Michael Ansara Dies; Star Trek Actor Was 91

Michael Ansara, a rugged
character actor perhaps best
known for his role on three
different TV iterations of Star
Trek, has died at the age of 91.
Ansara, who was married to
actress Barbara Eden of I Dream
of Jeannie fame, died July 31 at
his home in Calabasas, Calif.,
after a prolonged illness.
Born in a small village in Syria to
American parents, Ansara is
beloved by Star Trek fans for his
portrayal of his character,
Klingon warrior Kang.
The actor played Kang on three
versions of the legendary sci-fi
franchise: the original (1968),
Deep Space Nine (1994) and
Voyager (1996).
He also had major roles in such
films as Julius Caesar and The
Robe, Jupiter’s Darling, Voyage
to the Bottom of the Sea and
The Greatest Story Ever Told .
Ansara came to the U.S. with his
American parents at the age of 2.
As a teen, he and his family
relocated to California, and he
entered Los Angeles City College
with the intention of becoming a
doctor, not an actor.
A stint at the Pasadena Playhouse (where fellow students included Charles Bronson, Carolyn Jones and Aaron Spelling) led to roles on stage and in films. Michael Ansara was married to Eden from 1958-74. Their son, Matthew Michael Ansara, died in 2001.