‘Star Trek’ Fans Mourn the Loss of a Legendary Actor at 97

For generations of ‘Star Trek’ fans, few guest stars left a mark quite like the towering figure who played a Greek god aboard the Enterprise. Michael Forest, the actor behind Apollo in the original series, appeared in just a single episode of the show, yet his empathetic performance secured him a lasting place in the franchise’s history.

The 1967 episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?” saw his Apollo demand worship from the Enterprise crew while falling for Lt. Carolyn Palamas, played by Leslie Parrish. It remains one of the most memorable entries of the show’s second season, featuring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.

Born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 17, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota, Forest moved with his family to Seattle as a child. He reportedly chose acting over boxing after seeing a friend perform at the Seattle Rep Playhouse, and later earned a B.A. in English and drama from San Jose State University.

The 6-foot-3 performer made his way to Los Angeles, where his screen career took off in the 1950s. Over the decades, he racked up more than 200 credits across film, television, theater, and voice work.

Now, fans are saying goodbye. Forest died on Wednesday, October 14, at the age of 97 at a senior living facility in Sparks, Nevada. His death was shared by his friend James A. Brown, who described knowing him as an actor and loving him as a friend, and was confirmed by fellow ‘Star Trek’ figure BarBara Luna. A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

The news comes just months after the passing of his on-screen love interest. Parrish, his co-star in “Who Mourns for Adonais?”, died in August at the age of 90. Long before he wore Apollo’s tunic, Forest was a familiar face in drive-in cinema.

He appeared in Roger Corman’s ‘The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent’ and made his credited film debut in ‘Beast From Haunted Cave’, followed by ‘Ski Troop Attack’ and the sword-and-sandal adventure ‘Atlas’.

On television, he guest starred in ‘The Twilight Zone’ as one of the alien bikers in “Black Leather Jackets” and appeared on ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ as one of Laura’s ex-boyfriends. He also worked internationally, appearing in ‘100 Rifles’ with Raquel Welch, Burt Reynolds and Jim Brown.

Forest lived in Rome from 1968 to 1978, spoke fluent Italian, and reportedly dubbed more than 500 films. That experience helped launch a prolific voice career, including English dubs of anime such as ‘Ghost in the Shell’ and the role of Prince Olympius in ‘Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue’ at age 71.

Forest’s connection to ‘Star Trek’ never faded. In 2013, he reprised Apollo in the fan-produced series ‘Star Trek Continues’ in the episode “Pilgrim of Eternity”, co-starring opposite his wife, actress Diana Hale, who played Athena.

The couple was married for 52 years before Hale died in 2022. Forest also joined 40 ‘Star Trek’ actors in Snoop Dogg’s 2020 parody film ‘Unbelievable!!!!!’. His later screen credits included the Tom Hanks drama ‘Cast Away’, ‘King Kong Lives’ and the series ‘Alias’. Even so, it was Apollo that fans cherished most.

About 8 months before his death, Forest was presented with more than 600 letters from fans thanking him for his work. It was a fitting tribute to an actor whose humble, hardworking career touched audiences across nearly 7 decades.

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