Anthony Rapp Anthony Deane Rapp is an American stage and film actor who plays Lt . Paul Stamets , a science officer specializing in on the , in . He is best known as the original Mark Cohen in the musical " Rent " , and reprised the role in the 2005 film version directed by Chris Columbus , costarring Sarah Silverman and Joel Swetow . Rapp noted that he thought " Discovery " shared " DNA " with blended with . Rapp made his acting debut as horny teenager Darryl Coopersmith in the 1987 comedy " Adventures in Babysitting " , which coincidentally was Columbus ' s directorial debut opposite Ron Canada and John Davis Chandler . Rapp followed up with 1989 ' s " Far from Home " , costarring Matt Frewer and Dick Miller . That year Rapp also appeared in the thriller " Grave Secrets " , with " Trek " veteran David Warner . In 1993 , Rapp was cast as bigoted college student Richard " McGoo " Collins in the 1950s set drama " School Ties " , along with Ed Lauter and Kevin Tighe . That year period dramas were a theme as Rapp next appeared in the ' 70s - era coming - of - age film " Dazed & Confused " , with Christine Harnos . The only contemporary film in which Rapp appeared that year was " Six Degrees of Separation " , with J . J . Abrams , Bruce Davison , and Oz Perkins . Hit films continued to follow with Rapp making a presence in the natural disaster thriller " Twister " in 1996 , joined by Zach Grenier , Richard Lineback , Alan Ruck , and Scott Thomson . Rapp ' s most recent film work is 2016 ' s " Do You Take This Man " , with Sam Anderson and Thomas Dekker . In 2000 , Rapp played smarmy college student turned attempted cult leader Jacob in the college comedy hit " Road Trip " , which featured Andy Dick and Ellen Albertini Dow . 2001 saw Rapp in the Ron Howard - directed biopic " A Beautiful Mind " , with Josh Pais and Christopher Plummer . 2004 ' s " Open House " found Rapp working with TOS guest star Sally Kellerman . In 2006 , Rapp reunited with Andy Dick in " Danny Roane : First Time Director " , written and directed by Dick and costarring Debra Wilson . Rapp ' s debut on the small screen was in the 1990 telefilm " Sky High " , co - directed by James Whitmore , Jr . In 1994 , Rapp was seen in " Assault at West Point : The Court - Martial of Johnson Whittaker " , with John Glover and Brad Greenquist . Rapp ended the ' 90s costarring in 1999 ' s " Man of the Century " , with Frank Gorshin . Following their work in " Twister " , Rapp and Ruck worked together again in 1997 on Ruck ' s series " Spin City " in the first season episode " An Affair to Remember " , with John Harrington Bland . In 2000 , Rapp was seen in the TV biopic " The Beach Boys : An American Family " , alongside Jad Mager , David Spielberg , Ned Vaughn , and Clay Wilcox . Rapp is openly gay and has been out most of his career . His character is also the first openly gay character in the TV series . In 2001 , in an interview with " The Advocate " magazine , Rapp revealed that in 1986 , when he was 14 , he was the subject of unwanted sexual advances by a then - unnamed actor . In 2017 , galvanized by other actors revealing their experience of sexual harassment in Hollywood , Rapp stated that the actor in question was Kevin Spacey . The next day , Netflix , which broadcasts " Discovery " internationally , announced it was cancelling Spacey ' s show " House of Cards " , which was already slated to end , stating they were " deeply troubled " by the revelation .