Michael Forest, ‘Star Trek’ Actor, Dies at 97

Actor Michael Forest, best known for his memorable appearances in the “Star Trek” franchise, has died. He was 97.

Forest died Wednesday, according to his friend James A. Brown, who announced the news Friday in a post on Facebook.

“It is with great sadness that I report that we have lost Michael Forest,” Brown wrote. “I knew him as an actor and loved him as a friend. I’m sure others will share, but that’s all I’m capable of right now.”

Brown shared the announcement alongside a photo of himself with Forest, whose real name was Gerald Michael Charlebois. He also posted a picture of the nameplate outside the actor’s room at MorningStar Senior Living in Sparks, Nevada, where Forest had recently been living, according to Deadline.

A cause of death has not been publicly announced.

His Memorable ‘Star Trek’ Role

Forest became part of “Star Trek” history in 1967 when he appeared as the Greek god Apollo in the original series episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?”

In the episode, Apollo encounters the crew of the USS Enterprise and demands that they worship him. Although Forest appeared in only one episode of the original series, the role became one of the most recognizable performances of his long career.

Decades later, Forest returned to the character. In 2013, he once again played Apollo in “Pilgrim of Eternity,” an episode of the fan-produced series “Star Trek Continues.” His wife, actress Diana Hale, also appeared in the episode as Athena.

Michael Forest’s Early Life

Forest was born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 17, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota. His family later moved to the Seattle area.

According to his IMDb biography, Forest attended the University of Washington before moving to California. He later graduated from San Jose State University, where he studied English and drama.

Forest eventually made his way to Hollywood and began building an acting career during the 1950s. His tall frame and distinctive appearance helped him land a variety of roles, including work in several films connected to filmmaker Roger Corman.

His early movie credits included “The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent,” “Beast from Haunted Cave” and “Atlas.”

A Career That Went Far Beyond ‘Star Trek’

While “Star Trek” remained one of Forest’s best-known credits, it represented only a small part of a career that stretched across several decades.

According to Page Six, Forest accumulated more than 200 acting credits during his career.

He appeared on numerous classic television programs, including “Gunsmoke,” “Perry Mason,” “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Gilligan’s Island.”

Forest also appeared in a memorable 1964 episode of “The Twilight Zone” titled “Black Leather Jackets.” He played Steve, one of three mysterious men who arrive in a quiet suburban neighborhood but turn out to have a much darker purpose.

His television career continued for years. Forest later played Nick Andropoulos on the long-running soap opera “As the World Turns” in the early 1980s.

Movies and Voice Acting

Forest also found success on the big screen. Later in his career, his film credits included “Body of Evidence” and the Tom Hanks survival drama “Cast Away.”

He also spent years living and working in Europe, including time in Rome, where he continued acting and became involved in dubbing films.

Voice acting eventually became another major part of his career. Forest provided voices for animated projects, English-language versions of anime productions and video games.

His work introduced him to another generation of viewers who may not have known him from his earlier television appearances.

His Life Away From Hollywood

Forest was married to actress and acting teacher Diana Hale for more than 50 years. The couple married in 1970 and remained together until Hale’s death in 2022.

Even late in his life, Forest remained closely connected to the role that made him a familiar face to “Star Trek” fans.

His return as Apollo nearly five decades after his original appearance showed just how much the character continued to mean to viewers.

Forest leaves behind a career that stretched from the early days of television through modern movies, animation and voice acting. Although many fans will always remember him as Apollo, his work extended far beyond the “Star Trek” universe and included hundreds of performances across television, film and other forms of entertainment.