W Morgan Sheppard obit

William Morgan Sheppard of 'Star Trek' fame dies at age 86, son Mark confirms

He was not on the list.

Actor William Morgan Sheppard, known for his work on “Star Trek,” has died at age 86 according to his son, fellow actor Mark Sheppard.

Mark, known for his work on “Doctor Who” and “Supernatural” revealed news of his father’s death in an emotional tribute on Instagram. The image shows his father laying in a hospital bed with family by his side.

“We went to spend some time with my father today. Though he couldn’t speak, we held hands, he laughed and was so happy to see us. We left and came home. A good day. He was rushed to hospital and passed at 6:30pm, my mother by his side,” Mark wrote. “I am so grateful that he didn’t have to suffer any longer. Thank you for all your kind thoughts, love and prayers.”

As Deadline reports, William Sheppard got his start in his London home at the Royal Shakespeare Company where he was an Associate Artist for 12 years before moving over to Broadway. However, fans typically recognize him for his work as Dr. Ira Graves in the 1989 episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” titled “The Schizoid Man.” He would continue with the franchise with appearances in spinoffs such as “Star Trek: Voyager,” the film “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” and the 2009 “Star Trek” movie. Outside of Star Trek, he is best known for his role as Blank Reg on Max Headroom and his role as the Confederate general Isaac R. Trimble in the films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.


He appeared on Broadway in Marat/Sade (1966) and in Sherlock Holmes (1975). He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for The Homecoming in 1995. In December 2009, Sheppard voiced the part of Santa in Disney's Christmas special Prep and Landing. Following that, he returned as the voice of Santa in the sequels, Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa and Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice. On 4 December 2010, Sheppard appeared on Hallmark Channel Original Films Farewell Mr. Kringle as Kris Kringle.


Sheppard voiced several characters in video games. He narrated the introductions and mission briefings for the first four installments of the Medal of Honor video-game series. He was cast in the 1996 adventure game Zork Nemesis, playing the live-action role of Bishop Francois Malveaux, one of the four alchemists central to the plot of the game. In 2000, he voiced the character Ignatius Cheese in the game Escape from Monkey Island. Sheppard voiced over for the character John Adams in the Wii game The Conduit. He provided the voice for the character Lucky in the 2002 Xbox (console) game Whacked!. On 4 August 2010, Sheppard was announced as the voice actor for the video game Civilization V.


He continued working as an actor, with credits as late as 2017. His recent 2011 appearance in “Doctor Who” was a bit of a family affair. He played the older version of Canton Delaware III in the time-travel series while Mark played the younger version of the character. His son’s Instagram post did not specify a cause of death.


Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes

1962 Strongroom Alec

1967 Marat/Sade A Mad Animal

1968 Tell Me Lies Guest

1973 The Roses of Eyam William Hancock TV movie

1974 Antony and Cleopatra Scarus TV movie

1977 The Duellists The Fencing Master

Rachel and the Beelzebub Bombardiers Salvationist

1978 The Nativity Flavius TV movie

1980 The Sea Wolves 'Patch' Lovecroft

The Elephant Man Man In Pub

Hawk the Slayer Ranulf

1983 Nutcracker George Peacock

The Keep Alexandru

1984 Lassiter Sweeny

Camille Captain TV movie

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood Saxon thief TV movie

1985 Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future Blank Reg TV movie

The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission German General TV movie

The Doctor and the Devils Landlord

1986 Lady Jane Executioner

1987 Cry Freedom Policeman

Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge Digger McCloud TV movie

1988 Elvira: Mistress of the Dark Vincent Talbot

Lucky Stiff Pa

1990 Wild at Heart Mr. Reindeer

1991 Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Klingon Prison Warden

1992 There Goes the Neighbourhood Trick Bissell

1993 Needful Things Father Meehan

Gettysburg Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble / Narrator

Taking Liberty

1996 The Lottery Mayor Warner TV movie

1997 Nether World Old Timer

1998 Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan Adventure Whiskers TV movie

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World Captain (voice) Direct-video

The Escape Long TV movie

Hurricane Festival Charles

1999 Treasure of Pirate's Point Charles Vane / Captain

The Hungry Bachelors Club Mr. Ringold

2001 Room 101 Landers

2003 Gods and Generals Maj. Gen. Isaac Trimble

Atlantis: Milo's Return Erik Hellstrom (voice) Direct-video

Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle Denny TV movie

Small Town Conspiracy Taylor

2005 Love's Long Journey Scottie TV movie

2006 Love's Abiding Joy Scottie

The Prestige Merrit

2007 A Stranger's Heart Fred Landreth TV movie

Transformers Captain Archibald Witwicky

Along the Way Mr. Hereck

2008 Over Her Dead Body Father Marks

So Long Jimmy Poppy Garfield

Japan The Voice

2009 Star Trek Vulcan Science Minister Uncredited

2010 Mysterious Island Captain Nemo

For Christ's Sake Father Monahan

2011 Meeting Spencer Larry Lind

2012 The Last Mark Uncle Bill

2013 The Devil's Dozen

2013 April Apocalypse Pops

2013 Free Birds Additional voices

2016 Last Man Club Will Hodges

 

Television

Year Title Role Notes

1971 The Expert Landlord Season 3, episode 11: "Smithereens"

1974 Marked Personal Hearst 2 episodes

1977 London Belongs to Me Henry Knockell 6 episodes

1977 When the Boat Comes In Dixon 3 episodes

1977–1979 The Onedin Line Ned Harris / Sampson 2 episodes

1979 Rebecca Ben 2 episodes

1979 The Legend of King Arthur Gorlois Episode 1

1979 Minder John Series 1, episode 8: "Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away"

1979 Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson Man in the Morgue / Mischkin 2 episodes

1980 Shōgun Specz 5 episodes

1981 Masada Roman Sergeant Episode 1

1981 The Day of the Triffids Bill Masen's father Episode 1

1981 The Flame Trees of Thika Piet Roos 3 episodes

1987–1988 Max Headroom Blank Reg 7 episodes

1987–1989 Crossbow Otto / Parker 2 episodes

1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Dr. Ira Graves Season 2, episode 6: "The Schizoid Man"

1989–1990 MacGyver Dr. Zito Season 4, episode 7: "Deadly Dreams" and season 6, episode 6: "Lesson in Evil"

1991 Designing Women Professor Burton Season 6, episode 13: "Tales Out of School"

1992–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant Sailor / Douglas / Man 4 episodes

1993–1996 Biker Mice from Mars Lawrence Lactavius Limburger (voice) 65 episodes

1993 Quantum Leap Gooshie, the Miner Season 5, episode 22: "Mirror Image"

1993–1994 seaQuest DSV The Old Man, Professor Martinson 7 episodes

1994–1995 Babylon 5 Warleader G'Sten / The Soul Hunter 2 episodes

1994–1996 Iron Man Dum Dum Dugan (voice) Several episodes in season 2

1995 Frasier Mr. Drake Season 2, episode 18: "The Club"

1995 Murder, She Wrote Dr. Fredrick Grundberg Season 11, episode 15: "Twice Dead"

1995–1996 Gargoyles Additional voices 7 episodes, voiced several characters

1996 American Gothic Mr. Emmett Episode 14: "To Hell and Back"

1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy Grave Digger Season 1, episode 1: "The Fifth Sepulcher"

1998 JAG Maj. Viktor Lushov Season 3, episode 24: "To Russia with Love"

1999 Star Trek: Voyager Qatai Season 5, episode 14: "Bliss"

2000 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. Tom Arneberg Season 7, episode 18: "The Unluckiest Bachelor in L.A."

2000 The Wild Thornberrys Lead Jackal (voice) Season 2, episode 34: "Cheetahs Never Prosper"

2000–2001 Days of Our Lives Charles 3 episodes

2001–2002 Hellsing Peter Fargason 10 episodes

2002 Justice League Merlin (voice) Season 1, episode 20: "A Knight of Shadows"

2002 Crossing Jordan Clive Alpert Season 2, episode 3: "The Truth Is Out There"

2003 Charmed Merrill Season 5, episode 15: "The Day the Magic Died"

2003 Licensed by Royalty Mister 13 episodes

2004 Kingdom Hospital Narrator 3 episodes

2005 Alias Milo Sabine Season 4, episode 8: "Echoes"

2005 Cold Case Dan O'Brien Season 2, episode 21: "Creatures of the Night"

2005 Gilmore Girls Town Elder Season 5, episode 21: "Blame Booze and Melville"

2006–2007 Biker Mice from Mars Lawrence Limburger (voice) Season 1, 3 episodes

2007 Criminal Minds John Caulfield Season 3, episode 11: "Birthright"

2009 NCIS Marcin Jerek / Mr. Pain Season 6, episode 13: "Broken Bird"

2010 Legend of the Seeker The Keeper (voice) Season 2, 3 episodes

2010 Mad Men Robert Pryce Season 4, episode 10: "Hands and Knees"

2011 Doctor Who Old Canton Everett Delaware III Series 6, episode 1: "The Impossible Astronaut"

2011 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Father Cullen Season 7, episode 10: "How Mac Got Fat"

2011 Dexter Father Nicholas Galway Season 6, episode 8: "Sin of Omission"

2012 Young Justice Sardath (voice) Season 2, episode 2: "Earthlings"

2016 The Librarians Teddy Chislington Season 3, episode 6: "And the Trial of the Triangle"