Before he was the iconic Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise, William Shatner had already marked his territory on the small screen. But it was his dramatic yet humorous portrayal of eccentric lawyer Denny Crane in “Boston Legal” that truly allowed him to shine post-‘Star Trek’. The role earned Shatner two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, cementing his place as a versatile actor.

Leonard Nimoy as Dr. William Bell in “Fringe”

Leonard Nimoy, immortalized as Spock, gave life to another memorable sci-fi character: Dr. William Bell, the enigmatic founder of Massive Dynamic in “Fringe”. Nimoy’s appearances were infrequent but impactful, providing gravitas and a sense of continuity to the show’s multiverse lore.

DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in “Star Trek” movies

While DeForest Kelley is best known for his role as Dr. McCoy on ‘Star Trek’, he brought Bones to life again with nuanced performances in the ‘Star Trek’ feature films. The transition from television to cinema allowed Kelley to explore different facets of McCoy’s character with more depth and a bigger budget.

James Doohan as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek movies

Similarly, James Doohan reprised his role as Scotty in the ‘Star Trek’ films after the original series ended. His portrayal of the chief engineer whose technical wizardry often saved the day became legendary. In the movies, Scotty’s character was given more room for development and allowed Doohan to showcase his acting abilities on a larger scale.

George Takei as Hiro Nakamura’s father Kaito Nakamura in “Heroes”

Moving away from Sulu’s helmsman position aboard the Enterprise, George Takei appeared in a different kind of science fiction series, “Heroes”. He played Kaito Nakamura, father to one of the show’s main characters, Hiro Nakamura. Takei’s performance added emotional depth and cultural context to the series’ sprawling narrative.

Nichelle Nichols as Nana Dawson in “Heroes”

Just like her co-star George Takei, Nichelle Nichols joined the cast of “Heroes” but as a different character – Nana Dawson. Her character served as a motherly figure amidst the show’s popping supernatural chaos, bringing both compassion and sternness to her familial role.

Walter Koenig as Psi Cop Alfred Bester in “Babylon 5”

Best known for portraying Pavel Chekov in ‘Star Trek’, Walter Koenig turned heads with his portrayal of Alfred Bester, one of the primary antagonists in “Babylon 5”. His character was complex—a villain with understandable motives—which offered Koenig an opportunity to dive into morally ambiguous waters distinct from Chekov’s more clear-cut heroics.

Through these roles, each actor demonstrated their range beyond their Starfleet uniforms and proved that while they may be cherished for their work on ‘Star Trek’, they are multifaceted performers capable of leaving an indelible mark on other stories within and outside the science fiction genre.