--- name: "Michael Dorn" canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-dorn" fi1m_id: "michael-dorn" imdb_id: "nm0000373" tmdb_id: 2391 wikidata_id: "Q316955" roles: ["Actor","Director"] born: "9 December 1952" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 66 average_as: "actor" average_over: 6 updated: "2026-09-18T12:28:32.887918+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Michael Dorn ## Identity Michael Dorn - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-dorn - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** michael-dorn - **IMDb ID:** nm0000373 - **TMDB ID:** 2391 - **Wikidata ID:** Q316955 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dorn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316955, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2391 Actor and director. Born 9 December 1952 in Luling - Texas - USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor, Director - **Born:** 9 December 1952, Luling - Texas - USA - **Active:** 1987–2002 - **Also known as:** مایکل دورن - **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 6 acting, 1 directing, 1 other - **Frequently works with:** [Jonathan Frakes](https://film.one/person/jonathan-frakes.md), [Brent Spiner](https://film.one/person/brent-spiner.md), [LeVar Burton](https://film.one/person/levar-burton.md), [Patrick Stewart](https://film.one/person/patrick-stewart.md), [Peter Lauritson](https://film.one/person/peter-lauritson.md), [Rick Berman](https://film.one/person/rick-berman.md), [Ronald D. Moore](https://film.one/person/ronald-d-moore.md), [Brannon Braga](https://film.one/person/brannon-braga.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 6 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 85 (1), 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 69 (5), 2000s 50 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 61 across 5 titles - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 3 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 5, Adventure 5, Science Fiction 5, Thriller 5, Action & Adventure 1, Drama 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $541m across 5 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dorn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316955, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/2391 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Star Trek: First Contact*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md) (82), [*Star Trek: Insurrection*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md) (58), [*Star Trek: Generations*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md) (48) - **Paramount+:** [*Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) (85), [*Star Trek: The Next Generation*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) (84) - **Apple TV:** [*Star Trek: Nemesis*](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md) (50) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Michael Dorn > Michael Dorn's Worf never makes the joke; the people around him make it, and Dorn has the patience to let them. It is a performance the two series knew how to use and the films, on our evidence, mostly did not. Somebody on the bridge says something light. Worf answers it as though it were a tactical report, nobody on screen laughs, and we do. This is the whole method. Michael Dorn plays a man who takes everything seriously, an invitation to a party as much as a boarding party, and in seven seasons of *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987) he never once lets us see that he knows it is funny. The other actors get the laugh. He gets the character. He had done small work before the forehead: an uncredited part in *Rocky* (1976), television on *CHiPs*. Then the make-up went on in 1987 and, with few exceptions, his career has happened underneath it. By his own account Gene Roddenberry told him to make the part his own, and he did; much of Worf's temper and his fierce loyalty to Klingon custom began as choices Dorn made on set that the writers then wrote towards. He has said of the character: "Worf has always been very stoic, and very proper, and that’s part of his charm." That is a fair summary of the performance, and of its limits. In our review of *The Next Generation* we said that Dorn, LeVar Burton and Gates McFadden help make the ensemble feel like company worth returning to. It is a modest sentence and the right one. He is a supporting actor in the proper sense: his stillness makes Jonathan Frakes looser and Brent Spiner funnier, because there is a fixed point in the frame for them to play against. The films did not understand this. *Star Trek: Generations* (1994) promotes him on a holodeck sailing ship and walks him off a plank, and the joke is that people get wet. We winced: seven years of a man built on dignity, spent on a splash. It is not Dorn's fault; he goes into the water wearing the same face he wears into battle. *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002) gives him two jokes, and only *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996) is a good film, and even there he is one face in a crowded supporting cast. Television served him better: he moved to *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* in 1995 for four seasons, where the part had more to do in what we think is the best drama the franchise has made, and where he began directing, three episodes there and one of *Enterprise*. He resisted the writers who wanted Worf sillier, and the character survived as he had built it. He came back as Captain Worf in *Star Trek: Picard* (2023), which we have not reviewed. He holds the record for the most on-screen appearances of any Star Trek character, and he earned it by being the one person aboard who never asked for the laugh. Start with the series, watch the films for the company, and expect to find him at the back. ## Biography Michael Dorn is an American actor best known for portraying the Klingon Lieutenant Commander Worf in the Star Trek franchise. He played the character in all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1995–1999), four feature films including Star Trek: First Contact (1996), and season three of Star Trek: Picard (2023). Dorn was born on 9 December 1952 in Luling, Texas, and grew up in Pasadena, California. He studied radio and television production at Pasadena City College before pursuing a career in music with rock bands. His early acting roles included an uncredited part as Apollo Creed's bodyguard in Rocky (1976) and a regular role as Officer Jebediah Turner on the television series CHiPs (1979–1982). He has also worked extensively in voice acting and has directed episodes of Star Trek series. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (8) ### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these - *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), Fi1m 50, as Lt. Commander Worf — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md) - *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), Fi1m 58, as Lt. Commander Worf — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md) - *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996), Fi1m 82, as Lieutenant Commander Worf — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md) - *Star Trek: Generations* (1994), Fi1m 48, as Lt. Commander Worf — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md) - *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country* (1991), Fi1m 74, as Klingon Defense Attorney — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-vi-the-undiscovered-country.md) - *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Worf — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) ### Directed (1) - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), Fi1m 85, as Willie Hawkins — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Rocky* (1976), Fi1m 85, as Apollo Creed's Bodyguard (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/rocky.md) ## Complete filmography (139) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Armorsaurs* (2025), series, as Karter Klay - *X-Men '97* (2024), series, as Baal (voice) - *Glowzies* (2023), as General Thomson - *Krapopolis* (2023), series, as Babak (voice) - *Star Trek: Picard - The IMAX Live Series Finale Event* (2023), as Captain Worf - *Dogs in Space* (2021), series, as Pistachio Soup (voice) - *INVINCIBLE* (2021), series, as Thokk / Battle Beast (voice), Battle Beast (voice), Battle Beast / Viltrumites (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/invincible-2021.md) - *DOTA: Dragon's Blood* (2021), series, as Asar (voice) - *Agent Revelation* (2021), as Alastair - *Unbelievable!!!!!* (2020), as Real Robert Schmitt - *Star Trek: Picard* (2020), series, as Captain Worf — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-picard.md) - *Wonder Woman: Bloodlines* (2019), as Ferdinand (voice) - *Entwined* (2019), as Joe Reed - *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), as Fortress Maximus (voice) - *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), series, as Fortress Maximus - *The Man from Earth: Holocene* (2017), as Dr. Gil Parker - *OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes* (2017), series, as Strike / I.M. Weasel - *Justice League Action* (2016), series, as Atrocitus (voice) - *The Lion Guard* (2016), series, as Bupu (voice) - *Con Man* (2015), series, as Michael Dorn - *Ted 2* (2015), as Rick - *Castlevania: Hymn of Blood* (2015), Actor - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - All Good Things...* (2014), as Lt. Worf - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Chain of Command* (2014), as Lt. Worf - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification* (2013), as Lt. Worf - *Zombeo & Juliécula* (2013), as The Janitor - *Uncle Grandpa* (2013), series, as Additional Voices (voice) - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - Redemption* (2013), as Lt. Worf - *Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds* (2013), as Lt. Worf (archive footage) - *Teen Titans Go!* (2013), series, as The Monitor (voice) - *Shady Lady* (2012), as Narrator (voice) - *Arrow* (2012), series, as Prometheus (voice) (uncredited) - *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2012), series, as Captain Mozar / Triceraton Lieutenant (voice) - *Liberator* (2012), as General Pollard - *Strange Frame* (2012), as Guardship Commander (voice) - *Heiter bis tödlich - Alles Klara* (2012), series, as Hans Baum - *Winx Club - The Shadow Phoenix* (2011), as Lord Darkar / Avalon (voice) - *Family Guy Presents: It's a Trap!* (2010), as Lieutenant Worf (voice) - *Regular Show* (2010), series, as Thomas (voice) - *Bionicle: The Legend Reborn* (2009), as Mata Nui (voice) - *Castle* (2009), series, as Carter Burke — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/castle.md) - *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* (2008), series, as Kru'll / Bane (voice) - *Fallen Angels* (2007), as Taylor - *Fist of the Warrior* (2007), as Arnold Denton - *Red Tail Reborn* (2007), as Narrator - *The Deep Below* (2007), as Carl Bennet · Associate Producer - *Night Skies* (2007), as Kyle - *The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause* (2006), as Sandman - *Heroes* (2006), series, as U.S. President — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md) - *A.I. Assault* (2006), as General Buskirk - *All You've Got* (2006), as Fireman Captain Diaz - *Voodoo Secrets* (2006), as Narrator (voice) - *Ben 10* (2005), series, as Vicktor (voice) - *Extraterrestrial* (2005), as Narrator (voice) - *Danny Phantom: The Ultimate Enemy* (2005), as The Fright Knight (voice) - *Thru the Moebius Strip* (2005), as King Tor (voice) - *Descent* (2005), as General Fielding - *Heart of the Beholder* (2005), as Lt. Larson - *Cartoon Network Christmas: Yuletide Follies* (2004), as I.M. Weasel (Voice) - *Justice League Unlimited* (2004), series, as Kalibak (voice) - *The Gristle* (2004), as Tar - *Danny Phantom* (2004), series, as The Fright Knight (voice) - *Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time* (2003), as Rufus 3000 (voice) - *Hope & Faith* (2003), series, Director - *The Interplanetary Surplus Male and Amazon Women of Outer Space* (2003), as The Bartender - *Duck Dodgers* (2003), series, as Centurion Robot (voice) - *Spider-Man: The New Animated Series* (2003), series, as Kraven the Hunter (voice) - *Evil Con Carne* (2003), series, as Rupert the Green-Nosed Reindeer (voice) - *Lessons for an Assassin* (2003), as Quinn - *Shade* (2003), as Jack Thornhill - *All Grown Up!* (2003), series, Actor - *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), as Lt. Commander Worf — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md) - *The Santa Clause 2* (2002), as Sandman - *Without a Trace* (2002), series, as Nathan Riggs - *Through the Fire* (2002), as Michael Collins · Writer, Director - *Ali* (2001), as Black Pilot — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/ali.md) - *Face Value* (2001), as Hitman - *Justice League* (2001), series, as Kalibak (voice), Kalibak / Cop (voice) - *Star Trek: Enterprise* (2001), series, Director - *The Guardian* (2001), series, as Mr. Stevens - *The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy* (2001), series, as King Beardbottom / Clown / Dwarf #2 - *The Zeta Project* (2001), series, Actor - *Mach 2* (2001), as Rogers - *Static Shock* (2000), series, as Reverend Anderson (voice) - *Shadow Hours* (2000), as Det. Thomas Greenwood - *The Prophet's Game* (2000), as Bob Bowman - *Hercules: Zero to Hero* (1999), as Minotaur (voice) (archive sound) - *Starship Regulars* (1999), series, as Captain Bellagen - *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Lieutenant Worf (voice), Michael Dorn (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md) - *Star Trek: Insurrection* (1998), as Lt. Commander Worf — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-insurrection.md) - *The Girl Next Door* (1998), as Lieutenant Steve Driscoll - *Martial Law* (1998), series, as Councilman Dick Tynan - *V.I.P.* (1998), series, Director - *Amanda & the Alien* (1998), as Lieutenant Vint - *Menno's Mind* (1997), as Simon - *Cow and Chicken* (1997), series, as I.M. Weasel (voice) - *I Am Weasel* (1997), series, as I.M. Weasel (voice) - *Johnny Bravo* (1997), series, Actor - *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996), as Lieutenant Commander Worf — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-first-contact.md) - *The Pretender* (1996), series, as Col. Lee Dance - *Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys* (1996), series, as Nebula (voice) - *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996), series, as Kalibak (voice), John Henry Irons (voice), Steel / John Henry Irons (voice) - *7th Heaven* (1996), series, as Mr. Johnson - *The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest* (1996), series, as Tala (voice) - *Where Are All the UFO's?* (1996), as Narrator (voice) - *Dexter's Laboratory* (1996), series, as Robo Dexo 3000 (voice) - *Street Fighter* (1995), series, as Warrior King - *The Savage Dragon* (1995), series, as The Warrior King (voice) - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Way of the Warrior* (1995), as Worf - *Virtual Combat* (1995), as Virtual Voice of Dante (voice) - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Pete Claridge - *The Parent 'Hood* (1995), series, Actor - *Timemaster* (1995), as Chairman - *Santo Bugito* (1995), series, as Darnold Dragonfly (voice) - *Star Trek: Generations* (1994), as Lt. Commander Worf — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-generations.md) - *Aaahh!!! Real Monsters* (1994), series, as Borl / Chauffer (voice) - *Gargoyles* (1994), series, as Coldstone (voice), Taurus (voice) - *Fantastic Four* (1994), series, as Gorgon (voice) - *Aladdin* (1994), series, Actor - *SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron* (1993), series, as Mutilor (voice) - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Behind the Scenes* (1993), as Worf - *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Worf, Willie Hawkins · Director — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md) - *Out All Night* (1992), series, as Rodney Lockhart - *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country* (1991), as Klingon Defense Attorney — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-vi-the-undiscovered-country.md) - *Dinosaurs* (1991), series, as Elder in Chief (voice), Solomon The Great (voice), WeSaySoCorp Announcer (voice), Television Announcer (voice) - *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Worf — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) - *Jagged Edge* (1985), as Dan Hislan - *227* (1985), series, Actor - *Charles in Charge* (1984), series, as Officer - *Hunter* (1984), series, as Highway Patrolman - *Punky Brewster* (1984), series, as Councilman Weatherwax - *The Hero Who Couldn't Read* (1984), as Dr. Bennett - *Webster* (1983), series, as Lt. Worf - *Hotel* (1982), series, as Clerk - *Falcon Crest* (1981), series, as Lt. Hastings - *Gimme a Break!* (1981), series, Actor - *Knots Landing* (1979), series, as Paramedic - *CHiPs* (1977), series, as Jebediah Turner - *Rocky* (1976), as Apollo Creed's Bodyguard (uncredited) — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/rocky.md) ## Gallery - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-a4aa847378d5.jpg) Michael Dorn — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Michael_Dorn_%2853939174085%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Dorn_%2853939174085%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![From left to right: Dominic Keating, Michael Dorn, Ethan Phillips, DragonCon 2008](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-9fabcd230b83.jpg) From left to right: Dominic Keating, Michael Dorn, Ethan Phillips, DragonCon 2008 — Hillary from Atlanta, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/DragonCon_2008%2C_Keating%2C_Dorn%2C_Phillips.jpg/1280px-DragonCon_2008%2C_Keating%2C_Dorn%2C_Phillips.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Dorn auf der Galileo 7.9 Convention (2005 in Neuss, Deutschland)](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-f0c3ce137dcd.jpg) Michael Dorn auf der Galileo 7.9 Convention (2005 in Neuss, Deutschland) — Benjamin Krahl, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Michael_Dorn.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-92d02068d1b5.jpg) Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Michael_Dorn_%2827997119934%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Dorn_%2827997119934%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-ebd60ee235ee.jpg) Michael Dorn — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-a49b737f406c.jpg) Michael Dorn — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-3876e540669d.jpg) Michael Dorn — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-d643d67816a1.jpg) Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Michael_Dorn_%2827997746753%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Dorn_%2827997746753%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-4cf056602cac.jpg) Michael Dorn speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Star Trek", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Please attrib — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Michael_Dorn_%2828581348576%29.jpg/1280px-Michael_Dorn_%2828581348576%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-ebe78f0e6062.jpg) Michael Dorn — Image via TMDB - ![Michael Dorn](https://film.one/media/person/86965/gallery-2b07f00d11f3.jpg) Michael Dorn — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-dorn