As a dedicated Star Trek fan, I can’t help but be in awe of the diverse and talented actors who graced our screens with their performances. Among them is Barbara Babcock, a true chameleon who brought life to no less than five different characters within the Star Trek universe.
Star Trek frequently features actors taking on multiple characters. For instance, Mickey Cottrell performed two distinct roles. Similarly, Tony Todd, famed as the Candyman, took on no less than three roles within the series. Notably, Tim Russ, best recognized for his portrayal of Vulcan Lieutenant Commander Tuvok in Voyager, stepped into a total of four additional roles across the franchise.
It’s often the case that conversations about roles in various productions may not give enough attention to voiceover work. For instance, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, affectionately known as the First Lady of Star Trek, provided her voice for the Ship Computer throughout different Star Trek series and movies. Debra Wilson left a lasting impression with her guest role in Season 6, Episode 25 of Deep Space Nine, voicing Captain Lisa Cusak who was stranded on an uninhabitable planet. Lastly, Barbara Babcock lent her voice to no fewer than five distinct characters during her time in the Star Trek universe.
Barbara Babcock, a performer on both film and television screens, had a lengthy career that lasted from 1956 until her retirement in 2004. She was honored with an Emmy in 1981 for her exceptional portrayal of Grace Gardner in Hill Street Blues, earning the title of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Moreover, she played Dorothy Jennings, editor of the Colorado Springs Gazette, for a hundred episodes on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which also earned her an Emmy nomination. While some fans may know her from her appearances on Star Trek: The Original Series, she actually had two on-screen roles: Mea 3 in Season 1, Episode 23, “A Taste of Armageddon,” and Philana in Season 3, Episode 12, “Plato’s Stepchildren.” However, it’s essential to acknowledge her significant voiceover contributions that significantly contributed to the show as well.
Non-Corporeal Aliens
In the 18th episode of Season 1, titled “The Squire of Gothos,” Majel Barrett (Babcock) portrayed the ethereal parents of Trelane, a character known for his childish behavior. She and Bartell LaRue lent their voices to these parental figures, appearing as pulsating green lights in the sky. Their primary function was to reprimand Trelane for his actions during the episode, reminding him that if he couldn’t care for his “pets,” then he shouldn’t have them. The audience learns that they possess immense power, capable of creating or destroying entire planets, and that they had no previous interactions with humans.
In Season 3, Episode 18, titled “The Lights of Zetar,” Babcock assumes the role of extraterrestrial beings known as the Zetarians. The episode begins with the Enterprise encountering an unusual phenomenon resembling a light-blinking cloud. Lieutenant Mira Romaine is affected, and her brain waves are altered to match Zetarian tracking patterns. As the Zetarians take control of Romaine’s body, it is Babcock who speaks on their behalf. The Zetarians explain that they had become non-corporeal after a devastating event and were seeking a new home. They found Romaine suitable but fortunately, Scotty and McCoy managed to expel them from her using the Enterprise’s pressure chamber.
A Shapeshifting Cat and a Tholian Commander
In the 26th episode of Season 2, titled “Assignment: Earth,” the spaceship Enterprise encounters the enigmatic duo, Gary Seven and his feline companion, named Isis. As the story unfolds, it is disclosed that Isis is actually an extraterrestrial shape-shifter, portrayed by April Tatro in her humanoid form. However, it’s Babcock who supplies Isis’s cat-like vocalizations. Interestingly, Isis was able to communicate with Gary telepathically, enabling them to converse even when she was in her feline form.
In Season 3, Episode 9 titled “The Tholian Web”, it was Commander Loskene (previously played by Babcock) who took on another alien character. This episode saw Captain Kirk mysteriously vanishing as the USS Defiant was ensnared in interspace. Coincidentally, the Enterprise found itself within Tholian Assembly space at this juncture. Commander Loskene instructed the ship to depart from Tholian territory after hearing about their predicament. The crew explained their dire situation, and Loskene granted them a brief respite of less than two hours to locate Kirk. True to his word, when the allotted time elapsed, the Tholians launched an attack and started constructing a web around the Enterprise. Fortunately, the crew successfully escaped before the web was fully formed, and were able to rescue Captain Kirk as well. This menacing role of Commander Loskneen made a lasting impression, leading other writers to incorporate him into various Star Trek novels and the comic series Star Trek: Ongoing.
The Voice of a Computer
In addition to being Isis’ cat in “Assignment: Earth,” Babcock assumed another character – the voice of the Beta 5 computer. This device was hidden within Gary Seven’s apartment, behind a bookcase, and was instrumental to his mission. The Beta 5 computer was an advanced creation of an unidentified alien civilization, boasting both analytical skills and artificial intelligence. If not for this computer, Gary Seven likely would have struggled to accomplish his mission. In many ways, the Beta 5 computer exhibited a haughty demeanor, much like other intelligent computers such as Karen, who is Plankton’s computer wife in “Spongebob SquarePants.
Barbara Babcock enjoyed a rich and enduring career marked not only by accolades for her accomplishments but also the adoration and appreciation of viewers. Few fan bases are as dedicated as those of Star Trek, who appreciate not just her on-screen performances, but recognize the significance of her voice acting in making the Star Trek universe feel more authentic. Babcock is destined to be fondly remembered for many years for her portrayal of a computer, various non-corporeal beings, an iconic villain, and the life she breathed into a cat.
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2024-10-01 17:05