Anthony Rapp on the Star Trek: Discovery cast: they’re “really wonderful human beings”

"Forget Me Not" -- Ep#304 -- Pictured: Oyin Oladejo as Lt. Joann Owosekun, Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets and Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

NOVEMBER 5, 2020 - Star Trek: Discovery actor Anthony Rapp has been a fan of the franchise for many years, long before he would take to the screen as Lieutenant Paul Stamets on board the U.S.S. Discovery. Interviewing with the podcast At Home with The Creative Coalition, Rapp discussed getting the role on the series and shared just how meaningful the experience has been for him as an actor.

The discussion came as part of an episode called “A Mother’s Love Nurtures a Dream”, in which Rapp talked about his childhood as an actor, the evolution of his career, and the role that his mother (who passed away in 1997) played in it. After reminiscing about touring with Yul Brynner in The King and I, and about originating the role of Mark in the musical Rent, the conversation turned to Star Trek.

“I got offered the role without auditioning,” Rapp said in the interview. “They were building this new version of the universe for [...] CBS All Access, and one of the characters is openly gay and that was a first for Star Trek and they were committed to casting an openly gay actor in the role. They had their little list and I was on the list. And they thought that I’d be good for it.” 

Rapp went on to tell listeners that while he did watch the original series of Star Trek and its films growing up, due to a busy acting schedule, he had not seen any other Star Trek until after being cast in Discovery. “After I got cast in the role,” Rapp said, “I went back and started watching more of the older stuff and it was very inspiring to watch the incredible work of actors like Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner, who find a way to bring so much depth and intelligence to the work.”

Bringing that sort of inspiration to his work on Star Trek: Discovery, Rapp told listeners, “That's the kind of approach that we, in our cast, have taken, bringing all that we are to it. [...] It’s been amazing. It’s been so fun. We have an incredible group of human beings. Wonderful actors and artists, but really wonderful human beings.”

The Creative Coalition, who published the interview with Rapp, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community, dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance. The Creative Coalition uses the entertainment industry to make positive impacts on social welfare issues, with projects such as the #RightToBearArts campaign. To listen to the full interview and to learn more, visit TheCreativeCoalition.org.