Vincent Schiavelli Vincent Schiavelli was the Italian - American character actor who appeared as the holographic Minosian peddler in the episode in . He has appeared in over 150 different films and television shows , becoming a familiar face in both media . In 1997 , " Vanity Fair " magazine named Schiavelli one of America ' s best character actors . Personal life . Schiavelli was born in Brooklyn , New York and studied acting at New York University . He began acting on stage in the 1960s and made the transition to film and television in the 1970s . He was married to actress Allyce Beasley from 1985 through 1988 . Their son , Andrea Schiavelli , was born in 1987 . In 1992 , Schiavelli married harpist Carol Mukhalian , with whom he also had a child . Schiavelli died of lung cancer at his home in the Sicilian village of Polizzi Generosa in Italy on 26 December 2005 . He was 57 years old . Career . Notable films . With a tall frame and deep - set , droopy eyes , Schiavelli is best remembered for playing eccentric characters . Such was the case with his role as a patient in the 1975 Academy Award - winning film " One Flew Over the Cuckoo ' s Nest " , directed by . Also starring in this film were his fellow " Star Trek " alumni Louise Fletcher , Brad Dourif , Christopher Lloyd , Peter Brocco , and Michael Berryman . In addition , Schiavelli remains highly recognized for his role as the demented subway spirit in the 1990 film " Ghost " , co - starring fellow TNG performers Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen Root , for director Amy Heckerling , he ' s known for his roles as the caffeine - addicted Mr . Vargas in the 1982 hit comedy " Fast Times at Ridgemont High " , with Ray Walston , Scott Thomson , and Hallie Todd and the mob spoof " Johnny Dangerously " ( 1984 ) which featured Walston as well as Joe Piscopo . Schiavelli may also be remembered for his performance as Leonard the caddy opposite Tim Conway in the 1980s videos " Dorf on Golf " and " Dorf and the First Games of Mount Olympus " . Besides " One Flew Over the Cuckoo ' s Nest " , Schiavelli appeared in several other films from Milos Forman . He made his film debut in Forman ' s 1971 musical / comic drama " Taking Off " . His later collaborations with Forman include 1984 ' s " Amadeus " , starring actor F . Murray Abraham , and 1996 ' s " The People vs . Larry Flynt " , with James Cromwell . Notable television appearances . Schiavelli landed his first series role shortly after starting out in Hollywood , that of flamboyant set designer Peter Panama during the first season of the ABC sitcom " The Corner Bar " . In this role , Schiavelli had the distinction of playing prime time television ' s first regular gay character . Schiavelli was let go for the show ' s second season and Eugene Roche was brought in as a regular , but the season only lasted six episodes before it was canceled . His only other series was 1986 ' s " Fast Times " , a short - lived CBS sequel to the 1982 film " Fast Times at Ridgemont High " . Schiavelli reprised his role from the film , biology teacher Mr . Vargas , while Ray Walston also reprised his film role for the series . Wallace Langham and Paul Willson were among the other series regulars , but the show was pulled after only seven episodes . Schiavelli ' s first TV guest appearance was on a 1977 episode of " Starsky and Hutch " , which starred David Soul . In 1979 , he and Tracey Walter played two characters named Don Pesola in an episode of " WKRP in Cincinnati " , which was produced by Bill Dial . This was followed by appearances on " Benson " ( on which Rene Auberjonois was a regular ) , " Night Court " ( starring John Larroquette , in an episode with the aforementioned Ray Walston ) , and " Moonlighting " ( working with actress Allyce Beasley , whom he later married ) . After appearing on " Star Trek : The Next Generation " , Schiavelli acted on several other genre series . On the horror anthology series " Tales from the Crypt " , Schiavelli appeared in the episode " Mournin ' Mess , " written and directed by Manny Coto and co - starring Frank Kopyc and Steven Weber . He later played the role of Lenny on " The X - Files " in the 1995 episode " Humbug , " directed by Kim Manners . In 1998 , he appeared as Uncle Enyos in two episodes of the cult horror / fantasy series " Buffy the Vampire Slayer " . Both of his episodes co - starred Brian Thompson . Projects with Christopher Lloyd . Schiavelli has worked alongside actor Christopher Lloyd on six films and on one television series . After first collaborating in the aforementioned " One Flew the Cuckoo ' s Nest " , Schiavelli and Lloyd appeared together in the 1977 western film " Another Man , Another Chance " . This film also featured their " Cuckoo ' s Nest " co - star and fellow " Trek " veteran Michael Berryman . This was followed by 1979 ' s " Butch and Sundance : The Early Days " , which also featured an aforementioned " Cuckoo ' s Nest " actor , Peter Brocco , as well as Jeff Corey , John Schuck , Noble Willingham and Peter Weller . Schiavelli and Lloyd again worked together when Schiavelli made a trio of appearances as Reverend Gorky on the NBC television series " Taxi " , on which Lloyd was a regular , in 1982 and 1983 . Next , they worked alongside Peter Weller a second time in the cult 1984 science fiction film " The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension " . Clancy Brown , Jonathan Banks , and Robert Ito also starred in the movie . Years later , Schiavelli and Lloyd both appeared in the 1999 documdrama " Man on the Moon " . This last film chronicled the life of their bizarre " Taxi " co - star . Schiavelli and Lloyd did not have any scenes together in the movie ; Schiavelli appeared as an executive of ABC ( " Taxi " s original network ) while Lloyd played himself as an actor on " Taxi " . It was also Schiavelli ' s sixth and final film for director Milos Forman . Lastly , Schiavelli and Lloyd lent their voices to the 2002 animated film " Hey Arnold ! The Movie " , as did Paul Sorvino .