Merritt Butrick Merritt Butrick was the American actor best known for his role as Dr . David Marcus , the son of James T . Kirk and Carol Marcus , in and . He later played T ' Jon in , a first season episode of . Footage of this character was later used in season two ' s . Life and death . Butrick was born in Gainesville , Florida . He later moved to California , graduating from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley in 1977 . He studied acting at the California Institute of the Arts ' School of Theater , but was told by his instructors that he did not have the skills needed to be an actor and was dismissed from the school . Butrick went on to receive steady work as an actor from 1980 through 1988 . By 1989 , Butrick had developed AIDS . On 10 March , Butrick was suffering from toxoplasmosis of the brain and received a spinal tap / lumbar puncture to help relieve the cranial pressure . He was also suffering from pneumonia at the time . Butrick died in his Los Angeles apartment on 17 March at the age of 29 as a result of the various illnesses he developed due to AIDS . He was cremated and his ashes were given to his family in Lake Oswego , Oregon . He was the first known " Star Trek : The Next Generation " guest actor to die . There was some confusion as to where he died ; reports exist which state that he was in New York City at the time , but he was actually in his apartment on Hollywood Boulevard , close to where Roger C . Carmel died three years earlier . Career . Television work . Butrick made his professional debut appearing as a rapist in two episodes of the police drama " Hill Street Blues " in 1981 . James B . Sikking and Barbara Bosson were regulars on this series . Robert Butler , who previously directed the first " Star Trek " pilot , , directed both of Butrick ' s episodes . Butrick next appeared in NBC ' s 1981 TV movie " Splendor in the Grass " , along with Cyril O ' Reilly , Graham Jarvis , and K Callan . He also made an appearance on " CHiPs " that same year , working with Gary Graham , Claudette Nevins , and series regular Robert Pine . In 1982 , Butrick was cast as New Wave music - loving high school student John Ulasewicz , aka " Johnny Slash " , in the situation comedy series " Square Pegs " . This series aired for one season from September 1982 through March 1983 on CBS . Butrick then had a supporting role in the NBC TV movie " When Your Lover Leaves " , along with Dwight Schultz . Butrick subsequently starred in the TV movies " Sweet Revenge " ( with Alfre Woodard ) , " Promises to Keep " ( with Randy Oglesby ) , " Blood & Orchids " ( with George Coe , David Clennon , James Saito ) , " Stagecoach " ( with Mary Crosby ) , and " When the Bough Breaks " ( with David Huddleston ) . He also guest - starred on such series as " Beauty and the Beast " ( working with Jeffrey Combs and series regular Ron Perlman ) and " Jake and the Fatman " ( with Bert Remsen ) . Butrick ' s final television credit was the movie " From the Dead of Night " , shot in 1988 and aired in February 1989 . Joanne Linville , Richard Fancy , and Michael Durrell also had roles in this production . Film and stage work . A month after " Star Trek II " was released in theaters , audiences saw Butrick in the popular teen comedy " Zapped ! " , in which he played the supporting role of Gary Cooter . Other actors who appeared in this film include Ed Bakey , Carlos Lacamara , and Robert Mandan . Following " Star Trek III " , Butrick had a supporting role in the 1985 comedy " Head Office " , along with Wallace Shawn . He then played the gang leader Reegus in the 1986 science fiction / action film " Wired to Kill " , which also featured Tommy " Tiny " Lister , Jr . Butrick followed this with roles in the films " Shy People " ( 1987 ) and " Death Spa " ( 1988 ) , the latter of which co - starred Brenda Bakke . His final film role was in the 1988 horror sequel " Fright Night Part 2 " . His fellow cast members in this film included fellow " Star Trek " alum Brian Thompson . In October 1988 , Butrick portrayed an irritable but ditzy prostitute in the stage play " Kingfish " , which ran at the Los Angeles Theatre Center . His co - stars in this production were veteran Hollywood actor / writer / director and fellow " Next Generation " guest actor Sam Anderson . " Time " magazine praised Butrick ' s performance in " Kingfish " , calling it " a striking star turn of alternating vice and victimization " .