Mark Lenard (born Leonard Rosenson, October 15, 1924 – November 22, 1996) was an American actor, primarily in television. His most famous role was as

Sarek Sarek is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. He is a Vulcan astrophysicist, the Vulcan ambassador to the United Federation of Planets, and father of Spock. The character was originally played by Mark Lenard in the epi ...

, father of

Spock Spock is a fictional character in the ''Star Trek'' media franchise. He first appeared in the original ''Star Trek'' series serving aboard the starship USS ''Enterprise'' as science officer and first officer (and Kirk's Second-in-command) and ...

, in the science fiction ''

Star Trek ''Star Trek'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, which began with the eponymous 1960s television series and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon. The franchise has expanded into vario ...

'' franchise, in both the original and

animated series An animated series is a set of Animation, animated works with a common series title, usually related to one another. These episodes should typically share the same main characters, some different secondary characters and a basic theme. Series can ...

, as well as three films and two episodes of '' Star Trek: The Next Generation''. He also played a

Klingon The Klingons ( ; Klingon language, Klingon: ''tlhIngan'' ) are a fictional species in the science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. Developed by screenwriter Gene L. Coon in 1967 for the Star Trek: The Original Series, original ''Star Trek'' ('' ...

in ''

Star Trek The Motion Picture ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' is a 1979 American science fiction film directed by Robert Wise and based on the television series ''Star Trek'' created by Gene Roddenberry, who also served as its producer. It is the first installment in the ...

'', and a

Romulan The Romulans () are an extraterrestrial race in the American science fiction franchise ''Star Trek''. They first appeared in the series ''Star Trek'' (1966–1969). They have appeared in most subsequent ''Star Trek'' releases, including ''The Ani ...

in an episode of '' Star Trek: The Original Series''.

Biography

Lenard was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

, the son of a

Russian Jewish The history of the Jews in Russia and areas historically connected with it goes back at least 1,500 years. Jews in Russia have historically constituted a large religious and ethnic diaspora; the Russian Empire at one time hosted the largest pop ...

immigrant, Abraham, and his wife, Bessie, but was raised in the small town of South Haven, Michigan, where his family owned a tourist resort. He joined the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare, land military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army o ...

in 1943 and trained to be a paratrooper during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

but did not see combat and was discharged in 1946 as a technical sergeant. He got his start on stage while in the army. After earning a master's degree in theater and speech from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

, he became known in New York City for serious drama, including Ibsen, Shaw, and Chekhov. His first notable role was that of Conrad in

John Gielgud Sir Arthur John Gielgud, (; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Briti ...

's production of ''

Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...

''. In the mid-1960s, he moved his family to Los Angeles, where he played one of the

Three Wise Men 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * '' Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 ...

in the biblical epic ''

The Greatest Story Ever Told ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens. It is a retelling of the Biblical account about Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity through to the Ascension. Along with the ensemble cast ...

'' (1965). Lenard is best known for his appearances in the ''Star Trek'' franchise, particularly in the role of Sarek, the father of Spock (

Leonard Nimoy Leonard Simon Nimoy (; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, famed for playing Spock in the ''Star Trek'' franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original ''Star Trek'' series in 1966, then ...

). His first ''Star Trek'' appearance was in the first season of '' Star Trek: The Original Series'', however, playing the first

ever seen in the series, in the episode "

Balance of Terror The phrase "balance of terror" is usually, but not invariably,Rich Miller, Simon Kennedy'G-20 Plans to End 'Financial Balance of Terror' After Summit,'Bloomberg 27 February 2009. used in reference to the nuclear arms race between the United State ...

" (1966). He originated the character of Sarek in the second-season episode "

Journey to Babel "Journey to Babel" is the tenth episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by D. C. Fontana and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on November 17, 1967. In the episode, '' ...

" (1967), and provided the voice of Sarek in the ''

Star Trek: The Animated Series ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' (''TAS''), is an American animated science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired under the title simply as ''Star Trek'', subtitled ''Created by Gene Roddenberry'', on Satu ...

'' episode "

Yesteryear Yesteryear may refer to: * The previous year * Nostalgia, years gone by Film and TV * "Yesteryear" (''Star Trek: The Animated Series''), a 1973 episode of the animated series ''Star Trek'' * ''Yesteryear'' (documentary series), an HBO documen ...

" (1973). He later played an ill-fated

Captain in '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979), which gave him the distinction of being the first actor to play a Romulan, a Vulcan, and a Klingon in ''Star Trek''. He reprised the role of Sarek in three of the ''Star Trek'' feature films: '' Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' (1984), '' Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'' (1986), and '' Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'' (1991), and provided the voice of young Sarek in a brief flashback sequence in '' Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'' (1989). Additionally, he appeared as the elderly Sarek in the third-season '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episode "

" (1990) and the fifth-season episode " Unification: Part 1" (1991). Lenard's work outside the ''Star Trek'' franchise included playing the prosecutor in Fort Grant in the

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the " Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "'' D ...

film ''

Hang 'Em High ''Hang 'Em High'' is a 1968 American DeLuxe Color revisionist Western film directed by Ted Post and written by Leonard Freeman and Mel Goldberg. It stars Clint Eastwood as Jed Cooper, an innocent man who survives a lynching; Inger Stevens a ...

'' (1968). He also played the character Aaron Stempel in the television series ''

Here Come the Brides ''Here Come the Brides'' is an American comedy Western series from Screen Gems that aired on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968 to April 3, 1970. It was loosely based on Asa Mercer's efforts in the 1860s to import marriageable w ...

'', and the hostile gorilla Urko in the television series ''

Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is an American science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control. The franchise is based on Frenc ...

''. He made a guest appearance on ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the Midwestern United States, American M ...

'' in the episode "Journey in the Spring, Part I", playing Peter Ingalls, older brother of Charles Ingalls. He had roles in ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' several times, including in the episode "Nowhere to Run" (1968). Lenard guest-starred in several episodes of the original '' Mission: Impossible'', including one with Leonard Nimoy, and in a two-part episode of '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''. Lenard played a lead role in the film ''Noon Sunday'', filmed on

Guam Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic ce ...

with costars

Keye Luke Keye Luke (, Cantonese: Luk Shek Kee; June 18, 1904 – January 12, 1991) was a Chinese-born American film and television actor, technical advisor and artist and a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He was known for playing Lee Chan, t ...

, TV series star

John Russell John Russell may refer to: Arts and entertainment * John Russell (English painter) (1745–1806), English painter * John Russell (Australian painter) (1858–1930), Australian painter * John Russell (screenwriter) (1885–1956), author and scree ...

from '' Lawman'', and character actor

Stacy Harris Stacy Harris (July 26, 1918 – March 13, 1973) was an American actor with hundreds of film and television appearances. His name is sometimes found misspelled Stacey Harris. Early years Harris was an Army pilot whose leg was injured in a ...

. In ''The Radicals'' (1990), which recounted the beginnings of the Swiss

Anabaptist Anabaptism (from Neo-Latin , from the Greek : 're-' and 'baptism', german: Täufer, earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re-baptizers"), considering it biased. ...

movement in the 1520s, he played a composite historical character, Eberhard Hoffman, a Catholic bishop who serves as prosecutor in the trial of his former abbot

Michael Sattler Michael Sattler (1490 – 20 May 1527) was a monk who left the Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation to become one of the early leaders of the Anabaptist movement. He was particularly influential for his role in developing t ...

. In 1993, Lenard and fellow ''Star Trek'' actor

Walter Koenig Walter Marvin Koenig (; born September 14, 1936) is an American actor and screenwriter. He began acting professionally in the mid 1960s and quickly rose to prominence for his supporting role as Ensign Pavel Chekov in '' Star Trek: The Original ...

toured in a production of ''The Boys in Autumn''. Lenard played a late middle-aged

Huck Finn Huck may refer to: Characters * Huckleberry Finn, a character in four novels by Mark Twain * Huckleberry Hound, a cartoon character created by animation studio Hanna-Barbera * Huck, a character on '' Scandal'' * Huck, a character in the eponymo ...

who re-encounters his childhood friend

Tom Sawyer Thomas Sawyer () is the titular character of the Mark Twain novel '' The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876). He appears in three other novels by Twain: '' Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884), '' Tom Sawyer Abroad'' (1894), and '' Tom Sawyer, ...

after a lifetime apart. Koenig played Sawyer. Lenard died of

multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, ane ...

in New York City in 1996 at the age of 72.

Filmography

Film

* ''

'' (1965) - Balthazar * ''

'' (1968) - Prosecuting Attorney at Fort Grant * '' Noon Sunday'' (1970) - Jason Cootes * ''

Annie Hall ''Annie Hall'' is a 1977 American Satire (film and television), satirical Romance film, romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay written by him and Marshall Brickman, and produced by Allen's manager, Charles H. Joff ...

'' (1977) - Navy Officer * ''

Getting Married ''Getting Married'' is a play by George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influenc ...

'' (1978) - Mr. Bloom * '' Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (1979) - Klingon Captain * '' Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' (1984) - Ambassador

* '' Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home'' (1986) - Ambassador Sarek * '' Star Trek V: The Final Frontier'' (1989) - Ambassador Sarek (voice) * ''The Radicals'' (1990) - Eberhard Hoffmann * '' Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'' (1991) - Ambassador Sarek

Television

* ''

Armstrong Circle Theatre ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The U.S. Steel Hour''. It f ...

'': "Ghost Bomber: The Lady Be Good" (1960) - Major Bennett * '' Mission: Impossible'': "

Wheels A wheel is a circular component that is intended to rotate on an axle bearing. The wheel is one of the key components of the wheel and axle which is one of the six simple machines. Wheels, in conjunction with axles, allow heavy objects to be ...

" (1966) - Felipe Mora * ''

'': "

" (1966) -

Commander * ''

'': "

" (1967) - Sarek * ''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western, espionage, and science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 1969. Two satirical comedy television film sequels ...

'': "The Night of the Iron Fist" (1967) - Count Draja * ''

'': "No Where to Run" (1968) - Ira Stonecipher * ''

'' (1968–1970) - Aaron Stempel * '' Mission: Impossible'': " Nitro" (1969) - Aristo Skora * '' Hawaii Five-O'': "To Hell with Babe Ruth" (1969) - Yoshio Nagata * '' Mission: Impossible'': " The Rebel" (1970) - Colonel Bakram * '' Hawaii Five-O'': "Will the Real Mr. Winkler Please Die" (Season 5, episode 19, 1973) - Rogloff * ''

'': "

" (1973) - Sarek (voice) * ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private in ...

'': " Desert Run" (1973) - Hal Morgan * ''

'': "TV Series" (1974) - General Urko * '' Hawaii Five-O'': "Secret Witness" (1974) - Dan Bock * ''

'': "Journey in the Spring" (1976) - Peter Ingalls * ''

The Bob Newhart Show ''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American sitcom television series produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a ...

'': "Carlin's New Suit" (1977) - Earl Stanley Plummer * '' Hawaii Five-O'': "You Don't See Many Pirates These Days" (1977) - Commander Hawkins * '' The Secret Empire'' (TV series) (1979) - Emperor Thorval * ''

The Incredible Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book ...

'' (TV series) (1979) - Mr. Slater * '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'': "Journey to Oasis" (1981) - Ambassador Duvoe * ''

Otherworld The concept of an otherworld in historical Indo-European religion is reconstructed in comparative mythology. Its name is a calque of ''orbis alius'' (Latin for "other Earth/world"), a term used by Lucan in his description of the Celtic Otherwor ...

'' "The Zone Troopers Build Men" (1985) - Perel Sightings * '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'': "

" (1990) -

* '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'': " Unification: Part 1" (1991) - Sarek * '' In the Heat of the Night'': "Legacy" (1993) - Horrace Sloan (final appearance) * ''Amazing Space on TLC'' (1993)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lenard, Mark 1924 births 1996 deaths Male actors from Michigan American people of Russian-Jewish descent American male film actors Male actors from Chicago Military personnel from Chicago American male television actors Jewish American male actors Deaths from multiple myeloma Deaths from cancer in New York (state) University of Michigan alumni 20th-century American male actors People from South Haven, Michigan United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army non-commissioned officers Paratroopers 20th-century American Jews