John Cothran, Jr. (born 31 October 1947; age 64) has played three roles in the Star Trek television series and two roles in the Simon and Schuster interactive games. Three of his characters were Klingons including his appearance in Star Trek: Klingon. He also played a Human character, Lieutenant Commander/Ship's Counselor Doctor Bennington Biraka, in the computer game Star Trek: Borg.

Contents 1 Career origins 2 1990s 3 The 2000s 4 Television guest roles 5 Star Trek appearances 6 External links

Career origins Edit

Cothran made his acting/film debut in 1979's A Pleasure Doing Business with Alan Oppenheimer. Cothran then played a Gypsy in the dystopian Escape From New York(1981) opposite Trek spouses Adrienne Barbeau and Billy Van Zandt as well as Tony Papenfuss. However, a near decade would pass before Cothran was seen on film again and that was 1989's The Kill Reflex with James Otis and Fred Williamson. Cothran was cast in his first telefilm role in the holiday-themed The Kid Who Loved Christmas(1990) with Ben Vereen and Vanessa Williams. Cothran followed that same year on the big screen in the comedy Opportunity Knocks with Lorna Raver.

1990s Edit

1991 would be a busy year for Cothran. Beginning with the telefilm Aftermath:A Test of Love with Raye Birk, Scott Jaeck, Jeanne Mori and Biff Yeager. Second was the John Singleton directed inner-city drama Boyz n the Hood with Jessie Lawrence Ferguson and the thriller Ricochet alongside Tim de Zarn, Victoria Dillard, Sherman Howard, Carlos LaCamara and Albie Selznick.

In 1992 Cothran appeared in the telefilm Secrets with Brenda Bakke, Stephanie Beacham, Paul Collins and Christopher Plummer. He performed in 1993's Poetic Justice with film lead Clifton Collins, Jr.. He had a little more work in 1994 first in the comedy Jimmy Hollywood with Christian Slater and then the telefilm Where Are My Children? working with Corbin Bernsen, William Frankfather, Jerry Hardin, Angela Paton, David Sage, David Spielberg and Harvey Vernon. In 1996, Cothran was cast in the romantic comedy Mr. Wrong joining Brad William Henke, Camille Saviola, Dean Stockwell and Peter White, He also appeared in the telefilm Her Last Chance directed by Richard Colla and costarring William Lucking. Cothran won a role in the 1997 short film Platform Six with Michael Shamus Wiles. That same year Cothran appeared in Spawn based upon the hit comic-book series of the same name, with Laura Interval, Michael Papajohn and Frank Welker. Finally in 1997, Cothran was seen in the equally lucrative thriller Kiss the Girls alongside Larry Cedar, film headliner Ashley Judd, Gina Ravarra and Tracey Walter. Cothran rounded out the decade first in the 1998 telefilm Always Outnumbered with Bill Cobbs and Danny Goldring the concluding the 90s in the 1999 independent comedy film The Limey reuniting with William Lucking and also working with Randy Lowell and Wayne Péré.

The 2000s Edit

Cothran began the 21st century in the 2000 psychological thriller The Cell with Vanessa Branch, Nicholas Cascone and Musetta Vander. For his next role, Cothran dove into 2001's The Gene Pool with Tony Jay. Cothran would win his first voice-acting job contributing to the 2005 video game Madagascar lending his voice sharing the microphone with Michael Bell, John Kassir and Keith Szarabajka. In 2008, Cothran appeared in the Jim Carrey-led comedy Yes Man with Fionnula Flanagan, Spencer Garrett and Michael Papajohn. A year later in 2009, Cothran rejoined Clifton Collins Jr. and Tracey Walter in the baseball drama The Perfect Game which also costarred Bruce McGill. Cothran's most recent film role is his second job as a voice actor, the animated Rango co-written by John Logan and this time sharing the mic with Ian Abercrombie and Stephen Root.

Television guest roles Edit

• Wiseguy starring Jonathan Banks..."Dead Right"(1990) with Stephen Root
• Reasonable Doubts..."Self Defense"(1992) with Leslie Jordan
• Black Tie Affair..."One"(1993) with Bruce McGill
• Viper..."Safe as Houses"(1994) with Parley Baer, Jack Shearer and Don Stark
• Picket Fences starring Kelly Connell, Justin Shenkarow and Ray Walston..."The Bus Stops Here"(1994) with Roy Brocksmith, Paul Eiding,Gregory Itzin and Paul Winfield
• Seinfeld starring Jason Alexander..."The Diplomat's Club"(1995) with Ian Abercrombie, Robert Hooks and Tom Wright
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air starring James Avery..."For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll"(1995)
• Dave's World..."Leave a Mystery at the Door"(1995) with William Utay
• E.R. starring Lily Mariye..."Post Mortem"(1997) with Jack Blessing, Paul Collins, Kirsten Dunst and Deborah May
• Martin..."Aint That About a Ditch?"(1997) with Shelly Desai and Judyann Elder
• Sparks starring James Avery..."Hoop Schemes"(1997)
• Suddenly Susan..."What a Card"(1997) with Bill Erwin and Nan Martin
• Almost Perfect starring David Clennon..."Gimme Shelter"(1997)
• Mercy Point starring Jordan Lund and Brian McNamara..."Last Resort"(1998) with Melanie Shatner and Salli Elise Richardson-Whitfield
• Felicity created by J.J. Abrams and starring Greg Grunberg..."Thanksgiving"(1998) with Robert Clendenin
• Becker starring Terry Farrell..."Physician, Heal Thyself"(1999)
• The Pretender starring Harve Presnell..."Pool"(1999) with Jason Brooks
• The Practice..."Lawyers, Reporters & Cockroaches"(1999) with Joseph Campanella, Len Cariou and Jeff Yagher
• Norm starring Nikki Cox..."Laurie Runs For office"(1999)

Star Trek appearances Edit

External links Edit

• John Cothran, Jr. at Wikipedia
• John Cothran, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database