Robert Symonds Robert Symonds was the actor who played Vedek Porta in the episode . Symonds was born in Bristow , Oklahoma in 1926 . While serving in the US Army during World War II , he was stationed in Seattle , where he participated in local theatrical productions . In the 1950s and ' 60s , he was a member of the San Francisco Actors ' Studio . He was the associate director of the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center for eight years , from 1965 through 1972 , and performed with the company in numerous productions , including " The Caucasian Chalk Circle " ( with Brock Peters ) , " Cyrano de Bergerac " ( playing the title role , opposite Leon Russom ) , " A Cry of Players " ( with Rene Auberjonois and Frank Langella ) , " Mary Stuart " ( starring Salome Jens in the title role ) , William Shakespeare ' s " Twelfth Night " ( again co - starring with Rene Auberjonois as well as Stephen McHattie ) , and " The Crucible " ( with Robert Foxworth ) . He also co - directed Lee Bergere and Richard Kiley in a 1972 production of " Man of La Mancha " . He made the transition to the screen in 1973 , playing Dr . Taney in the acclaimed 1973 horror thriller " The Exorcist " . After a number of television roles , he made his second feature film appearance with the likes of David Clennon , Ronny Cox , Rosemary Forsyth , Robert Ito , and Stephen McHattie in 1978 ' s " Gray Lady Down " ( co - starring Stephen McHattie and Ronny Cox ) . This was followed by a supporting role as a judge in Norman Jewison ' s 1979 Academy Award - nominated drama " . . . And Justice for All " ( also featuring Keith Andes and J . G . Hertzler ) . His subsequent film credits include 1984 ' s " The Ice Pirates " ( with Ian Abercrombie , Mary Crosby , and Ron Perlman ; cinematography by Matthew F . Leonetti ) and " Micki + Maude " ( starring Wallace Shawn ) , 1989 ' s " C . H . U . D . II - Bud the Chud " ( with Larry Cedar , Gerrit Graham and Clive Revill ) , 1998 ' s " Primary Colors " ( with Robert Easton ) , 1999 ' s " Inferno " ( with Larry Drake , Bill Erwin , Jeff Kober and Vincent Schiavelli ) , and 2002 ' s " Catch Me If You Can " ( co - starring Robert Curtis - Brown , Thomas Kopache , Jimmie F . Skaggs and Malachi Throne ) . Symonds appeared with David Ogden Stiers in two episodes of the television series " M * A * S * H " , in which Symonds played Colonel Horace Baldwin , who banished Stiers ' character , Major Winchester , to the 4077th . Symonds also appeared on " Quantum Leap " with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell . Other television shows he appeared on besides " Deep Space Nine " include " The Rockford Files " ( with Vince Howard ) , " Charlie ' s Angels " , " Quincy M . E . " ( with Jon Lormer ) , " Benson " ( starring Rene Auberjonois and Ethan Phillips ) , " Cheers " , " Beauty and the Beast " ( starring Ron Perlman ) , " ER " ( with Holmes Osborne ) , and J . J . Abrams ' " Alias " . In addition , he had a recurring role as Dr . Jonas Edwards on the primetime soap opera " Dynasty " and earned acclaim for his performances in the mini - series " The Adams Chronicles " ( with Richard Cox ) and " The Blue and the Gray " ( co - starring Stephen Collins , Robin Gammell , Gregg Henry , William Lucking , Charles Napier , Duncan Regehr , Dan Shor , Noble Willingham and Paul Winfield ) . Symonds died of prostate cancer on 23 August 2007 . He was married to actress at the time of his death and was the stepfather of actress .