Actor Kevin Conway, Star Trek’s Kahless, has died at 77

Kevin Conway as Kahless in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek actor Kevin Conway has died. Deadline reported that his death on Wednesday, February 5th from a heart attack was confirmed by his publicist. He was 77.

Conway portrayed the clone of Kahless in the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 episode, “Rightful Heir”. In that episode, Worf discovers that the monks of the planet Boreth (which was also seen in Star Trek: Discovery as the home of the time crystals) had used Kahless’s DNA to create a clone, which they claimed was the real Kahless, brought back from Sto-vo-kor. While the clone was eventually discovered, he was still considered a valuable leader and served as a moral leader for the Klingons from that point on. While Conway himself never reprised his role in Star Trek, his character was nonetheless pivotal and was referred to several times in Deep Space Nine.

Outside of Star Trek, Conway had a film, television and stage career that spanned decades. His first on-screen role was as Roland Weary in 1972’s Slaughterhouse Five. One of his most memorable roles was Sgt. Buster Kilrain in 1993’s epic Gettysburg, a role he reprised in 2003’s follow-up, Gods and Generals.

Please join me in sending condolences to Conway’s family.