Brent Spiner Brent Jay Spiner is an actor best known for playing the android Starfleet officer , Lieutenant Commander Data , on , in four , and off - screen in , the final episode of . He also played Data ' s " brother " , Lore , and " father " , Doctor Noonian Soong , in various episodes of " Next Generation " . In 2002 , he played B - 4 in . He most recently appeared as Arik Soong in a three - episode arc on " Enterprise " . He also co - wrote the story for " Star Trek Nemesis " with Rick Berman and John Logan . His portrayal of Data , the android in search of Human ity , made him an invaluable member of the TNG cast . These skills were highlighted in the episode , where Spiner played all three main characters of the story , effectively turning the episode into a " one - man show " . Biography . Spiner was born in Houston , Texas in 1949 . His father , Jack Spiner , died of kidney failure at the age of 29 , when Brent was only ten months old . His mother , Sylvia , married again when Brent was about six years old . Brent and his elder brother , Ronald , were adopted and raised by their stepfather , Sol Mintz , but Brent changed his surname back to ' Spiner ' in 1975 . He first obtained an interest in acting while attending Bellaire High School . He went on to graduate from Trinity College , but he never finished his studies at the University of Houston . He worked as a cab driver in New York before he could get a job as an actor . In his early years on stage , he played a number of roles in off - Broadway productions including by . He soon received roles in several Broadway productions , most notably , and also became active in film and television . In addition to his acting career , Spiner is also a professional singer and has released two albums . Brent Spiner is married to publicist Loree McBride , with whom he has a son , Jackson Spiner , born 29 June 2002 . Film and television career . Early career and the TNG years . Spiner ' s first television work was a brief , uncredited role in the 1970 TV movie " My Sweet Charlie " . His next TV appearance would not come until 1978 , when he became a cast member in the mini - series " The Dain Curse " . His future TNG co - star , Jean Simmons ( Admiral Norah Satie in ) also starred in this series . His first feature film appearance was a brief one in Woody Allen ' s 1980 comedy " Stardust Memories " . Also making his film debut in this film was future star Armin Shimerman . Spiner next appeared in an uncredited role in the 1981 comedy " Ladies and Gentlemen , the Fabulous Stains " , starring David Clennon . His first major film role – and his first and only starring role to date – was in 1984 ' s " Rent Control " , a comedy in which Spiner played Leonard Junger , an aspiring TV writer who searches for a cheap apartment for his family only to become involved in a murder . One of his co - stars in this film was Roy Brocksmith , who would go on to co - star with Spiner in the TNG episode . It was also in 1984 that Spiner began appearing in episode television , beginning with an episode of " Tales from the Darkside " with Christian Slater . This was followed with guest appearances on " Hill Street Blues " ( starring fellow " Trek " alumni Barbara Babcock , Barbara Bosson , and James B . Sikking ) , " Mama ' s Family " ( featuring Anne Haney ) , " Hunter " ( with Bruce Davison and TNG guest actress Katherine Moffat ) , and " Cheers " . In the latter , he played a man who was accused of attempting to murder his wife . John Fleck played the bailiff at Spiner ' s character ' s court case ; Kelsey Grammer also appeared in his role as Dr . Frasier Crane . Between 1985 and 1987 , Spiner and Annie O ' Donnell had recurring roles on the hit sitcom " Night Court " , playing a Yugoslavian family pretending to be hicks from West Virginia and who often found themselves , through pure misfortune , as defendants in the court room . Besides series regular John Larroquette , other " Trek " performers Spiner co - starred with on this series were K Callan , Carlos LaCamara , and Kenneth Tobey . In 1985 , Spiner appeared in the mini - series " Robert Kennedy & His Times " , which also featured the likes of Cliff DeYoung ( as John F . Kennedy ) , Bruce French , Albert Hall , and Harris Yulin . In 1986 , Spiner appeared in a segment of the 1980s version of , appearing with his future TNG co - star John de Lancie . Additionally , Spiner appeared in a number of TV movies during the 1980s , including 1986 ' s " Sunday in the Park with George " , 1987 ' s " Family Sins " and 1989 ' s " What ' s Alan Watching ? " . During the late 1980s and early 1990s , Spiner focused primarily on his role as Data on TNG , although he did make occasional appearances in other projects . He had a role in the 1989 comedy " Miss Firecracker " , his first feature film appearance in five years . Spiner ' s future co - star , Alfre Woodard , was among the stars of this film , and guest actor Bert Remsen also appeared . That same year , Spiner made a cameo appearance in Wes Craven ' s horror movie " Shocker " . And in 1991 , Spiner made an uncredited appearance in the TV movie " Crazy from the Heart " , which also featured Fran Bennett and the late Bibi Besch . Post - TNG . After TNG ended in , Spiner was seen in the 1994 film " Corrina , Corrina " , which starred Spiner ' s fellow TNG castmate Whoopi Goldberg in the title role . The following year , Spiner starred with actor Christopher Lloyd in the short - lived science fiction series " Deadly Games " . He was also seen in the 1995 TV movie " Kingfish : A Story of Huey P . Long " , along with Bill Cobbs and Bob Gunton , and made guest appearances on the shows " Mad About You " ( starring Anne Elizabeth Ramsay ) , " Dream On " ( starring Michael McKean ) , and " The Outer Limits " ( with Erich Anderson ) . Spiner also made a cameo in the 1996 romantic comedy " Pie in the Sky " , starring his former TNG castmate Wil Wheaton as well as TNG / DS9 / ENT guest actress Dey Young . Spiner was one of the many " Star Trek " performers who lent his voice to the animated Disney series " Gargoyles " . Others who have done the same include his TNG co - stars Jonathan Frakes , Marina Sirtis , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn , and Colm Meaney , " Deep Space Nine " star Avery Brooks , " Voyager " star Kate Mulgrew , " " actress Nichelle Nichols , " Voyager " guest actor John Rhys - Davies , and TNG guest actors David Warner and Paul Winfield . Spiner had roles in three blockbuster films in 1996 . Not only did he play Data in " Star Trek : First Contact " , but he also had a memorable role as eccentric scientist Brackish Okun in the sci - fi mega - hit " Independence Day " , which also featured Bill Smitrovich , Frank Novak , Leland Orser , Raphael Sbarge , Carlos Lacamara , Tim Kelleher , Robert Pine , Randy Nolen , Randy Oglesby , and Erick Avari ) . Spiner additionally appeared as a psychologist in the drama " Phenomenon " , co - starring Ellen Geer , Richard Kiley , and Daniel Zacapa . The following year , Spiner had a major supporting role as despotic cruise director Gil Godwyn in the comedy " Out to Sea " . In 1999 , Spiner gave an acclaimed performance as Dorothy Dandridge ' s manager , Earl Mills , in the critically - lauded , Emmy Award - winning HBO movie " Introducing Dorothy Dandridge " again working with Raphael Sbarge . He also lent his voice to a parody of Conan O ' Brien for the animated film " South Park : Bigger , Longer & Uncut " that same year . Spiner played the sinister Stromboli in the 2000 TV movie " Geppetto " , co - starring " Deep Space Nine " star Rene Auberjonois . The following year , Spiner co - starred with Scott Bakula and Bruce Greenwood in the mini - series " A Girl Thing " . Spiner would go on to work with Bakula during the fourth season of " Star Trek : Enterprise " . Spiner ' s film credits following the turn of the century include a cameo appearance in the 2001 comedy " Dude , Where ' s My Car ? " ( in which Andy Dick also had a cameo ) , a brief role in the 2001 drama " I Am Sam " ( co - starring former TNG castmate Rosalind Chao ) , and his role as the villainous Devlin Bowman in the 2002 comedy " The Master of Disguise " ( co - starring Michael Bailey Smith , Erick Avari , and Larry Cedar ) . He also made an appearance in the Oscar - winning 2004 film " The Aviator " , a role he acquired due to his association with the film ' s writer , John Logan , with whom Spiner collaborated while writing " Star Trek Nemesis " . His recent television credits include guest appearances on " Frasier " ( starring one - time TNG guest actor Kelsey Grammer , in an episode also guest - starring another one - time TNG performer , Bebe Neuwirth ) , " Friends " , and " " . Most recently , Spiner starred as Dr . Nigel Fenway on the short - lived sci - fi series " Threshold " , on which TNG producer Brannon Braga served as executive producer ; Mike Sussman wrote several episodes for this series . Spiner next starred in the comedy " Material Girls " , released in August 2006 . He was most recently seen in the comic book movie spoof " Superhero Movie " with his co - star Christopher McDonald . He recently lent his voice to the 3 - D computer animated film called " Quantum Quest " , which also features the voices of Jason Alexander , Robert Picardo , Chris Pine , and William Shatner . He also did an episode of the TNT show " Leverage " alongside Armin Shimerman and Kitty Swink , with Jonathan Frakes directing . In 2011 , Spiner cameoed on " The Big Bang Theory " as himself , alongside recurring guest star Wil Wheaton . He also provided the voice of the Joker on " Young Justice " , an animated series produced by " Gargoyles " creator Greg Weisman . Bruce Greenwood voices Batman . In a 2012 5 - minute behind - the - scenes interview , Spiner and Saul Rubinek discuss Spiner ' s multi - episode guest - starring role as Brother Adrian in Syfy ' s " Warehouse 13 " Season 4 . They revealed their long history of friendship since their stage acting days , with fond references to Rubinek ' s antagonistic portrayals opposite Spiner in . Also in 2012 , Spiner guested in of " The Simpsons " , " Them , Robot " , in which he voiced all the robots . More recently , Spiner had a recurring guest role as therapist on the second season of the crime / drama series " Ray Donovan " where he worked with Paula Malcomson , Michael McGrady , Josh Pais , and fellow TNG alumn Denise Crosby . He completed filming on the thriller " The Midnight Man " , with Jeff Bornstein , where he played the character Ezekiel . On 10 April 2015 , announced that Spiner will reprise his role as Dr . Brakish Okun in the sequel of " Independence Day " . John Stoneham , Jr . will work as stunt coordinator on this sequel . Stage work . Spiner ' s off - Broadway credits have included " Leave It to Beaver Is Dead " and the aforementioned " The Seagull " by Anton Chekhov . He has also starred in a number of Broadway stage productions , beginning with " A History of the American Film " in 1978 . From 2 May 1984 through 13 October 1985 , Spiner appeared in the original Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim ' s Tony Award - winning musical " Sunday in the Park with George " , in which he played two roles – Dennis the technician and Franz the servant . Harry Groener joined the cast in April 1985 , replacing Mandy Patinkin in the lead role of George . While still appearing in " Sunday in the Park with George " , Spiner also played Aramis to Ron Taylor ' s Porthos in a short - lived production of " The Three Musketeers " . In October 1985 , Spiner took over the role of The Duke from DS9 star and " Geppetto " co - star Rene Auberjonois for the play " Big River " ; Spiner himself was ultimately replaced in the role by Ken Jenkins . Bob Gunton played The King during both Auberjonois ' and Spiner ' s tenures . Spiner returned to Broadway in 1997 , starring as John Adams in the musical " 1776 " , which also starred Michael Cumpsty . For his performance in this play , Spiner was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actor in a Musical . More recently , Spiner starred with Helen Hunt and John Turturro in " Life ( x ) 3 " . His many other stage credits have included Chekhov ' s " The Cherry Orchard " ( 1976 ) , " Little Shop of Horrors " ( 1985 ) , and ' s " Every Good Boy Deserves Favour " ( 1991 ) . Singing career . In a rather unexpected turn of events , in 1991 , Spiner released an album of 1930s and 1940s pop standards called ( the " Yellow Eyes " referring to the eye color that Data and most Soong - type Android s possess ) . Notably , the back - up vocals in the song " It ' s a Sin ( to Tell a Lie ) " were performed by " The Sunspots , " aka his fellow TNG cast - members LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn , Jonathan Frakes , and Patrick Stewart . Wendy Neuss and Dennis McCarthy co - produced this album . This album may have influenced Paramount Pictures enough to let him sing the Irving Berlin song " Blue Skies " in the movie . Spiner also lent his singing talents to the film " Out to Sea " . More recently Spiner performed in " Dreamland " , a musical / radio play released as a CD album in 2008 .