Summary
The history of theStar Trekuniverse is full of great Klingon warriors, and here are ten of the finest that Qo’noS has to offer. First introduced inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 1, episode 27, “Errand of Mercy”, the Klingons are the best-loved and most recognizable of the franchise’s many alien races. Despite themultiple Klingon variantsacross almost six decades ofStar TrekTV shows and movies,everyone from die-hard fans to everyday people can identify aTNG-era Klingon. They’re such a part of television’s cultural heritage that shows likeFrasierandNight Courtfeature references to Klingons.
The longevity of the Klingons is thanks to the many great actors who have played members of the Empire across the entireStar Trektimeline. From John Colicos originating the character of Kor inStar Trek: The Original Seriesall the way to Robert Wisdom as Dak’Rah inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, actors have found new and interesting ways to approach the classic warrior race. There’s no better example of how intrinsically linkedStar Trekis with the Klingons than the fact thatMichael Dorn’s beloved Worf is the longest-serving character in the entire franchise.
Why It Took Star Trek Almost 24 Years To Visit The Klingon Home World
The Klingons have been an integral part of Star Trek for almost 60 years, so why did it take nearly 24 years to visit their home world, Qo’noS?
10Ma’ah (Jon Curry)
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Ma’ah (Jon Curry) is one of the newest additions to the Klingon canon, ashe first appeared inStar Trek: Lower Decks, season 2, episode 9, “wej Duj”. Ma’ah had a meteoric rise through the ranks on the IKS Che’Ta', after he challenged his captain Dorg (Colton Dunn) to a duel for dishonorable conduct toward Federation allies. Ma’ah was later deposed as captain of the Che’Ta' by his crewmates, who wished to join Nova Fleet, commanded by Nick Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill) inLower Decksseason 4.
“Star Trek: Lower Decks” focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet’s least important ships, the USS Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi must keep up with their duties and their social lives, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies. The ship’s bridge crew includes Captain Carol Freeman, Commander Jack Ransom, Lieutenant Shaxs and Doctor T’Ana. This is the second animated spin-off in the franchise after 1973-74’s “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” but has a decidedly more adult tone and humor.
Stranded on Sherbal V, Ma’ah ended up in a brutal fight to the death with Lt. Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome). After calling a temporary truce, Ma’ah counseled Mariner on her internal struggle with her new promotion.A fierce Klingon warrior who also possesses emotional intelligence is hard to find, which makes Ma’ah something special in theStar Trekuniverse. By the end ofStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 4, Ma’ah and Mariner have become close friends, hopefully setting up a future appearance for the Klingon counselor in season 5.
9Koloth (William Campbell)
Star Trek: TOS/DS9
Captain Koloth (William Campbell) first appeared inStar Trek: The Original Series, season 2, episode 13, “The Trouble with Tribbles”, in which he was roundly embarassed by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the crew of the USS Enterprise. Enraged by his experiences with Kirk and the Tribbles,Koloth launched the Great Tribble Hunt, which eradicated the species from the galaxy for nearly 100 years. Koloth (this time voiced by James Doohan) again encountered Kirk inStar Trek: The Animated Series, and later confided in Curzon Dax that he regretted never meeting the Enterprise captain on the field of battle.
As well as playing Koloth, William Campbell also played Trelane inStar Trek: The Original Series, season 1, episode 18, “The Squire of Gothos”.
Koloth was one ofthree returning KlingonsinStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 2, episode 19, “Blood Oath”. The trio were reunited to seek vengeance on the Albino, who had been responsible for the deaths of their firstborn sons. Koloth fought bravely against the Albino and his troops, and honorably died in battle. As he proved against the Albino, Koloth is a great Klingon, but his quest to eradicate the Tribbles doesn’t feel like an honorable pursuit for a warrior.
Star Trek: DS9 Had More TOS Tribbles Crossovers Than You Think
Star Trek: DS9’s Tribbles crossover was groundbreaking but it wasn’t the first time that elements from the TOS episode featured in Deep Space Nine.
8Kang (Michael Ansara)
Star Trek: TOS/DS9/Voyager
Kang (Michael Ansara) was another of the three Klingons who returned forStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s"Blood Oath". Kang debuted inStar Trek: The Original Series, season 3, episode 11, “Day of the Dove”, in which Kang and Kirk’s crews' antagonism toward each other was feeding a manipulative energy being. In a rare display of cooperation between Kirk and the Klingons, he and Kang worked together to starve the creature by generating positive emotions. Kang later came into conflict with Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) during the Khitomer Conspiracy, but both men emerged unscathed from the confrontation.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
Kang died alongside Koloth in battle against the Albino, and it was he who delivered the killer blow to his mortal enemy before succumbing to his injuries. A prolific character actor, Michael Ansara reflected in 1989 that it was still Kang that people recognized him for. Interviewed forStarlog #138, Ansara talked of Kang’s impact on the general public, saying:
“What’s amazing is that even today, I still get recognized for that part. It is pleasurable and always positive, but surprising. I played that character almost 20 years ago, but people still remember.”
7Kruge (Christopher Lloyd)
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
It takes a brave man to follow Ricardo Montalban’s Khan Noonien Singh, butChristopher Lloyd’s Kruge was a particularly dastardly villain. InStar Trek III: The Search for Spock, Kruge wanted to obtainStarfleet’s Genesis Devicetechnology. Kruge was utterly ruthless in his quest, killing anyone who had knowledge of Genesis - including his lover Valkris (Cathie Shirriff). After he arrived at the Genesis planet, Kruge destroyed the USS Grissom, and held the teenage Spock, Lt. Saavik (Robin Curtis), and Kirk’s son David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) hostage.
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is the third installment in the Star Trek film series, directed by Leonard Nimoy. Following the events of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the film follows Admiral James T. Kirk and his crew as they embark on a mission to recover the body of Spock, leading them to the Genesis Planet. The cast includes William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, and Christopher Lloyd.
AlthoughKruge didn’t kill Kirk’s son directly, he did order the execution of the hostages, forcing David to sacrifice himself for Spock and Saavik. Kruge is arguably one of the very worst Klingon villains, as he has no redeeming features whatsoever. An opportunist who would kill anyone who stood in the way of his goals, Kruge possessed a ruthless brutality that is very Klingon. Kruge is eventually kicked off a cliff by Kirk, left to burn in the destruction of the Genesis planet at the end ofStar Trek III: The Search for Spock.
I Watched Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock & Inside Out 2 And They Paired Perfectly
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6General Chang (Christopher Plummer)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
General Chang (Christopher Plummer) is the Klingon Empire’sbestStar Trekmovie villain, appearing inStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. A Klingon with a love of Shakespeare and a determination that his people shouldn’t make peace with the Federation,General Chang was the Klingons' key representative in the Khitomer Conspiracy. It was Chang who allowed Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner) to be assassinated, only for the crime to be pinned on Captain Kirk and Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
Christopher Plummer’s daughter Amanda played the villainous Captain Vadic inStar Trek: Picardseason 3.
Once the conspiracy had been unearthed, General Chang took his Klingon bird-of-prey into battle against the USS Enterprise to prevent Kirk from notifying the Federation. Chang was killed in battle, earning him glory as a Klingon warrior. However, as he was effectively sealing the Klingon Empire’s death warrant by rejecting the peace treaty, it’s arguable if he was a truly great Klingon.
5Lt. B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson)
Star Trek: Voyager
Following in the footsteps of Worf, Lt. B’Elanna Torres was a half-human, half-Klingon member ofVoyager’s Maquis crew. Torres regularly clashed with Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) throughoutStar Trek: Voyager, but again, like Worf and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) there was a mutual respect despite their occasional antagonism toward each other. Similar to Worf with his human upbringing,B’Elanna sometimes struggled to find a place for herself due to her dual heritage. This conflict became literal in theStar Trek: Voyagerepisode, “Faces”, in which both aspects of B’Elanna Torres worked together, with the Klingon half dying in battle to save her human side.
Cast
The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they’ve never faced before.
Torres' internal struggle between her Klingon and human heritage resurfaced in theStar Trek: Voyagerepisode “Barge of the Dead”. Discovering that her mother Miral is in hell, B’Elanna fights to earn her mother a place in Klingon heaven, Sto-vo-kor. However, it was revealed thatTorres' determination to live life on her own was truly Klingon, a realization that ultimately saved her mother from an eternity in Klingon hell. While Torres may struggle to fully see herself as a Klingon throughoutVoyager, there is no doubt that she has the heart of a warrior.
Voyager’s “Weakness” Led To Dropped B’Elanna Klingon Storyline, Says Star Trek Writer
Star Trek: Voyager had many strengths, but writer Bryan Fuller explained how one of its weaknesses led to a dropped storyline for B’Elanna Torres.
4Chancellor Gowron (Robert O’Reilly)
Star Trek: TNG/DS9
Played by Robert O’Reilly,Chancellor Gowron is one ofStar Trek’s best-loved Klingons. Not only did O’Reilly have a prolific career playing Gowron in 12 episodes ofStar Trek, but he also adorned various bits of merchandise, including the videogame Klingon and theStar Trek: The Next Generationinteractive board game. First introduced inTNGseason 4, episode 7, “Reunion”, Chancellor Gowron was a great ally of the Federation from his ascension to the head of the Klingon Empire to his fall from grace during the Dominion War.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
During his reign as Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, Gowron averted civil war, and even weathered a challenge to his position by the Klingon’s mythical hero Kahless the Unforgettable. However, the infiltration of the Klingon Empire by the Changelings, and the increasing love for General Martok (J.G. Hertzler) severely dented Gowron’s ego. Becoming increasingly reckless, Gowron had to be brought down by Worf duringStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s epic 10-part finale. While Gowron’s death may have been ignominious, his impressive record before the Dominion War guaranteed his place in Sto-vo-kor.
3General Martok (J.G. Hertzler)
Star Trek: DS9
General Martok (J.G. Hertzler) was the Klingon Empire’s greatest military hero duringDS9’s Dominion War. Among many military achievements, Martok played a vital role in retaking Deep Space Nine from the Dominion, which helped secure him the role of Supreme Commander of the Ninth Fleet. In this capacity, Martok and his fleet helped defend the Dorala system until Federation reinforcements arrived, and also scouted the Cardassian border for Dominion activity. As great a military mind Martok was, his loyalty to Chancellor Gowron began to be seen as a failing in the Dominion War’s latter stages.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
Keen to gain some of the glory for himself, Chancellor Gowron demoted Martok and sent him on increasingly dangerous missions. Perceiving Martok as a threat to his status, Gowron wanted rid of the Klingon Empire’s beloved war hero. Despite this, Martok refused to challenge Gowron, forcing Worf to fatally depose the Chancellor instead.A loyal servant of the Empire, and a decorated war hero, General Martok is one of the finest sons of Qo’noS, and was ultimately rewarded with the role of Chancellor.
2Kor (John Colicos)
AKlingon Dahar Master,Kor (John Colicos) is the originator of the Klingons inStar Trek. PlayingStar Trek: The Original Series' first Klingon villain, John Colicos helped to define the look and mannerisms of a Klingon warrior. While there are obvious differences between theTOSKlingons and their 1990s counterparts, John Colicos as Kor originated the idea that these aren’t just meatheaded warriors. Kor is cunning, charismatic, and above all, very funny indeed.
It’s possible that, without the success of John Colicos as Kor, the Klingons would never have become the iconicStar Trekvillains that still define the franchise nearly 60 years later. When John Colicos returned forStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s “Blood Oath,“he insisted that Kor survive to tell his story. This savvy move by the actor gave Kor further adventures inDS9, as he sought the legendary Sword of Kahless, and finally ended his life in glorious battle against the Dominion.
I’m Glad John Colicos Changed His Mind About Returning As Star Trek: DS9’s Klingon
Star Trek: DS9 pulled off an impressive classic Klingon reunion in “Blood Oath”, but TOS actor John Colicos almost turned it down due to the script.
1Worf (Michael Dorn)
Star Trek: TNG/DS9/Picard
Worf is the greatest Klingon, a history-making Starfleet officer who played an integral role against the existential threats of the Borg Collective and the Dominion. Orphaned by a Romulan attack and raised by humans, Worf often struggled to fit in with other Klingons. However,this arguably made Worf the most Klingon character in all ofStar Trek. Worf is a fierce warrior, an honorable man, and a loyal subject of the Klingon Empire. However, he’s not blind to the corruption and dishonor that can erode Klingon society, and he was often willing to make himself an enemy of the Empire to protect its integrity.
For example, inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Sins of the Father”, Worf accepted dishonor to protect the stability of the Klingon Empire. InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4, Worf opposed the Klingon war against the Cardassians and was made an outcast. However, the revelations of Dominion interference later vindicated Worf’s position. In his later years, the trauma and tragedy that Worf endured made him a terrific mentor inStar Trek: Picard. Now he’s become an enlightened warrior poet, who isn’t afraid to take arms and defend honor and integrity, Worf resembles the very best in all ofStar Trek’s greatest Klingons.
Star Trek: Picard
Star Trek: Picard follows retired Admiral Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, twenty years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis. The series delves into Picard’s life post-Starfleet, as he navigates a new chapter filled with unresolved past events and new challenges.
