Prolific character actor and Star Trek guest star Gene Dynarski has died at 86

Gene Dynarski as Ben Childress in the Star Trek episode “Mudd’s Women”

Prolific character actor and Star Trek guest star Gene Dynarski has died. According to a piece from The Hollywood Reporter, Dynarski passed away on February 27th in an L.A. rehabilitation center. His death was announced by playwright Ernest Kearney; the cause of death does not appear to have been announced. Dynarski was 86.

In Star Trek, Dynarski played three guest characters: miner Ben Childress in the Original Series episode “Mudd’s Women”, Krodak in the episode “The Mark of Gideon”, and Commander Quinteros in the Next Generation episode “11001001”.

Outside of Star Trek, Dynarski was a prolific actor with acting credits spanning 50 years. He had guest turns on Mission Impossible, Bonanza, Starsky and Hutch, Little House on the Prairie, and even Seinfeld and The X-Files. 

Dynarski is survived by his two daughters. Please join me in sending condolences to Dynarski’s family.