Star Trek legend dies aged 97

Star Trek actor Michael Forest, who famously portrayed the Greek god Apollo in the original science-fiction series, has died aged 97.

The veteran performer passed away on Wednesday, October 14 2026 at a senior living facility in Sparks, Nevada, where he had been residing in recent years.

His death was confirmed by his close friend James A. Brown, who shared the sad news in an emotional Facebook tribute.

"It is with great sadness that I report that we have lost Michael Forest," he wrote, before adding: "I knew him as an actor and loved him as a friend." A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Michael was best known to science-fiction fans for his memorable appearance in the 1967 Star Trek episode Who Mourns for Adonais?, alongside William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

The actor played Apollo, a powerful being who claimed to be the Greek god and demanded that the crew of the USS Enterprise worship him.

Nearly five decades later, he reprised the role in the 2013 fan-produced series Star Trek Continues, appearing in the episode Pilgrim of Eternity.

The project was particularly special for the actor as it also featured his wife, Diana Hale, who portrayed the goddess Athena.

Born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 17, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota, Michael grew up in Seattle before pursuing a career in acting.

He initially considered becoming a boxer but developed a passion for performing after watching a friend on stage.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1955, he began taking acting classes, where he met filmmaker Roger Corman.

The director cast him in the 1957 adventure film The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent, launching a working relationship that would include several more films.

Michael subsequently appeared in Beast from Haunted Cave, Ski Troop Attack and Atlas, establishing himself as a familiar face in Hollywood productions.

His television career was equally prolific, with appearances in The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Gilligan's Island and Mission: Impossible.

He also enjoyed success overseas, living in Rome between 1968 and 1978, where he worked extensively as a voice actor, dubbing hundreds of films.

Later credits included the 1993 thriller Body of Evidence, starring Madonna, and the 2000 blockbuster Cast Away, alongside Tom Hanks.

Michael continued working in voice acting, lending his distinctive voice to animated productions, including Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue, as well as Japanese anime and video games.

Michael was married to actress and acting coach Diana for 52 years. The couple married in 1970 and remained together until Diana's death in 2022.