Merritt Butrick

Merritt Butrick was the American actor best known for his role as Dr. David Marcus in and ; while a photo of him appeared in , two years after his death. He later played T'Jon in the first season episode . Footage of this character was later used four months after his death in the second season episode . 
== 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 Next Generation guest actor to die.
== Career ==
=== Television work ===
Butrick made his professional debut appearing as a rapist in two episodes of in 1981. James B. Sikking, Barbara Babcock, 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, 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 CBS' which aired for one season from September 1982 through March 1983. 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), (1986, with George Coe, David Clennon, James Saito), (with Mary Crosby), and (1986, with David Huddleston). He also guest-starred on such series as (1989, starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman, with Jeffrey Combs) and (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 , 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 (1985, with Wallace Shawn. He then played the gang leader Reegus in (1986, featured Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.). Butrick followed this with roles in (1987) and (1988, co-starring Brenda Bakke).
His final film role was in (1988). 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". 
== External links ==
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Category:Performers
Category:Film performers
Category:TNG performers