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(written from a Production point of view)

For similarly named actors, please see Bob Brown or, alternatively, please see Bobby Brown.

Robert Brown (17 November 192619 September 2022; age 95) was an actor who made an appearance as Lazarus (and his counterpart) in the Star Trek: The Original Series first season episode "The Alternative Factor". He was hired as a last-minute replacement for actor John Drew Barrymore, who had been cast in the role but didn't show up on the first day of shooting. Coincidentally, his first filming day on the episode was his 40th birthday.

Brown filmed his scenes for the episode between Thursday 17 November 1966 and Friday 25 November 1966 at Desilu Stage 9, Stage 10, and on location at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.

Before Star Trek, Brown shot a pilot with William Shatner about a Swede and an Irishman who emigrate to America. Brown played the Irishman. It aired in 1963 as an episode of The Dick Powell Theatre entitled "Colossus". That episode also featured Frank Overton. An uncredited Celia Lovsky has one line. It was Shatner who recommended Brown to replace Barrymore. He was literally dragged to the set without any rehearsal.

He went on to star in Here Come the Brides from 1968 through 1970. This series also starred Original Series guest actors Mark Lenard and David Soul. That series featured a large number of Trek actors in guest-starring roles. The episode "A Kiss Just For You", for example, featured Michael Forest, Kathryn Hays, Gary Pillar and Ralph Maurer. Ishmael, a popular 1985 Star Trek novel by Barbara Hambly, featured a crossover with Here Come the Brides.

Brown previously appeared in episodes of Wagon Train, Perry Mason, and Bonanza. Brown's only notable feature film credit is Tower of London (1962, with Richard Hale).

Robert Brown's last known acting role was as a guest star in a 1994 episode of In the Heat of Night directed by Reza Badiyi.

Robert Lansing, whose real name was Robert Brown, was forbidden from using that name by the Screen Actors Guild because Brown was already using it.

Brown passed away at the age of 95 on September 19, 2022.[1]

Star Trek appearances[]

External links[]

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