - "Samaritan Snare"

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Christopher Collins' next Star Trek appearance came later in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2 when he played Captain Grebnedlog, the commander of the Pakled ship Mondor. As Captain Picard heads to a nearby starbase for a medical procedure, Commander Riker is left in command of the USS Enterprise-D. The Enterprise soon receives a distress call from the Mondor, and Captain Grebnedlog tells Riker and his crew that the unintelligent Pakleds need help to make their ship go.

Commander Riker sends Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) over to help with repairs, but the Pakleds soon take Geordi as a hostage. While Grebnedlog and his crew may not be very intelligent, they have managed to gain technology by stealing it from other species. Riker makes some questionable decisions in "Samaritan Snare," but he does trick the Pakleds into releasing La Forge in the end.

The Pakleds did not appear on screen again until the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, where their ridiculous but sometimes dangerous antics are a much better fit.

2 Durg

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episode 9 - "The Passenger"

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In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s “The Passenger,” Christopher Collins played Durg, a Markalian mercenary who met with the profit-hungry Ferengi Quark (Armin Shimerman). When a criminal Kobliad named Rao Vantika (James Harper) transfers his consciousness to Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), he employs Durg to help him steal a shipment of deuridium. Durg and his fellow mercenaries attack the freighter transporting the deuridium, the Norkova, killing the bridge crew and taking control of the ship.

The crew of space station Deep Space Nine then trap the Norkova with a tractor beam, but Vantika continues to try to escape. Still inhabiting the body of Dr. Bashir, Vantika orders Durg to jump to warp speed (which would destroy the freighter), but he refuses. Vantika then kills Durg, before Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Lt. Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) figure out a way to communicate with Bashir and resolve the situation.

1 Unnamed Markalian Guard

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2, Episode 19 - "Blood Oath"

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Christopher Collins played another member of the Markalian species in DS9’s “Blood Oath. This Markalian served as an assistant and guard for the infamous criminal known as The Albino (Bill Bolender). Many years before, three Klingon warships were dispatched to capture the Albino, and while they managed to destroy his base, the Albino himself escaped. These three Klingon ships were led by Kor (John Colicos), Koloth (William Campbell), and Kang (Michael Ansara). The Albino later retaliated by killing each of the Klingon’s firstborn sons, which prompted them to swear a blood oath to kill the Albino.

Kor, Koloth, and Kang all appeared as Klingons on Star Trek: The Original Series, and all three actors reprise their respective roles.

The three Klingons arrive on Deep Space Nine eighty-one years later, after Kang reveals he has discovered the Albino’s location. With the help of Jadzia Dax (whose former symbiote Curzon was godfather to Kang’s son), the three Klingons attack the Albino. After alerting the Albino to the presence of the Klingons, the guard is ultimately killed by Kang while the Albino cowers behind him. Although Kang manages to kill the Albino, he and Koloth both die from their wounds. With the three boisterous Klingons stealing the show, Collins’ Markalian guard does not make as much of an impression, but he nevertheless left his mark on the Star Trek franchise.