Earl Boen, Star Trek: The Next Generation Guest Actor, Dies

Earl Boen played Nagilum in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION.

JANUARY 9, 2023 - He was probably best known as Dr. Peter Silberman in the first three Terminator films, though he had many film and television credits. The Hollywood Reporter has shared the news that Earl Boen has died from lung cancer at the age of 81.

Boen is known to Star Trek fans for his portrayal of Nagilum in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s season two episode, “Where Silence Has Lease.” According to Memory Alpha, he also provided voices for the franchise’s video games, Star Trek: Voyager: Elite Force and Star Trek: Bridge Commander.

For Nagilum, according to Paula Block and Terry Erdmann’s book, Star Trek: The Next Generation: 365, “Boen was directed to deliver his lines in front of a blue screen and told to avoid moving his head. ‘We planned to keep Earl’s eyes and mouth [as part of the final effect] to lend verisimilitude to facial expressions and retain the actor’s performance of dialogue,’ relates [VFX staffer] Dan Curry.”

Michael Biehn, who appeared with Boen in The Terminator, said Boen “was a wonderful actor, and he was always fun to be around,” and that director James Cameron “picked Earl because he was special.”

Boen’s other appearances included such films as Alien Nation and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult and such television shows as M*A*S*Hand The West Wing. He retired from screen acting in 2003 after Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines but continued voice acting.

For more on the life and career of Earl Boen, head over to The Hollywood Reporter, and please join us in offering our condolences to his friends and family.