Brent Spiner - wikipedia Brent Spiner `` Fresh Hell '' redirects here. For the Penny Dreadful episode, see List of Penny Dreadful episodes § Season 2 ( 2015 ). Brent Spiner Spiner at the 2016 San Diego Comic - Con International promoting the returning Star Trek series on CBS Brent Jay Spiner ( 1949 - 02 - 02 ) February 2, 1949 ( age 69 ) Houston, Texas, U.S. Other names Brent Jay Mintz ( 1955 -- 1975 ) Alma mater University of Houston Occupation Actor, comedian, musician, singer Years active 1970 -- present Website www.therealbrentspiner.com Brent Jay Spiner ( / ˈspaɪnər / ; born February 2, 1949 ) is an American actor, comedian, and singer best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek : The Next Generation and four subsequent films. In 1997, he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Data in Star Trek : First Contact, and was nominated in the same category for portraying Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day, a role he reprised in Independence Day : Resurgence. He has also enjoyed a career in the theatre and as a musician. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2.1 Early work 2.2 Star Trek 2.2. 1 Album 2.3 After Star Trek 3 Filmography 3.1 Film 3.2 Television 3.3 Theatre 4 References 5 External links Early life Brent Jay Spiner was born on February 2, 1949, in Houston, Texas, to Sylvia and Jack Spiner, a Jewish family who owned a furniture store. After his father 's death, Spiner was adopted by Sylvia 's second husband, Sol Mintz, whose surname he used between 1955 and 1975. He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas. Spiner became active on the Bellaire speech team, winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation. He attended the University of Houston, where he performed in local theatre. Career Early work Spiner moved to New York City in the early ' 70s, where he became a stage actor, performing in several Broadway and off - Broadway plays, including The Three Musketeers and Stephen Sondheim 's Sunday in the Park with George. He had a brief nonspeaking role in the film Stardust Memories, credited as `` Fan in Lobby '', the one with a Polaroid. Spiner appeared as a media technician in `` The Advocates '', a second - season episode of the Showtime cable series The Paper Chase. In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in several pilots and made - for - TV movies. He played a recurring character on Night Court, Bob Wheeler, patriarch of a rural family. In 1986, he played a condemned soul in `` Dead Run '', an episode of the short - lived revival of Rod Serling 's series The Twilight Zone on CBS. He made two appearances in season three ( 1986 ) of the situation comedy Mama 's Family, playing two different characters. Spiner 's first and only starring film role was in Rent Control ( 1984 ). In the Cheers episode `` Never Love a Goalie, Part II '', he played acquitted murder suspect Bill Grand. Spiner also appeared in the Tales from the Darkside episode, `` A Case of the Stubborns '', as a preacher. He portrayed Jim Stevens in the made - for - TV movie Manhunt for Claude Dallas. Star Trek In 1987, Spiner started his 15 - year run portraying Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek : The Next Generation, which spanned seven seasons and four feature films. As a main character, he appeared in all but one of the series ' 178 episodes ; he was not in the episode `` Family ''. He reprised his role in the spin - off films Star Trek Generations ( 1994 ), Star Trek : First Contact ( 1996 ), Star Trek : Insurrection ( 1998 ), and Star Trek : Nemesis ( 2002 ). Although billed as the final Trek movie for the TNG cast, the ambiguous ending of Star Trek : Nemesis suggested a possible avenue for the return of Data. However, Spiner has opined that he is too old to continue playing the part, as Data embodies a `` childlike innocence '' that Spiner can no longer credibly exhibit, as his appearance had already begun to lose that quality by the time he filmed his last Trek films. In addition to the series and films, he voiced his character in several Star Trek video games, such as Star Trek : Generations, Star Trek : The Next Generation - A Final Unity, Star Trek : Hidden Evil, and Star Trek : Bridge Commander. After appearing in several episodes as Arik Soong, the ancestor of Data 's creator, Dr. Noonien Soong, Spiner also recorded dialogue as Data that was heard in the final episode of Star Trek : Enterprise, `` These Are the Voyages... '', which aired in 2005, bringing the Star Trek TV franchise Spiner had helped establish 18 years earlier to a close. Album In 1991, Spiner recorded an album of 1940s pop standards entitled Ol ' Yellow Eyes Is Back, the title of which was a play on the yellow contact lenses Spiner wore as Data, and the title of a Frank Sinatra record, Ol ' Blue Eyes Is Back. In 1997, he returned to Broadway, playing John Adams in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the musical 1776. The production was nominated for a Tony Award. A cast recording was released of the revival production. After Star Trek Spiner has appeared in the television series Deadly Games, Dream On, Frasier, Friends, Gargoyles, Law & Order : Criminal Intent, Mad About You and The Outer Limits. In the series The Big Bang Theory and Joey, he appeared as himself. He has acted in the movies The Aviator, Dude, Where 's My Car ?, I Am Sam, Independence Day, Independence Day : Resurgence, The Master of Disguise, Out to Sea, Phenomenon, The Ponder Heart and South Park : Bigger, Longer and Uncut. His television - movie appearances during this period include the 2000 musical Geppetto and the role of Dorothy Dandridge 's manager and confidant, Earl Mills, in the HBO production Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. In 2004, Spiner returned to Star Trek when he appeared as Dr. Arik Soong, an ancestor of Data 's creator Dr. Noonien Soong, whom he also played, in a three - episode story arc of Star Trek : Enterprise : `` Borderland '', `` Cold Station 12 '', and `` The Augments ''. He also briefly reprised the role of Data for the series, providing a voice - only cameo in the Enterprise finale `` These Are the Voyages... ''. Spiner guest - starred in Friends as a man who interviews Rachel for Gucci, and later cameoed as himself in the Friends spin - off Joey. In 2005, Spiner appeared in a short - lived science - fiction television series Threshold, which was canceled in November of that year after 13 episodes. In 2006, he appeared in a feature film comedy, Material Girls, with Hilary and Haylie Duff. During the 10th season of the situation comedy Frasier, in the episode `` Lilith Needs a Favor '', Spiner made two brief cameos as a fellow airline passenger with Frasier Crane 's ex-wife, Lilith Sternin. In March 2008, Spiner performed alongside Maude Maggart in a radio show / musical, Dreamland, which was released as a CD album. In 2008, Spiner played Dr. Strom in the feature film parody Superhero Movie. In February 2009, he played William Quint in `` The Juror # 6 Job '', an episode of the drama series Leverage directed by his Next Generation co-star Jonathan Frakes. That same year, he voiced himself in the Family Guy episode `` Not All Dogs Go to Heaven ''. Spiner with William Shatner and LeVar Burton in July 2010 In 2010, Spiner and fellow Star Trek : The Next Generation star LeVar Burton appeared on TWiT.tv 's coverage of the Consumer Electronics Show. In April 2011, Spiner began starring in Fresh Hell, a comic webseries in which he plays a version of himself, attempting to put his career back together after falling out of the limelight. He appeared as Dr. Kern in the September 12, 2011, episode of the Syfy channel program Alphas entitled `` Blind Spot ''. In October 2011, he appeared as himself in the episode `` The Russian Rocket Reaction '' of The Big Bang Theory. The day after his guest appearance, it was announced that Spiner would guest - star in the Young Justice episode `` Revelation '', providing the voice of the Joker. Spiner has also guest - starred on the Syfy program Warehouse 13 as Brother Adrian in the third and fourth seasons. In episode seven of season four, the character Pete Lattimer jokingly describes another obsessively tidy character in this episode as `` Commander Data ''. Spiner 's web site is at therealbrentspiner.com He selected that domain name because someone else bought the domain name brentspiner.com before he could do so, and he was not amenable to paying the price the owners demanded for it, which Spiner called `` inflated ''. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 My Sweet Charlie Local Uncredited 1980 Stardust Memories Fan in lobby 1982 Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains Corinne Burns 's Boss Uncredited 1984 Rent Control Leonard Junger 1985 Crime of Innocence Hinnerman 1986 Sunday in the Park with George Franz / Dennis 1986 Sylvan in Paradise Clinton C. Waddle 1986 Manhunt for Claude Dall Jim Stevens Family Sins Ken McMahon Miss Firecracker Preacher Mann 1994 Corrina, Corrina Brent Witherspoon 1994 Star Trek Generations Lt. Commander Data 1995 Kingfish : A Story of Huey Long N / A Uncredited Pie in the Sky Upscale Guy Independence Day Dr. Brackish Okun Nominated -- Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Phenomenon Dr. Rob Niedorf Star Trek First Contact Lt. Commander Data Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Out to Sea Gil Godwyn 1998 Star Trek Insurrection Lt. Commander Data 1999 South Park : Bigger, Longer & Uncut Conan O'Brien Voice 2000 Dude, Where 's My Car ? Pierre Uncredited 2001 I Am Sam Shoe Salesman 2002 The Master of Disguise Devlin Bowman 2002 Star Trek Nemesis Lt. Commander Data / B - 4 The Aviator Robert Gross 2006 Material Girls Tommy Katzenbach 2008 Superhero Movie Dr. Strom Quantum Quest : A Cassini Space Odyssey Coach Mackey Voice 2015 The Midnight Man Ezekiel 2016 Independence Day : Resurgence Dr. Brackish Okun Television Year Title Role Notes 1978 The Dain Curse Tom Fink Unknown episodes 1979 Family Fred Episode : `` Prelude '' 1981 Ryan 's Hope The Doctor Examining Kim Episode : `` # 1.1442 '' 1984 The Paper Chase Student in Reeve 's Class Episode : `` The Advocates '' 1984 Tales from the Darkside Reverend Peabody Episode : `` A Case of the Stubborns '' 1984 One Life to Live Ralph Harley Episode : `` 17 December 1984 '' 1985 Robert Kennedy & His Times Allard Lowenstein Unknown episodes 1985 Hill Street Blues Larry Stein Episode : `` The Life and Time of Domonic Florio Jr '' 1985 -- 1987 Night Court Bob Wheeler 6 episodes 1986 The New Twilight Zone The Draft Dodger Episode : `` The Leprechaun - Artist / Dead Run '' 1986 American Playhouse Dennis / Franz Episode : `` Sunday in the Park with George '' 1986 Hunter Willie Vaughn Episode : `` The Contract '' 1986 -- 1987 Mama 's Family Billy Bob Conroy 2 episodes Cheers Bill Grand Episode : `` Never Love a Goalie ( Part 2 ) '' Sledge Hammer ! Soldier Episode : `` The Spa Who Loved Me '' 1987 -- 1994 Star Trek : The Next Generation Lt. Commander Data / Lore / Dr. Noonien Soong 175 episodes Nominated -- Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Reading Rainbow Himself Episode : `` The Bionic Bunny Show '' 1991 Crazy from the Heart N / A Television movie ; uncredited 1995 Mad About You Bob, The Dog Agent Episode : `` Just My Dog '' 1995 Deadly Games Danny Schlecht Episode : `` The Practical Joker '' 1995 -- 1996 Gargoyles Puck 4 episodes Dream On Dr. Strongwater Episode : `` The Spirit of 76th & Park '' The Outer Limits Professor Trent Davis Episode : `` The Deprogrammers '' 1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge Earl Parks Television movie Nominated -- Satellite Award for Best Actor -- Miniseries or Television Film 2000 Geppetto Stromboli Television movie 2001 A Girl Thing Bob Television movie 2001 The Ponder Heart Dorris Grabney Television movie 2003 Frasier Albert Episode : `` Lilith Needs a Favor '' 2003 An Unexpected Love Brad Television movie Jack Vernon Television movie Friends James Campbell Episode : `` The One with Princess Consuela '' Law & Order : Criminal Intent Graham Barnes Episode : `` Shrink - Wrapped '' 2004 -- 2005 Star Trek : Enterprise Dr. Arik Soong / Lt. Commander Data 4 episodes 2005 Joey Himself Episode : `` Joey and the Premier '' 2005 -- 2006 Threshold Dr. Nigel Fenway 13 episodes 2009 Leverage William Quint Episode : `` The Juror # 6 Job '' 2009 Family Guy Himself ( voice ) Episode : `` Not All Dogs Go to Heaven '' 2010 -- 2013 Generator Rex Dr. Gabriel Rylander ( voice ) 4 episodes 2011 The Guild Himself Episode : `` Ends and Begins '' 2011 Alphas Dr. Kern Episode : `` Blind Spot '' 2011 The Big Bang Theory Himself Episode : `` The Russian Rocket Reaction '' 2011 Young Justice The Joker ( voice ) Episode : `` Revelation '' 2011 Fresh Hell Brent Spiner 15 episodes 2012 The Simpsons Robots ( voice ) Episode : `` Them, Robot '' 2012 The Avengers : Earth 's Mightiest Heroes Purple Man ( voice ) Episode : `` Emperor Stark '' 2012 Warehouse 13 Brother Adrian 6 episodes 2013 Wendell & Vinnie Himself Episode : `` Swindle & Vinnie '' 2014 Ray Donovan Therapist 3 episodes 2014 Star Wars Rebels Gall Trayvis ( voice ) 2 episodes 2014 Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Silver Surfer ( voice ) Episode : `` Fear Itself '' 2015 Comedy Bang ! Bang ! The Sandman Episode : `` Zach Galifianakis Wears Grey Corduroys and Brown Leather Shoes '' 2015 -- 2016 Blunt Talk Phil 4 episodes 2016 -- present Outcast Sidney 10 episodes 2016 Justice League Action Edward Nygma / The Riddler ( voice ) 2016 The Blacklist The Architect Episode : `` The Architect '' Theatre Year Title Role Notes 1978 A History of the American Film Hank 1984 -- 1985 Sunday in the Park with George Franz / Denis 1984 The Three Musketeers Aramis 1985 -- 1987 Big River The Duke 1997 -- 1998 1776 John Adams Nominated -- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical 2003 Life × 3 Hubert References Jump up ^ Jewish Journal : `` Top 5 Jewish moments in ' Trek ' '' by Adam Wills May 7, 2009 Jump up ^ `` Tweens : Celebrities : Brent Spiner ''. JUF. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Brent Spiner Biography ( 1949 -- ) ''. Film Reference. Retrieved 2010 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Brent Spiner ''. Yahoo ! TV. February 2, 1949. Retrieved 2010 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Lipton, Michael A. `` Can Data Find a Mate - A ? '' People magazine ; vol. 37, No. 22 ; June 8, 1992Spelling, Ian ( July 23, 2012 ). `` Brent Spiner set to return to Warehouse 13 ''. readingeagle.com Jump up ^ http://www.bellairedebate.com/ChapterHistory.html Jump up ^ https://www.speechanddebate.org/nationals-history/#h2-1 Jump up ^ `` Before Brent Spiner was Famous ''. National Forensic League. Retrieved June 17, 2011 Jump up ^ < % = data. objectName % > ( 2002 - 12 - 09 ). `` An Interview with Brent Spiner - IGN - Page 2 ''. Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` The Advocates ''. The Paper Chase. Season 2. Episode 17. August 7, 1984. Jump up ^ Thompson, Simon. `` Brent Spiner Rules Out Star Trek XI, '' ComingSoon.net. Retrieved November 16, 2010 Jump up ^ `` Brent Spiner on BBC Breakfast '' on YouTube, BBC Breakfast, September 23, 2006. Retrieved November 16, 2010 Jump up ^ Lee, Luaine ( January 9, 2003 ). `` A Data with Star Trek again ''. 9 January 2003. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved December 9, 2010. Jump up ^ 1776 : The New Broadway Cast Recording ( 1997 ). Amazon.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. Jump up ^ By Ken P. ( 2002 - 12 - 09 ). `` An Interview with Brent Spiner ''. IGN. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Brent Spiner ''. Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2016 - 06 - 28. Jump up ^ Tenuto, John ( April 27, 2008 ). `` Review : Brent Spiner 's Dreamland + Interview + Signed CD Giveaway. '' TrekMovie.com Jump up ^ Running time : 12 : 53. `` The TWiT Netcast Network with Leo Laporte ''. Twit.tv. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 12 - 09. Jump up ^ Fresh Hell 's channel on YouTube Jump up ^ `` Young Justice Recruits Brent Spiner and Alyssa Milano for the Injustice League -- Today 's News : Our Take ''. TV Guide. October 14, 2011. Retrieved 2011 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Brent Spiner Interview ''. Cinemassacre. May 6, 2012. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brent Spiner. Official website Brent Spiner on IMDb Brent Spiner at the Internet Broadway Database Brent Spiner at the TCM Movie Database Brent Spiner at AllMovie Interview with Brent about his CD ' Dreamland ' Interview from ComicCon 2011. Brent Spiner on YouTube sings `` Oye Como Va '' in Out to Sea film Brent Spiner on Twitter. Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Marty Feldman ( 1974 / 75 ) Jay Robinson ( 1976 ) Alec Guinness ( 1977 ) Burgess Meredith ( 1978 ) Arte Johnson ( 1979 ) Scatman Crothers ( 1980 ) Burgess Meredith ( 1981 ) Richard Lynch ( 1982 ) John Lithgow ( 1983 ) Tracey Walter ( 1984 ) Roddy McDowall ( 1985 ) Bill Paxton ( 1986 ) Richard Dawson ( 1987 ) Robert Loggia ( 1988 ) Thomas F. Wilson ( 1989 / 90 ) William Sadler ( 1991 ) Robin Williams ( 1992 ) Lance Henriksen ( 1993 ) Gary Sinise ( 1994 ) Brad Pitt ( 1995 ) Brent Spiner ( 1996 ) Vincent D'Onofrio ( 1997 ) Ian McKellen ( 1998 ) Michael Clarke Duncan ( 1999 ) Willem Dafoe ( 2000 ) Ian McKellen ( 2001 ) Andy Serkis ( 2002 ) Sean Astin ( 2003 ) David Carradine ( 2004 ) Mickey Rourke ( 2005 ) Ben Affleck ( 2006 ) Javier Bardem ( 2007 ) Heath Ledger ( 2008 ) Stephen Lang ( 2009 ) Andrew Garfield ( 2010 ) Andy Serkis ( 2011 ) Clark Gregg ( 2012 ) Ben Kingsley ( 2013 ) Richard Armitage ( 2014 ) Adam Driver ( 2015 ) John Goodman ( 2016 ) VIAF : 27256898 LCCN : no96013685 ISNI : 0000 0001 1440 3554 GND : 142195898 BNF : cb13942428x ( data ) MusicBrainz : 5667e451 - 5eb9 - 4861 - bc55 - f0754db44649 SNAC : w6zc8zg6 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brent_Spiner&oldid=829234758 '' Categories : 1949 births 20th - century American male actors 21st - century American male actors American adoptees American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male television actors American male voice actors Jewish American male actors Living people University of Houston alumni Bellaire High School ( Bellaire, Texas ) alumni Male actors from Houston Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from December 2014 Articles with hCards Articles with IBDb links Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Asturianu تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Български Čeština Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Latina Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Română Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 中文 20 more Edit links This page was last edited on 7 March 2018, at 12 : 25. 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Question: who played data on star trek the next generation
Answer: Brent Jay Spiner