Line #1 Creator/JohnDeLancie


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jdl.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration "The trial never ends."]]]]
3	->''"[[Creator/GeneRoddenberry Roddenberry]] warned me that I had no idea what I was getting into with ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Star Trek]]''. Someone should have warned me about ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic My Little Pony]]!'' Egads!"''
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5	Well... I suppose that is the end of John de Lancie.
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7	''Au contraire, mon troper! [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke_AkJC92IA He's back!]]''
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9	Yes, friends, UsefulNotes/{{Philadelphia}}-born actor John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr. (born March 20, 1948) is best known as Q from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', where he was popular enough to return in ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'', ''[[WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks Lower Decks]]'', and ''[[Series/StarTrekPicard Picard]]''.
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11	The son of the principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra (also named [[LegacyCharacter John de Lancie]]), de Lancie (the actor, by the way) was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child and didn't learn how to read until he was 12. At the age of 14 he was in a production of ''Theatre/HenryV'', setting him on the road of acting. He studied acting at Kent State University around the time of the 1970 shootings there. Eventually in the 1970s, he got television work in small character roles in such series like ''Series/TheSixMillionDollarMan'' and ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978'' as well as two doctor characters in the final ''Series/{{Emergency}}'' TV Movies.
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13	As stated above, his most famous role of Q from the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' franchise, who despite only being in 8 episodes of TNG, 1 episode of ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', and 3 episodes of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' became [[EnsembleDarkhorse quite popular]] with the fandom. In one of Q's appearances on ''Voyager'' de Lancie's son Keegan [[RealLifeRelative played Q's son]]. In 1996, he would co-found ''Alien Voices'' with fellow ''Star Trek'' alumnus Creator/LeonardNimoy, which produced several sci-fi audio productions including answering a question of great importance to humanity - What would happen if [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Spock and Q ever met?]] [[WebVideo/SpockVsQ Turns out something like]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uDwTr-Myik this.]] He would return to the role of Q in TheNewTwenties, with a voice cameo in ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekLowerDecks'' and a critical supporting role in season 2 of ''Series/StarTrekPicard''.
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15	Being a part of ''Star Trek'' is far from de Lancie's only contribution to science fiction shows. He also played Frank Simmons in ''Series/StargateSG1'', CIA Director Allen Shapiro in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' spin-off ''Series/TorchwoodMiracleDay'', Russell Bennett in the film ''Film/{{Evolver}}'', and even appeared on ''Series/BattlestarGalactica1978''. Other shows he has worked on include ''Series/LawAndOrderLA'', ''Series/BreakingBad'', ''Series/MissionImpossible'' (the {{revival}} from TheEighties), and ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}''.
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17	De Lancie's voice is quite distinctive and has lent it to several cartoons and video games. Notable roles include Dr. Quest in ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'', Desmond's father William Miles in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', Professor Fitz Quadwrangle in ''VideoGame/QuantumConundrum'', Alarak in ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' (including ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm''), Mr. Freeze on ''WesternAnimation/DCSuperHeroGirls'', and ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' as the mischievous draconequus (and Q {{Expy}}) Discord, which is currently his most well-known voice-over role thanks to the show's immense popularity. He had completely forgotten he had done anything ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' related[[note]]It was only two episodes at the time after all, and he does a lot of other things[[/note]] by the time a preview clip appeared online, at which point he was overwhelmed by the brony community, noting that at least Creator/GeneRoddenberry warned him about Trekkies beforehand. De Lancie has since come to embrace the bronies and worked on a [[Film/BroniesTheExtremelyUnexpectedAdultFansOfMyLittlePony documentary]] to help shed some light on the fandom.
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19	He has the ''perfect'' voice for reading classic literature aloud. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIckeYVuMC0 Here is]] him reading Creator/EdgarAllanPoe's ''Literature/TheRaven''.
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21	!!Provides examples of:
22	* CoolOldGuy: Has become this to both Trekkies and Bronies.
23	* DeadpanSnarker: Comes across as a bit of one on his Twitter and two of his most [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration well known]] [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic roles]] are big ones as well. He has also proven to be an example at in-person Q&A sessions.
24	* DisabilitySuperpower: His dyslexia made it difficult to read scripts and teleprompters, so he compensated by being ridiculously good at improvisation.
25	* TheGadfly: A brony recounts his meeting with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHbfr3TrNLg Mr. De Lancie]].
26	* NotSoDifferentRemark: He has pointed out that Trekkies and Bronies have quite a lot in common, and has even said that Creator/LaurenFaust reminds him of Creator/GeneRoddenberry.
27	* OldShame: Subverted with [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Discord]]. He originally took on the role [[MoneyDearBoy for the paycheck]] and had forgotten about it by the time fan mail started pouring in. Now it's one of his favorite animated roles.
28	* PigeonholedVoiceActor: Between Q, [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Discord]], and [[VideoGame/StarCraftIILegacyOfTheVoid Alarak]], he has a thing these days for playing snarky AntiHero {{Troll}}s.
29	* PlayingAgainstType: Appears in ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' as Mr. Olsen, a normal human being, one who is not snarky and is not relevant to the plot. His role of Dr. Benton Quest in ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'' is also about as far removed from Discord and Q as you could get.
30	* {{Troll}}: Apparently, he is as impish on set as he is in character.
31	* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
32	** Voiced badass mentor John Lynch in ''WesternAnimation/Gen13TheMovie'' before it was [[ExecutiveMeddling indefinitely shelved by Disney]] (only ever ''[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes officially]]'' released in UsefulNotes/{{Australia}}).
33	** If a certain someone at Creator/DHXMedia had not spoken up, the role of [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Discord]] would've gone to [[PoorMansSubstitute someone else]], and de Lancie likely wouldn't have become so enthralled in the brony community.
34	** The producers of ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' were hoping to have Q appear in one episode, but John de Lancie turned it down, since it was a prequel series, and having Q show up might [[SeriesContinuityError mess up continuity]].
35	** He was apparently interested in a role in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017'' but was [[ExecutiveMeddling turned down]]. Discord does make a silent cameo in the film, however.
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Context Creator / JohnDeLancie