Summary
Best known for playing Ambassador Sarek, father of Spock (Leonard Nimoy) inStar Trek: The Original Series, prolific guest actor Mark Lenard almost added a beloved US President to his list of credits, too. Mark Lenard played Sarek in four episodes ofStar Trekbetween 1967 and 1991, as well as three out of the sixTOSmovies. However, before he took on his important role inSpock’s family tree,Mark Lenard made hisStar Trekdebut as the Romulan Commander in the classicTOSepisode “Balance of Terror”.
Star Trek: The Original Serieswas just one of several network shows in which Mark Lenard appeared during the mid to late 1960s. As well as appearing in cowboy series likeGunsmokeandCimarron Strip, Lenard also played four different characters inMission: Impossible. Due to Lenard’s existing relationship with theStar Trek:The Original Seriescastand the production staff at Desilu, he was the first choice for what would have been his thirdTOSrole. However, a positive career development prevented Mark Lenard from playing the role of President Abraham Lincoln inTOSseason 3, episode 22, “The Savage Curtain”.
Star Trek: TOS, Season 1, Episode 8, “Balance of Terror”
Ambassador Sarek
Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: TAS, Star Trek III, IV & VI, Star Trek: TNG
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
All 6 Actors Who Played Spock’s Mother & Father In Star Trek
Spock’s human mother Amanda and his Vulcan father Sarek have been played by several actors across the Star Trek franchise.
Sarek Actor Mark Lenard Almost Played Abraham Lincoln in Star Trek
Mark Lenard was the first choice to play the Excalibans' President Abraham Lincoln lookalike in “The Savage Curtain”. Had Lenard been available to play the former President, Lincoln would have been the only character that he played who wasn’t a Romulan orVulcan inStar Trekup to that point. It’s likely the similarities between Sarek and the Romulan Commander meant Mark Lenard was never considered to play the Excalibans' replica of the legendary Vulcan, Surak (Barry Atwater). Mark Lenard explained his reasons for turning the Lincoln role down in a 1981 interview withStarlog #41, saying:
“The Lincoln segment came up about Christmas time when we had a slight hiatus, and I thought I could work it in[…] But it turned out we just couldn’t work it in. I think we went back to work on the other series too soon, and instead of having the six or seven days I would have needed to do the role, I only had three or four days.”
Based on his performance as Sarek, it’s easy to see why Mark Lenard was the first choice to play Lincoln in “The Savage Curtain”. The statesmanlike dignity he projected as Sarek in “Journey to Babel” would be interesting to see applied to an iconic American historical figure like Abraham Lincoln. Alas, it was not to be, andLee Bergere was cast in the role instead, providing his own memorable take on the former US President.
Lee Bergere went on to play Joseph Arlington Anders inDynastyalongside anotherStar Trek: The Original Seriesguest performer, Joan Collins.
Abe Lincoln’s Star Trek Appearance Has A Weird Legacy
Airing weeks beforeTOSwas canceled, “The Savage Curtain” is about an alien species that pits various icons representing “good” and “evil” against each other. While this simplifies a historical character like Abraham Lincoln, somewhat, it still gave the character a chance to deliver a speech about the nature of violence, stating there is “no honorable way to kill”. Lincoln’s speech,written by Arthur Heinemann and Gene Roddenberry, has been taken as fact in some corners of the internet. Model and TV host Bar Refaeli attributed the quote to “Honest” Abe onInstagramback in 2014:
Bar Refaeli’s quoting of Space Lincoln isn’t the only example of the weird legacy of “The Savage Curtain”, however. The living Lincoln Memorial floating through space was briefly seen in in theStar Trek: Short Treksepisode “Ephraim and Dot”. However, the wildest reference toStar Trek: The Original Series' Abraham Lincoln predictably comes inStar Trek: Lower Decks.“Kayshon, His Eyes Open” revealed that Excaliban Lincoln’s skeleton is held by an alien antiques collector. While Mark Lenard may have missed out on this bizarre legacy, he can rest assured that Sarek lives on in theStar Trekuniverse.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Cast
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
