Most ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s major characters are still waiting to make theirStar Trekcomeback. Star Trek on Paramount+ series likeStar Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, andStar Trek: Prodigyhave brought back numerouscharacters fromStar Trek: The Next GenerationandStar Trek: Voyager.However, only a handful ofDS9characters - Colonel Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodenchik), and First Minister Leeta (Chase Masterson) - have returned onStar Trek: Lower Decks.
Star Trek: Deep Space Ninereuniting in live-action is difficult since a few of the actors have passed away. However, animatedStar Trekmakes the impossible possible. For example, Odo returned onStar Trek: Prodigyas a hologram. Despite Rene Auberjonois' death, archival footage was used to bring the heroic Changeling back to life. Unfortunately, withStar Trek: Lower Decksending on Paramount+and the uncertain state ofStar Trek: Prodigyon Netflix,animatedStar Trekseems to be halted, andDS9has a difficult road for its characters to make live-action comebacks. This means a continuing wait to see the following favorites fromStar Trek: Deep Space Nine make their return.
11Odo
Played by Rene Auberjonois
Rene Auberjonois passed away in December 2019, and obviously, a comeback by Odo in live-action is out of the question. Although Odo is a shapeshifter and, technically, another actor could wear Odo’s prosthetics,no one could replicate the cadence and gruff authority of Rene Auberjonois' performance. CGI trickery could bring back Odo in some form, but without the actor playing him, it’s logical to ask what would be the point.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine had the biggest cast of characters of any Trek show, meaning that Captain Sisko had numerous allies in the Dominion War.
Outside of Odo’s appearance as a hologram inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 1, Captain Worf (Michael Dorn) referred to the honorableChangeling inStar Trek: Picardseason 3. Another appearance by Odo in animation using archival footage of Rene Auberjonois' voice is possible, of course. However, Odo returning to the Great Link at the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewill likely stand as his final live-action appearance.
10Chief Miles O’Brien
Played by Colm Meaney
Chief Miles Edward O’Brien left the Deep Space Nine space station tostart a new life as an instructor at Starfleet Academyat the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.Miles, his wife Keiko O’Brien (Rosalind Chao), and their daughter, Molly (Hana Hatae), haven’t been seen inStar Treksince. However,Star Trek: Lower Deckshailed Chief O’Brien with a statue, callingMiles"the most important man in Starfleet history."
Meaney shows no real interest in returning to Star Trek.
Colm Meaney’s acting career has continued unabated sinceStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewrapped, and Meaney shows no real interest in returning toStar Trek.However, never say never, and Colm could be persuaded to reprise Miles under the right circumstances. An animated Chief O’Brien comeback might be a more attractive aspect to Meaney than live-action.Hopefully, we haven’t seen the last of Chief O’Brien.
9Vic Fontaine
Played by James Darren
If there was any chance ofJames Darren returning as Vic Fontaine, those hopes were dashed whenJames passed away in September 2024. OnStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, Vic Fontaine was everyone’s favorite holographic Las Vegas lounge singer who doled out heartfelt advice and was a genuine pal to Captain Benjamin Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) crew. Vic hasn’t been seen or heard from since the end ofDS9.
James Darren also starred inT.J. Hookerwith William Shatner.
It’spossible to bring back Vic Fontaine in an animatedStar Trekseries, but the point would be lost without James Darren providing Vic’s singing voice. Archival footage could resurrect Vic, perhaps singing one of his 1960s Frank Sinatra-inspired standards, if aStar Trekanimated series called for it. Sadly, Vic Fontaine’s last appearance was very likely inDS9’s finale, “What You Leave Behind.”
8Jake Sisko
Played by Cirroc Lofton
It’s genuinely surprising that Jake Sisko has not yet returnedto Star Trek on Paramount+. Jake was last seen at the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineafter his father, Captain Sisko, became one with the Prophets of Bajor. Remarkably,Star Trekhasn’t found a way to utilize Jake, a novelist and writer for the Federation News Service, in any of its current series.
Cirroc Lofton Celebrates The Sisko Day & Talks Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Screen Rant interviews Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Cirroc Lofton about The Sisko Day, his podcast The 7th Rule, and Jake Sisko returning to Trek.
Cirroc Lofton hosts the popularStar Trekpodcast,The 7th Rule, and he is a vital part of theStar Trekcommunity. Despite this, there’s been no Jake Sisko comeback yet inStar Trek.While Lofton could easily voice an animated Jake Sisko, he is alsoready to play Jake in live-actionifStar Trekfinally calls.
7Elim Garak
Played by Andrew Robinson
Theend of the Dominion Warwas no victory for Elim Garak. Though he was exiled from his people, Garak is a proud Cardassian who was deeply saddened by the devastation his people’s alliance with the Dominion wrecked on Cardassia. At the conclusion ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Garak returned to Cardassia Prime to help his planet rebuild.
Star Trek: DS9’s Most Emotional Episode Has A Secret Payoff Years Later
Captain Sisko was a Starfleet Officer and Garak was an ex-Cardassian spy living on the station, but they had a deeper connection on Star Trek: DS9.
Star Trek on Paramount+ hasn’t given any update on what happened to Garak, and has only fleetingly touched upon the state of Cardassia after the Dominion War. Andrew Robinson is active on theStar Trekconvention circuit and he still acts, so Andrew could potentially reprise Garak in live-action or in an animatedStar Trekseries.
6Chancellor Martok
Played by J.G. Hertzler
Martok became Chancellor of the Klingon Empire at the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.The former General was the closest friend and mentor of Worf, who killed Chancellor Gowron (Robert O’Reilly), but passed the leadership of the Klingon Empire to Martok.DS9’s ending was thelast live-action appearance by J.G. Hertzler as Martok.
DS9 Introduced Star Trek’s Best Klingon Character Since Worf
Worf is the greatest Klingon character in Star Trek, but Star Trek: Deep Space Nine introduced another Klingon who is beloved by fans.
However,Star Trek: Lower Decksrevealed that Martok is still Chancellor in the early 2380s, and J.G. Hertzler even voiced a version of Martok that hosts a Klingon board game.Star Trek: Prodigyseason 2 also gave an update that Martok is continuing theKlingons' war against the Tribbles.Chancellor Martok is still waiting for his officialStar Trekcomeback, although an animated return is more likely than live-action.
5Dr. Julian Bashir
Played by Alexander Siddig
One of the biggest names fromStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewho has shockingly not returned isDr. Julian Bashir.DS9’s genetically engineered Chief Medical Officer was last seen starting a romance with Lt. Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer). WhileStar Trek: The Next Generation’s Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) andStar Trek: Voyager’s The Doctor (Robert Picardo) have made comebacks,it’s baffling that Dr. Bashir has not.
It seemed a natural fit for Bashir to appear inStar Trek: Section 31, but that apparently also isn’t happening
The lack of Dr. Bashir in currentStar Trekis even more surprising considering Alexander Siddig continues to act and has appeared in series likeGame of Thrones, Gotham,andPeaky Blinders. Given his ties to Section 31, it seemed a natural fit forBashir to appear inStar Trek: Section 31, but that apparently also isn’t happening. When and if Dr. Bashir will return toStar Trekis anyone’s guess.
4Lt. Ezri Dax
Played by Nicole de Boer
Lt. Ezri Dax accomplished a miracleby replacing the popular Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 7. Ezri was such a success that, looking back, it’s remarkable that she was only in one season ofDS9. Unfortunately,Ezri hasn’t been seen since the end ofDS9.
Star Trek: Discoveryhas explored Trill culture in the 32nd century.
Last seen with her love interest, Dr. Julian Bashir, Ezri presumably remained Deep Space Nine’s station counselor.Ezri’s story feels incomplete, and there’s more her character could have done. Nicole de Boer could easily voice Ezri in aStar Trekanimated series or reprise the Trill in live-action.
3Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax
Played by Terry Farrell
Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax died at the end ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, a decision resulting from the behind-the-scenes turmoil that sawTerry Farrell exitDS9.However, that was nearly 30 years ago under a differentStar Trekregime.Terry Farrell could reprise Jadzia, and all it would take is forStar Trekto creatively work around the whole ‘Jadzia is dead’ thing.
Terry Farrell, who contributes toThe Delta Flyerspodcast hosted byStar Trek: Voyager’s Robert Duncan McNeill and Garrett Wang, could easily voice Jadzia Dax in aStar Trekanimated series. Jadzia is also eternally part of the Dax symbiont, which currently belongs to Ezri Dax, so there are ways Jadzia could reappear.Star Trekcould even find a way to haveJadzia and Ezri finally share the screen.
2Lt. Nog
Played by Aron Eisenberg
Aron Eisenberg passed away in September 2019, and this means Lieutenant Nog can’t return in live-action. Like Odo onStar Trek: Prodigy,it could be possible to use Aron’s archival voice footage to haveNog return in aStar Trekanimated series.Nog was last seen inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s series finale, now a Lieutenant after fighting most of the Dominion War as a Starfleet cadet and Ensign.
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800 years before Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Deep Space Nine sent one of its best and brightest to San Francisco to become a history-making cadet.
Nog is the first Ferengi in Starfleet,and he has become a Starfleet legend. InStar Trek: Discovery’s 32nd century, theEisenberg Class USS Noghonors the trailblazing Ferengi hero. While it would be a challenge to bring back Nog without Aron Eisenberg, there are still further ways for Star Trek on Paramount+ to update audiences on what Nog has done since the end ofDeep Space Nine.
