Don Marshall Donald James Marshall , better known simply as Don Marshall , was the actor who played Lt . Boma in the first season episode . He is perhaps best known for his role as Dan Erickson on the television series " Land of the Giants " . He filmed his scenes between Monday and Friday at Desilu Stage 10 . Personal life . Marshall was born in San Diego , California and is one of four children . Although initially studying to be an engineer in the late 1950s , he was encouraged to become an actor by a friend while serving in the United States Army . Marshall studied acting at the Bob Gist Dramatic Workshop while simultaneously studying Theater Arts at Los Angeles City College . In addition to acting , Marshall has provided consultation regarding his work and racial issues , and as a result was once given an award for " Outstanding Achievement in his field as a Black Achiever in the United States " . Marshall was once married , but he and his wife , Diane , have since divorced . Early career . Film . Marshall made his film debut with an uncredited role as an intern in the 1962 drama " The Interns " . This film also featured an uncredited appearance by Peter Brocco , who , like Marshall , later appeared onTOD . Later TOS director Jud Taylor made an uncredited appearance in the movie , as well . Marshall ' s next feature film was the 1964 drama " Shock Treatment " , in which he and Ed McCready both made uncredited appearances . After " Land of the Giants " came to an end , Marshall landed a supporting role in the cult , B - grade 1972 science fiction - horror film " The Thing with Two Heads " , in which a racist white man has his head transplanted onto the body of a black death row inmate . Among the actors Marshall worked with on this movie was Roger Perry , a fellow TOS guest star . Marshall then starred in the 1973 science fiction thriller " Terminal Island " , which also featured Sean Kenney , and played a henchman in the 1974 Sidney Poitier - directed comedy " Uptown Saturday Night " . Marshall ' s latest film credit is a Hungarian animated film from 1975 called " Hugo the Hippo " . Marshall lent his voice to the English - language version of this film , as did fellow TOS guest actor Percy Rodriguez . Television . 1963 – 1968 . Marshall ' s first television work was the NBC anthology series " Kraft Suspense Theatre " in a two - part 1963 segment entitled " The Case Against Paul Ryker " . The two segments were later edited together and released as a film , " Sergeant Ryker " , in 1968 . In 1963 , Marshall starred opposite TOS actress Nichelle Nichols in the CBS movie " Great Gettin ' Up Mornin " ' , which aired in January 1964 . In this movie , Marshall and Nichols portrayed African - American parents preparing their children for their first day at a racially integrated school in America ' s south . Shortly after shooting this movie , Marshall and Nichols again worked together in an episode of Gene Roddenberry ' s pre - " Star Trek " series , " The Lieutenant " , which starred fellow TOS alum Gary Lockwood . The episode , " To Set It Right " , was directed by Vincent McEveety . Marshall and fellow TOS veteran William Marshall both guest - starred in a 1964 episode of " Rawhide " . Marshall reprised his role in another episode later that same year . In 1965 , Marshall was cast in an episode of the medical drama " Ben Casey " by John Meredyth Lucas , who later wrote , produced , and directed for TOS . Marshall then had a recurring role as Luke in the CBS series " Daktari " , appearing in three episodes . His subsequent television credits include guest spots on such series as " Mission : Impossible " ( with William Smithers and Michael Barrier ) , " 12 O ' Clock High " ( with Lloyd Haynes ) , " Dragnet 1967 " ( with Hal Baylor and Dick Miller ) , " Tarzan " ( with George Murdock and again working with William Smithers ) , and " Ironside " ( which starred Barbara Anderson ) . Marshall also played the recurring role of Ted Neumann on the NBC sitcom " Julia " . He was one of three " Star Trek " alumni to play Julia Baker ' s love interest on this show ; the others were Paul Winfield and Fred Williamson . " Land Of The Giants " and beyond . Marshall is perhaps best known for playing Dan Erickson on the - produced television series , " Land of the Giants " , from 1968 through 1970 . He credited his previous experience in football , track , and pole vaulting with helping him perform the required stunts for the show . The series featured many " Star Trek " alumni in guest roles , including Warren Stevens , Paul Fix , Yvonne Craig , Madlyn Rhue , Malachi Throne , Joseph Ruskin , Glenn Corbett , Susan Howard , Michael Ansara , Lee Meriwether , Paul Carr , John Crawford , Nehemiah Persoff , Torin Thatcher , Peter Mark Richman , Alfred Ryder , John Abbott , Charles Drake , Willard Sage , William Bramley , Gene Dynarski , and Whit Bissell . Since the series ended , Marshall has written a script for a potential revival called " Escape from a Giant Land " . When his work on " Land of the Giants " was finished , Marshall landed a guest spot on the classic sitcom " Betwitched " , where he acted with Parley Baer . He then had a role in the TV movie " The Reluctant Heroes " aka " The Egghead on Hill 656 " , in which he played an Army private who was subjected to on going racial abuse by a colonel . Later , Marshall guest - starred in two episodes of " Police Woman " , including one co - starring James Gregory and Susan Oliver and another directed by Alexander Singer . Herb Kenwith , the director of the TOS episode , directed Marshall in a 1976 episode of the sitcom " Good Times " . Marshall subsequently worked with director John Newland on the TV movie " The Suicide ' s Wife " in 1979 . Majel Barrett also had a role in this movie . Marshall appeared in the 1977 TV movie " Benny and Barney : Las Vegas Undercover " along with Ted Cassidy , after which he was seen in the 1978 TV special " Rescue from Gilligan ' s Island " . Vincent Schiavelli can be seen in this production , as well . In 1979 , Marshall guest - starred on the cult sci - fi series " Buck Rogers in the 25th Century " , playing Julio in a two - part episode . Tim O ' Connor was a regular on this series at the time . Between 1978 and 1980 , Marshall made three appearances on " The Incredible Hulk " , each time as a different character . In one such appearance , a fellow guest actor , with whom he shared several scenes , was John Crawford . He then appeared in an episode of " Little House On The Prarie " , playing a doctor confronted with racism who ultimately proves himself by performing an emergency C - section . In 1984 , Marshall was cast in the role of Senator Ed Lawrence on the relatively short - lived soap opera " Capitol " . However , his character was recast the following year ; the actor chosen to replace him was Michael Dorn , later of fame . In 1992 , Marshall made an appearance in the TV movie " Highway Heartbreaker " , as was Brock Peters . This was Marshall ' s last on - screen appearance .