John S . Ragin John S . Ragin was a veteran television and occasional film actor who , in , appeared as Doctor Christopher on in the sixth season episode . He is best known for his portrayal of another physician , Dr . Robert Asten , on the hit series " Quincy , M . E . " , co - starring with Robert Ito and Garry Walberg . Ragin had previously worked with Garry Walberg in a 1967 episode of " The Invaders " which featured Seymour Cassel . Ragin appeared in a second episode of the series that same year , this time with Lawrence Montaigne and Alfred Ryder co - starring . Ragin and Walberg would again appear together in a 1971 episode of Robert Foxworth ' s series " Storefront Lawyers " ( on which Ragin had previously that same year with Meg Foster and John Rubinstein ) and again in the 1977 TV movie " The Amazing Howard Hughes " ( also featuring Barry Atwater and Ray Buktenica ) . In 1968 , Ragin appeared in an episode of " The Wild Wild West " with John Abbott . From 1966 through 1968 , Ragin appeared on four episodes of " Felony Squad " , working with the likes of Robert DoQui , Vince Howard , Mark Lenard , Alan Oppenheimer , Alfred Ryder , Vic Tayback , and Jason Wingreen . He went on to appear with star Leonard Nimoy in two 1970 episodes of , including one with Kor actor John Colicos . In 1987 , he appeared on " Murder , She Wrote " , in an episode with future star Kate Mulgrew , as well as Vince Howard and Robert Walker Other television series on which Ragin has appeared include " Gomery Pyle , U . S . M . C . " , " The F . B . I . " ( working with Stephen Brooks , Meg Foster , Gary Lockwood , Hal Lynch , and Robert Walker , Jr . ) , " Get Smart " , " The Bold Ones : The Lawyers " ( two episodes , including one with Steve Ihnat and Sandra Smith ) , " Ironside " ( three episodes , including one with Bill Quinn and another with Ed Begley , Jr . , James Gregory , and Vince Howard ) , " Night Gallery " ( in an episode with William Windom ) , " Alias Smith and Jones " ( with Logan Ramsey ) , " Cool Million " ( with Joseph Ruskin ) , " Barnaby Jones " ( with Lee Meriwether , Bill Erwin , Bill Quinn , and William Smithers ) , " Mannix " ( with Fritz Weaver ) , " The Magician " ( with Biff Elliot , Mark Lenard , Ian Wolfe , and Anthony Zerbe ) , " Cannon " ( with Alfred Ryder ) , " McCloud " ( starring Diana Muldaur , in an episode with Michael Ansara and Jeff Corey ) , " Harry O " ( starring Anthony Zerbe ) , " Jigsaw John " ( in an episode with Michael Ansara and Lee Delano ) , " City of Angels " ( with Darleen Carr ) , " Emerald Point N . A . S . " ( with Bruce Gray ) , and " Riptide " ( with Kim Darby and Ken Olandt ) . Ragin has also been seen in such television movies as 1969 ' s " The Whole World Is Watching " and " The Lonely Profession " ( both featuring Kermit Murdock , with the former starring Steve Ihnat ) , 1971 ' s " The Forgotten Man " ( with Percy Rodriguez ) , and 1974 ' s " Killer Bees " ( starring Edward Laurence Albert ) . The same year , Ragin and TOS guest actress Jan Shutan played Walter and Ruth Cramer in the television movie " Senior Year " . This movie spawned a short - lived series , " Sons and Daughters " later that year in which Ragin and Shutan reprised their characters . During the 1990 - 91 television season , Ragin was a regular on the soap opera " Santa Barbara " , during which time Nicholas Coster , Henry Darrow , and Louise Sorel were a part of that show ' s cast . In addition , Ragin has had roles in the feature films " The Parallax View " ( 1974 , with Kenneth Mars and Anthony Zerbe ) , " Earthquake " ( also released in 1974 and co - starring George Murdock ) , and " Moving Violation " ( 1976 , co - starring Stephen McHattie , Dick Miller , and Jason Wingreen ) . His appearance on " Next Generation " was his last work . Ragin passed away on 14 April 2013 .