Robert O'Reilly
Acting · Camera
Born March 25, 1950, New York, New York, USA
Robert O'Reilly (born March 25, 1950, in New York City) is an American film, stage, and television actor and director. He is best known for his role as Chancellor Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire, in the Star Trek franchise—particularly on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. O'Reilly’s career spans over 100 films and TV episodes, often portraying antagonistic or villainous characters. He appeared in series like Cheers, Knight Rider, MacGyver, NYPD Blue, and films such as The Mask. He has also performed on Broadway and at Carnegie Hall. Notably, he received a Drama-Logue Award in 1981 for directing the play Getting Out. His first Star Trek appearance was in The Next Generation episode "Manhunt," but he is most recognized for playing Gowron from the episode "Reunion" onward, across several Next Generation and Deep Space Nine episodes, and related media including video games. O'Reilly drew inspiration for Gowron from Shakespearean characters, notably Edmund from King Lear. He has reprised Gowron in various Star Trek-related events and conventions. In theater, he has appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including The Tavern, The Promise, and played roles like Edmund in King Lear. He has been active with the Colony Theatre Company in Burbank, California, both as an actor and director. He is married to Judy O'Reilly, with whom he has triplet sons. His hobbies include golf and baseball. Robert O'Reilly retired from acting but remains involved in the Star Trek community through conventions and voice roles
Filmography
- Full Court Press — Camera Operator
- 2019The Circuit
- 2013Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption — Gowron
- Numb3rs — Kurt Delock (uncredited)
- Star Trek: Enterprise — Kago-Darr
- The Guardian — Quinn Jankowski
- 1999Candyman: Day of the Dead — L.V. Sacco
- 1999The Omega Code — Technician
- 1997Good Luck — Bartender
- 1997Moonbase — Karl Stark
- 1995Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Way of the Warrior — Gowron
- 1995Steel Frontier — Evermore
- 1994The Mask — The Figure
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman — Rudy Exner
- NYPD Blue — Calvin James / Carl Shivers
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Gowron, Countman
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. — Sketch
- Walker, Texas Ranger — Mark Dunford
- 1992Desert Kickboxer — Paul
- 1991Party Plane — Air Traffic Controller
- 1991Under Surveillance — Whitey
- 1991Whore — Younger Man in Car
- 1990By Dawn's Early Light — FEMA Radioman
- Cop Rock
- 1990Dark Avenger — Officer Kevin Wegley
- The Flash — Victor Kelso
- Star Trek: The Next Generation — Gowron, Scarface
- Sledge Hammer! — Assassin
- MacGyver — Curt Neilson
- Otherworld — Drill Instructor
- The Equalizer — Fur Collar Man, Chance
- 1985The Steel Collar Man — Johnny
- Crazy like a Fox
- Highway to Heaven
- Hunter — Willem Sunderson
- Murder, She Wrote — A.J. Grodin, Stephen Ridgely
- Hardcastle and McCormick
- Manimal
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King
- Trauma Center
- Cheers — Ed Fogerty
- Knight Rider — Jake Simpson, Snyder
- T. J. Hooker — Jack Riker, Sheehan
- Voyagers!
- Darkroom — Sebastian
- Falcon Crest — Mr. Kumar
- Simon & Simon
- The Fall Guy
- Archie Bunker's Place
- CHiPs — Ryan
- The Incredible Hulk
Appearances as themselves (3)
- The Shuttlepod Show — Self
- A Captain's Log — Self
- 2004Star Trek's Favorite Moments — Self