List of Star Trek: Lower Decks characters

Template:Short description

## Overview

Template:Color box = Main cast (Credited main cast member)
Template:Color box = Recurring cast (3+ appearances in a season)
Template:Color box = Guest cast (1-2 appearances per season)

Template:Reflist

### Beckett Mariner

Beckett Mariner (voiced by Tawny Newsome) is a human ensign aboard the U.S.S. *Cerritos* and the daughter of Captain Freeman. Newsome described the character as irreverent and a rule-breaker, though she is actually "very good at all things Starfleet, she just doesn't care" and has been demoted several times. Newsome added that Mariner "just wants to ride her skateboard and eat her piece of pizza in peace, man." Mike McMahan confirmed that Captain Amina Ramsey was her former lover at Starfleet Academy. The namesake for Mariner is McMahan's own sister, Beckett Mariner McMahan. In June 2019, Mike McMahan, the series and character creator, hinted that *Lower Decks* would feature mainly original characters. The next month, Tawny Newsome was cast as Beckett Mariner, one of those new characters. As for the second season, McMahan also felt the writers did not adequately address LGBTQ characters and relationships in the first season, especially since it was their intention to portray Mariner as bisexual which is never made explicit. He said the second season would address this better. Furthermore, for much of the first season, when production was impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Newsome recorded her lines in a recording studio set up at her house. Newsome began recording voice overs for the season in early June, in a recording studio which was not possible in the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was unable to record with Quaid, as she did on the first season, due to his commitments filming *The Boys*.

In the first season of the series, Mariner wants to keep her relation with Captain Freeman a secret to the point of only using her mother's maiden name. In the second episode, "Envoys", Mariner is revealed to be the long-time friend of K'orin, a Klingon warrior. She convinces Boimler to stay at Starfleet after K'orin ditches them on an alien planet and Boimler cannot survive on his own in the environment. When Freeman wants Mariner transferred to another ship in "Moist Vessel", the captain gives Mariner continually harder and harder jobs, hoping she will grow bored and tired of the constant work and give up, then transfer herself. In the next episode, Mariner attempts to convince Boimler that his new girlfriend, Barbara, is an evil alien masquerading as human to seduce and cause harm to him, but instead the two find they have much in common and become friends. In the season finale, Boimler inadvertently reveals to the whole crew Mariner's connection to Freeman, but the mother and daughter make amends and reconnect.

 File:Jack Quaid by Gage Skidmore.jpg
### Brad Boimler

Main article: Brad Boimler
Bradward "Brad" Boimler (voiced by Jack Quaid) is a human ensign aboard the *Cerritos*, Boimler is a stickler for the rules and will need to learn how to improvise if he is to become a captain one day. Quaid described the character by saying "he would nail the written portion of the driving test with flying colors but once it actually got to him being in the car, it would be a complete and total disaster." Quaid originally auditioned for the role of Rutherford. Quaid additionally called Boimler the direct opposite of friend Beckett Mariner. According to *Variety*, "while great at sci-fi stuff, he's completely bound to the rules. He doesn't know how to follow his gut, and if he wants to be a captain some day he's going to have to learn how to improvise." Brad Boimler has also been likened to Quaid's character on the Amazon Prime Video original series *The Boys*, Hughie. *Rolling Stones* called Boimler "easily flustered try-hard who doesn't understand why his rigorous rule following goes ignored by Captain Carol Freeman" but likened the character nonetheless. In July 2019, Quaid was cast as Boimler.

In the beginning of season one, Boimler is tasked with keeping his friend and co-worker Beckett Mariner in check by the USS *Cerritos* captain Carol Freeman, who, unbeknownst to him, is Mariner's mother. He sees his friend smuggling supplies to a pair of poor farmer down on a planet the *Cerritos* is making second contact to, and so he must decide to either follow the rules and report Mariner's behavior or break the rules like Mariner and do what's right. In the end, Boimler decides not to help Mariner but also not to report her. At the end of the first season, after discovering that Mariner is actually the daughter of Captain Freeman, he gets transferred to the USS *Titan*, serving under Captain William Riker, much to Mariner's dismay.

### D'Vana Tendi

D'Vana Tendi (voiced by Noël Wells) is an Orion ensign in the medical bay aboard the *Cerritos*, Tendi is a big fan of Starfleet, who is always thrilled to be working on a starship. She is new to the *Cerritos* at the start of the series, and helps introduce the audience to the setting and characters. Creator Mike McMahan believes he would act like Tendi if he ever got the chance to work on a starship. Wells was cast as Tendi for the series in July 2019. McMahan noted that the writers would be telling a story in the second season with the characters Beckett Mariner and D'Vana Tendi together. During her time on the ship, Tendi quickly befriends Sam Rutherford. She has experiences with an incredibly powerful dog that she creates, though Tendi, having never seen a real dog before, believes this is normal. The dog later flies away, leaving her. Later, Tendi befriends an Exocomp who dubs themself "Peanut Hamper", believing this is a regular name. Tendi and Peanut Hamper grow close, until Peanut Hamper betrays Tendi during a crisis and flies away to the enemy ship. After Shaxs sacrifices himself so an injured Rutherford can escape, Tendi stays by his side in the hospital until he wakes up. When he states he has amnesia, she is excited, as she looks forward to their friendship growing again. In the season 2 finale "First First Contact", Tendi transfers to Senior Science Officer training.

### Sam Rutherford

Samanthan "Sam" Rutherford (voiced by Eugene Cordero) is a human ensign aboard the *Cerritos*, Rutherford is adjusting to a new cyborg implant. McMahan compared Rutherford to the *Star Trek: The Next Generation* character Geordi La Forge, saying they are both "amazing at engineering stuff" but Rutherford does not always solve the problem like Geordi because he is still learning. Rutherford is a good friend of D'Vana Tendi in the series. In the season finale, Shaxs sacrifices himself for Rutherford so the latter can escape. Rutherford's implant is torn out in the process, so he gets amnesia. Tendi stays by his side in the hospital until he wakes up. When he states he has amnesia, she is excited, as she looks forward to their friendship growing again.

### Carol Freeman

Carol Freeman (voiced by Dawnn Lewis) is the human captain of the *Cerritos*. McMahan described her as a capable Starfleet captain whose starship is not very important. Freeman does not want her daughter, Mariner, to be on the *Cerritos* and is looking for a reason to have her transferred to another ship. In the first-season finale, Freeman's relationship with Mariner is revealed, but by the end of the episode they realize they can work together rather than be enemies aboard the ship. In the second season, Freeman receives a scathing performance review that leads her to believe she needs to be less controlling of her away teams. She does not check in while Tendi, Rutherford, Mariner, and Jet Manhaver are in danger on a collector's ship, however they still make it out okay.

### Jack Ransom

Jack Ransom (voiced by Jerry O'Connell) is the human first officer of the *Cerritos*, whom McMahan compared to *Next Generation*Template:'s William Riker, if he was on speed and had less shame.

### Shaxs

Shaxs (voiced by Fred Tatasciore) is a Bajoran tactical officer aboard the *Cerritos*. Shaxs Template:IPAc-en is extremely aggressive with a warrior ethos and a willingness to go into battle; he has been described as a parody of Worf. Shaxs dies in battle at the end of the first season while saving Rutherford but sacrificing himself. The second season introduces a new security chief for the *Cerritos*, and Shaxs returns in the third episode of season two, apparently revived by unspeakable methods.

### T'Ana

T'Ana (voiced by Gillian Vigman) is a Caitian doctor and head of medical aboard the *Cerritos*. McMahan described her as "a good doctor, but she's an unpleasant cat." Including a Caitian in the series is a reference to *Star Trek: The Animated Series* which also starred a member of that species, M'Ress.

## Recurring characters

### Introduced in season one

**Barnes**

Barnes (voiced by Jessica McKenna) is a female Trill ensign on the *Cerritos*.

**Steve Stevens**

Steve Stevens (voiced by Ben Rodgers) is a human lieutenant commander on the *Cerritos*. Rodgers is a writer for the series.

**Andy Billups**

Andy Billups (voiced by Paul Scheer) is a human lieutenant commander and the chief engineer of the *Cerritos*, and the direct boss of Rutherford.

**Vendome**

Vendome (voiced by Sam Richardson) is a Bolian ensign on the *Cerritos*.

***Cerritos* computer**

The USS *Cerritos* computer is voiced by Jessica McKenna.

**Jet Manhaver**

Jet Manhaver (voiced by Marcus Henderson) is a human lieutenant on the *Cerritos*. He dated Barbara Brinson before Boimler did. In season two, Jet competes with Mariner after Jet takes Boimler's position. Eventually, on a dangerous mission that goes south, the two realize they need to let Rutherford and Tendi take change, and they make it out alive.

**Fletcher**

Fletcher (voiced by Tim Robinson) is a human ensign on the *Cerritos* who is promoted to lieutenant and transferred to the *Titan*, before being fired from Starfleet.

**Badgey**

Badgey (voiced by Jack McBrayer) is a malfunctioning sentient hologram in the form of an anthropomorphic Starfleet badge. After Rutherford creates Badgey as a training simulation, but Badgey soon betrays his so-called "father". Rutherford, with Tendi's help, is able to subdue Badgey and freeze him to death. During the final moments of his life, Badgey apologizes to Rutherford for his misdoings. Rutherford reactivates Badgey in the series finale, realizing he is the only one who can help in his moment of need to deliver a virus to an alien ship attacking the *Cerritos* to destroy it. Badgey does so, but also activates the ship's self destruct to kill Rutherford out of revenge. Rutherford walks away, but with amnesia, but Shaxs, who was with him, is killed.

**Jennifer Sh'reyan**

Jennifer Sh'reyan (voiced by Lauren Lapkus) is an Andorian ensign on the *Cerritos*.Template:Additional citation needed

### Introduced in season two

**Kayshon**

Kayshon (voiced by Carl Tart) is a Tamarian lieutenant on the *Cerritos*.

## Guest characters

### Introduced in previous series

* Q (voiced by John de Lancie, season 1), a member of the Q Continuum who accidentally teleports onto the *Cerritos.*
* Leonardo da Vinci (voiced by Gary Cole, season 1)
* William Riker (voiced by Jonathan Frakes, seasons 1–2), captain of the USS *Titan* After the end of the first season, McMahan confirmed that Jonathan Frakes would return as his *Star Trek: The Next Generation* character William Riker in the second season after guest starring in the first-season finale.
* Deanna Troi (voiced by Marina Sirtis, season 1), a character from *The Next Generation.* Along with the announcement that Frakes would reprise his role in a larger capacity in the second season of the series, it was also revealed that Marina Sirtis would not return as Deanna Troi because "the stories didn't go that way".
* Tom Paris (voiced by Robert Duncan McNeill, season 2), a character from *Voyager*. He visits the *Cerritos* on a handshake tour much to the excitement of Boimler.
* Borg Queen (voiced by Alice Krige, season 2), an antagonist that was introduced in *First Contact* and killed during the final season finale of *Voyager*. Krige reprises the role, voicing the Borg Queen as a hologram in one of Starfleet's holographic training drills.
* Sonya Gomez (voiced by Lycia Naff, season 2), a character from the second season of *The Next Generation.* She appears as the captain of the USS *Archimedes* in the second-season finale of *Lower Decks*.

McMahan added that there would be other characters in the second season returning from previous *Star Trek* series, and said they would "come in a way that you don't expect". McMahan also stated in May 2021 that there would be "legacy guest roles" in the third season, but they would be "people you're not going to expect when you get them" which he felt was more surprising and satisfying for fans.

### Introduced in season one

* Alonzo Freeman (voiced by Phil LaMarr), Mariner's father and a Starfleet admiral
* K'orin (voiced by Jess Harnell), a Klingon general who Boimler and Mariner are set to transport to his planet.
* Quimp (voiced by Tom Kenny)
* An injured Bajoran crew member (voiced by Ryan Ridley)
* Vindor (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson)
* O'Connor (voiced by Haley Joel Osment)
* Durango (voiced by Al Rodrigo)
* Barbara Brinson (voiced by Gillian Jacobs)
* Ron Docent (voiced by Matt Walsh)
* Angie (voiced by Kari Wahlgren), an old friend of Mariner's
* Niko (voiced by Nolan North), an old friend of Mariner's
* Asif (voiced by Asif Ali)
* Karavitus (voiced by Artemis Pebdani)
* A Drookmani captain (voiced by J.G. Hertzler)
* Amina Ramsey (voiced by Toks Olagundoye), who was confirmed by series creator Mike McMahan as Beckett Mariner's former lover at Starfleet Academy, even though it wasn't explicit.
* The old/young ensign (voiced by Nolan North)
* The Dog (voiced by Jennifer Hale), a superpowered dog created by Tendi.
* Clar (voiced by Kurtwood Smith)
* Captain Seartave (voiced by Kenneth Mitchell)
* Migleemo (voiced by Paul F. Tompkins), a psychologist. In June 2020, Newsome was asked by a fan on Twitter if comedian Paul F. Tompkins would have a guest role in the series given Newsome was a frequent guest on Tompkins' podcast *Spontaneanation*. Tompkins expressed interest in the idea, and McMahan responded to say that he was organizing to have Tompkins cast for a guest role in the series' second season. He ultimately appeared as Migleemo in both seasons one and two.
* Lemonts (voiced by Gabrielle Ruiz)
* Peanut Hamper (voiced by Kether Donohue), a robot who joins the ensigns in the series finale but later betrays them in their time of need.
* A Solvang first officer (voiced by Merrin Dungey)
* Titan lieutenant #1 (voiced by Echo Kellum)

## References

Template:Reflist

Template:Star Trek: Lower Decks

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ComicCon2019`
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `MarinerFreeman`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ComicCon2019Panel`
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite interview
5. ↑ Below Deck With Lower Decks: Mike McMahan Breaks Down Season One (October 9, 2020).
6. ↑ Wright, Matt (June 18, 2019). Alex Kurtzman Gives Updates On CBS Star Trek TV Franchise.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Star Trek: Lower Decks" Voice Cast and Animated Characters Unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con(R) (July 20, 2019).
8. ↑ Vary, Adam B. (2020-10-09). 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' EP Mike McMahan On That TNG Cameo and LGBTQ Characters in Season 2 (en-US).
9. ↑ Template:Cite AV media
10. ↑ Recording Has Already Started For 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 3 (June 7, 2021).
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ComicCon2019Characters`
12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `LowerDecksMidseasonSpecial`
13. ↑ Star Trek: Lower Decks – Midseason Special – The Ready Room – YouTube.
14. ↑ Britt, Ryan (2020-10-05). Jack Quaid says his characters from The Boys and Star Trek might actually bond (en).
15. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
16. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `TendiName`
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Template:Cite AV media
18. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `RutherfordName`
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `STLV2019`
20. ↑ Jarman, Jason (August 6, 2020). 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Review – Laugh Long And Prosper.
21. ↑ Pascale, Anthony. Review: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Seeks Tech Support In "Terminal Provocations".
22. ↑ Britt, Ryan (August 27, 2021). 'Lower Decks' just fixed Star Trek's biggest canon plot hole.
23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `101TrekCoreReview`
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `106TrekCoreReview`
25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `StevensST`
26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Scheer`
27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `VendomeST`
28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ManhaverST`
29. ↑ Pascale, Anthony. Interview: Carl Tart On Kayshon Just Trying To Fit In On 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' (en-US).
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `DeLancieSmith`
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `ColeTompkins`
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `LowerDecksFinaleSpecial`
33. ↑ Vary, Adam B. (October 8, 2020). 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' EP Mike McMahan On That TNG Cameo and LGBTQ Characters in Season 2.
34. ↑ Trailer Analysis: More Fun, Easter Eggs, And Crazy Sci-Fi Is Coming In 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 2 (July 29, 2021).
35. ↑ Pascale, Anthony (September 30, 2021). Review: 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Plays The Hits In "I, Excretus".
36. ↑ McKay, Faith (October 15, 2021). Sonya Gomez Returns In Star Trek And She Has Seriously Ranked Up.
37. ↑ Below Deck With Lower Decks: Mike McMahan Breaks Down Season One (October 9, 2020).
38. ↑ Orquiola, John (May 17, 2021). Mike McMahan Interview: Star Trek: Lower Decks.
39. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Mitchell`
40. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Tompkins`
41. ↑ Trailer Analysis: More Fun, Easter Eggs, And Crazy Sci-Fi Is Coming In 'Star Trek: Lower Decks' Season 2 (July 29, 2021).