Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor, best known for the role of Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Picard. He's appeared in the most Star Trek episodes of any actor thanks to his major role on its two longest-running shows. He also has numerous voice acting credits, including recurring roles in Superman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012), Danny Phantom, Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys, I Am Weasel, Toonami, Starship Regulars, The Lion Guard, Invincible (2021), and the Fallout video game franchise. More recently, he has provided the voice of Prometheus in Arrow.
Works where Michael Dorn is a primary creator:
- Steelworks: Dorn is the writer for this 2023 DC Comics series.
Tropes applying to Michael Dorn’s roles:
- Corpsing: If the TNG gag reels are anything to go by, he is extremely prone to this on set, or was at the time.
- Deadpan Snarker: Dorn added a great deal of humor to Worf's character through subtle variations in tone of voice.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: Besides the obvious, he's played Gatatog Uvenk, Battle Beast and "Conan the Librarian".
- Role Reprise: He voices Worf in Star Trek Online starting with the Season 8 lead-in featured episode "Sphere of Influence".
- The Worf Effect: Dorn was well aware of the trope before it was named. One of the perks required to tempt him into doing DS9 was a promise that the writers would stop beating down Worf to demonstrate the strength of the villain du jour.