Patrick Stewart has played two pop cultural icons in his career. While he is known to a generation as Professor X in the X-Men films, he had his breakthrough as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The show made him a global star along with the rest of its cast.
However, according to co-star Brent Spiner, the show was considered seriously by audiences only when one star joined the cast. Spiner mentioned that though the series had a slow start in the first season, it gained traction when Oscar-winning actor Whoopi Goldberg joined the show as Guinan.
Brent Spiner Attributed Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Global Success To Whoopi Goldberg
While the original Star Trek series had its own fan following, the spinoff show The Next Generation became a global sensation. Headlined by Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard, the show’s boundary-pushing stories and effects were well-regarded by critics and fans alike. Though it did not get much love from the awards, it remains a classic.
While Stewart became a global star due to the series, his co-star Brent Spiner mentioned that the inclusion of Whoopi Golberg in the second season took it to a whole new level. Goldberg was an Oscar-winning actress and had just come off of playing an acclaimed role in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple.
Spiner, who played Data in the show, mentioned that though the show had its fans, it became a sensation after Goldberg came in. He said in the book The Center Seat: 55 Years of Trek (via Screen Rant),
It may be just my opinion, but I think we became legit when Whoopi came on the show. Whoopi was a major movie star, and she came on in the second season. That was a big deal. Whoopi Goldberg is going to be on your show, and not just doing a guest spot, she’s going to be a semi-regular on the show.
Spiner mentioned that a movie star of Goldberg’s stature coming into the show led many viewers to take it seriously and get on board.
Whoopi Goldberg Pestered Star Trek Creators To Be Cast In The Show
While many prominent actors have made guest appearances in the show, Whoopi Goldberg’s inclusion gave Star Trek: The Next Generation a boost like no other. Goldberg was an Oscar-winning actress at the time and was cast as Guinan, the bartender at the Ten Forward lounge.
Goldberg was reportedly a fan of the franchise and was inspired by Nichelle Nichols’ role as Uhura in the original series. This made her request the producers of The Next Generation to include her in the series. According to Star Trek.com, the actress recounted her experience watching the original,
Well, when I was nine years old Star Trek came on. I looked at it and I went screaming through the house, ‘Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick, there’s a black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!’ I knew right then and there I could be anything I wanted to be.
The actress reportedly approached LeVar Burton and asked him to pitch her as a potential cast member. While the makers thought it was a prank, they finally believed the pitch when Goldberg called the production facility.
Star Trek: The Next Generation is available to stream on Paramount+.
