Jack Donner obit

R.I.P. Jack Donner of Star Trek and Mission: Impossible

He was not on the list.

On June 21, 1968, Jack Donner arrived at Desilu Stage 9 to film his scenes for a third-season episode of Star Trek. While it was his first appearance on the show, he was certainly familiar with the studio lot and some of the stars. He had done a couple of Mission: Impossible episodes on the lot. More importantly, he knew Leonard Nimoy and Walter Koenig personally.

"We knew each other prior to the beginning of Star Trek. So it was like a reunion going to the set," he told Trek Today in a 2004 interview. Donner had done some plays with Nimoy. Koenig he knew from his own theater, the Oxford, which he co-founded and co-directed with Lee Delano. Koenig and Delano were friends.

So, when Donner slipped into costume to play the Romulan Subcommander Tal in "The Enterprise Incident," he was in familiar company. Donner appeared in just that one episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, but he does hold a rare distinction amongst Trek actors. He is one of only five actors to appear on both The Original Series and Star Trek: Enterprise. On the latter, he turned up twice as a Vulcan in "Home" and "Kir'Shana."

Donner's path between those two Trek series is quite interesting. After "The Enterprise Incident," he returned to Desilu several more times to film Mission: Impossible episodes. In fact, he holds the record for most guest appearances on that classic spy series with 11 episodes.

We mentioned his theater, the Oxford. As an acting instructor, he taught Barry Levinson, Craig T. Nelson, Barbara Perkins and Don Johnson.

In 1976, Donner became ill and was forced to sell the theater. After recuperating, he returned to school and became a licensed psychotherapist. That would explain the large gap in his IMDb credits. In the 1990s, the acting bug once again bit Donner, and he continued to take small roles on everything from Frasier to The District.

On September 21, Donner passed away, according to the Star Trek fan database Memory Alpha. He was 90 years old.

Filmography

Demon Under Glass
Exorcism
Stigmata supporting "Father Alemeida" Spirit of the film. directed by ...Ruppert Wainwright Starring Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byme
The Second Coming - Lead "Reverent John" (modern John the Baptist)
Cool Air- Thriller, Lead "Dr. Munoz" directed & written by Brian Moore
Chosen One-supporting role. directed by David Fiorello
1999 Broken Vows - Featured Role directed by Bill Reed
...starring Olivia Hussey, Ed Asner, and Don Murray.
The Rocky and Bullwinkle Movie (2000 release)- w/ ...Robert Deniro
Puppetmaster -Retro Lead "Afzel the Sorcerer"
Family Tree
Stigmata "Father Alemeida" Spirit of the film.
Gideon
The War is Over
The Emmisary
Operation Dalmation
Johnny Mystro:Wizard
East Meets West
Hotel
Sweet November
All American Boy
The American Dream
A very Special Favor
Belle Star
Escape From Hell Island

Television

Roswell
Malcom In The Middle
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
The District
Strong Medicine
Prime Time Glick
The Tonight Show
Shasta McNasty
Madison Heights
Unsolved Mysteries
The Privateers (pilot) Lead, with Walter Koenig and Carl Urban
Frazier
Good vs. Evil
Chicken Soup For The Soul
A.R.K.
Charmed
General Hospital
Conan the Adventurer (guest lead)
Mad TV (guest star)
Days of Our Lives (recurring)
Baywatch "Liquid Assets"
Orisis Chronicles
Mission Impossible
Star Trek "The Enterprise Incident"
Kojak
Police Story
Griff
Mannix
Name of the Game
General Hospital
Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Death Valley Days
Streets of San Francisco

Plus approximatly 70 others including Get Smart, My Favorite Martian, Line-Up, Manhunter, Store From Lawyers, Farraday & Son, The Flying Nun, Profiles In Courage, I Dream of Jeannie, The Donna Reed Show, Day In Court, Man Against the Sea, Name of the Game and Divorce Court.

Live Television
Robert Montgomery Presents
Armstrong Circle Theatre
Several Daytime Dramas.

Stage
Appeared in a score of L.A. and New York Productions including the universally acclaimed "Oedipus Rex"(starred), "The Four Poster"(starred), "Prelude to a Kiss" at Beverly Hills Playhouse (1996) and "Pursuing Beverly" at the Fountain Theatre (1997)