Name
Robert O'Reilly
Known For
Acting
Birthday
1950-03-25 (76 years old)
Place of Birth
New York, New York, USA
Biography
Robert O'Reilly (born March 25, 1950, in New York City) is an American film, stage, and television actor and director. He is best known for his role as Chancellor Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire, in the Star Trek franchise—particularly on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
O'Reilly’s career spans over 100 films and TV episodes, often portraying antagonistic or villainous characters. He appeared in series like Cheers, Knight Rider, MacGyver, NYPD Blue, and films such as The Mask. He has also performed on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. Notably, he received a Drama-Logue Award in 1981 for directing the play Getting Out.
His first Star Trek appearance was in The Next Generation episode "Manhunt," but he is most recognized for playing Gowron from the episode "Reunion" onward, across several Next Generation and Deep Space Nine episodes, and related media including video games. O'Reilly drew inspiration for Gowron from Shakespearean characters, notably Edmund from King Lear. He has reprised Gowron in various Star Trek-related events and conventions.
In theater, he has appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including The Tavern, The Promise, and played roles like Edmund in King Lear. He has been active with the Colony Theatre Company in Burbank, California, both as an actor and director.
He is married to Judy O'Reilly, with whom he has triplet sons. His hobbies include golf and baseball.
Robert O'Reilly retired from acting but remains involved in the Star Trek community through conventions and voice roles
Known For
4.599
As the Day of the Dead celebration approaches the barrio of East Los Angeles, Caroline is ...
4.482
An ancient prophecy is about to be fulfilled as a secret code brings the world to the edge...
4.794
Set in a post-nuclear-holocaust future, this sci-fi western takes place in the frontier ci...
- 1991 Whore as Younger Man in Car
- 1997 Moonbase as Karl Stark
- 2003 Roddenberry on Patrol as Officer #2
- 1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Way of the Warrior as Gowron
- 1992 Desert Kickboxer as Paul
- 1991 Under Surveillance as Whitey
- 1990 By Dawn's Early Light as FEMA Radioman
- 2019 The Circuit
- 1991 Party Plane as Air Traffic Controller
- 1999 Candyman: Day of the Dead as L.V. Sacco
- 1995 Steel Frontier as Evermore
- 1994 The Mask as The Figure
- 1985 The Steel Collar Man as Johnny
- 2004 Star Trek's Favorite Moments as Self
- 1999 The Omega Code as Technician
- 1997 Good Luck as Bartender
- 2013 Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption as Gowron
- 1981 Falcon Crest ( 2 episodes ) as Mr. Kumar
- 1984 Murder, She Wrote ( 1 episode ) as A.J. Grodin
- 1983 Hardcastle and McCormick ( 1 episode )
- 1977 CHiPs ( 1 episode ) as Ryan
- 2001 Star Trek: Enterprise ( 1 episode ) as Kago-Darr
- 2005 Numb3rs ( 1 episode ) as Kurt Delock (uncredited)
- 1977 The Incredible Hulk ( 1 episode )
- 1987 Star Trek: The Next Generation ( 4 episodes ) as Gowron
- 1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. ( 1 episode ) as Sketch
- 1982 T. J. Hooker ( 1 episode ) as Jack Riker
- 1985 Otherworld ( 1 episode ) as Drill Instructor
- 2001 The Guardian ( 1 episode ) as Quinn Jankowski
- 1981 Simon & Simon ( 1 episode )
- 1982 Knight Rider ( 1 episode ) as Jake Simpson
- 1984 Highway to Heaven ( 1 episode )
- 1983 Manimal ( 1 episode )
- 1993 Walker, Texas Ranger ( 1 episode ) as Mark Dunford
- 1983 Scarecrow and Mrs. King ( 1 episode )
- 1985 MacGyver ( 1 episode ) as Curt Neilson
- 1979 Archie Bunker's Place ( 1 episode )
- 1985 The Equalizer ( 1 episode ) as Fur Collar Man
- 1993 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ( 1 episode ) as Rudy Exner
- 1982 Voyagers! ( 1 episode )
- 1984 Hunter ( 1 episode ) as Willem Sunderson
- 1981 The Fall Guy ( 1 episode )
- 1984 Crazy like a Fox ( 1 episode )
- 1990 Cop Rock ( 1 episode )
- 2022 The Shuttlepod Show ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1986 Sledge Hammer! ( 1 episode ) as Assassin
- 1993 NYPD Blue ( 1 episode ) as Calvin James / Carl Shivers
- 1984 Murder, She Wrote ( 1 episode ) as Stephen Ridgely
- 1987 Star Trek: The Next Generation ( 1 episode ) as Scarface
- 1982 Knight Rider ( 1 episode ) as Snyder
- 2021 A Captain's Log ( 1 episode ) as Self
- 1990 The Flash ( 1 episode ) as Victor Kelso
- 1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ( 7 episodes ) as Gowron
- 1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ( 1 episode ) as Countman
- 1985 The Equalizer ( 1 episode ) as Chance
- 1982 Cheers ( 1 episode ) as Ed Fogerty
- 1983 Trauma Center ( 1 episode )
- 1982 T. J. Hooker ( 1 episode ) as Sheehan
- 1981 Darkroom ( 1 episode ) as Sebastian
