TMCnet News
Behind the mask: Klingon get-ups make actors unrecognizableJun 26, 2010 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- At a horror convention this spring, I spent some enjoyable moments chatting with a nice man outside the hotel. We talked about nothing in particular: where we were from, how the convention was going. As I followed him back into the conference area, I saw him slip behind a table stacked with photos and pick up his pen. He was one of the celebrities, and I had not even recognized him. This is the kind of fame in which Robert O'Reilly and J.G. Hertzler revel. You could easily pass words with them arriving at this week's Trek Expo, experiencing only the vaguest brain tickle that you have seen them somewhere before. As veteran character actors, they've made careers of not standing out as themselves. And in the roles for which they are best known, they are so completely hidden, only the most ardent Star Trek fans know them out of uniform -- Klingon uniform. O'Reilly played Chancellor Gowron on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" for nine years, and Hertzler was General (later Chancellor) Martok on "Deep Space Nine." The roles as members of an alien warrior race required head-to-toe costumes and hours of makeup that made the actors unrecognizable. The anonymity is "fabulous," said Hertzler. "I don't like being looked at. Now, Bob loves acting." "The benefits outweigh the detriments," O'Reilly added. It's a bit ironic that O'Reilly and Hertzler make appearances together as Gowron and Martok. In the Star Trek universe, the leader and his successor were not what you'd call chummy, even by Klingon standards. However, the two men who play them met while working on a Star Trek CD-ROM project and have been good friends since. They now live on opposite coasts -- Hertzler in New York, O'Reilly in L.A. -- so about the only time they get to see each other is at conventions. Their friendship translates into a treat for Trekkies. At Tulsa's Trek Expo, not only will the actors be in full costume for their appearances, but Hertzler and O'Reilly stay in character, albeit a bit tongue-in-cheek. Like most good friends, they just can't stop picking on one another -- or having fun. Latin to me Hertzler said he didn't do much research on Klingons before he auditioned for roles, but his Latin-teacher mother gave him an edge for his first Star Trek breakthrough. He auditioned for that aforementioned CD-ROM, in front of Jonathan Frakes, using Latin for Klingon. It won him the part. O'Reilly is an old hand at speaking the language of the empire. He's even done a CD-ROM called "Star Trek: Klingon" that teaches humans how to act and talk like one. O'Reilly says his Shakespeare training was most valuable for playing a Klingon. "You can't overact in that role," he said. Beyond their Klingon roles, both men have played multiple Star Trek characters and continued to be involved with related projects. Among other things, Hertzler has written two books on the history of Klingons; and O'Reilly dreams of an all-Klingon spin-off miniseries: "I, Claudius" meets "Dynasty" with big knives "where we continually kill each other, sort of like Inspector Clouseau on steroids." As much as their Klingon roles have consumed their lives, both said the fans can still stump them -- and they are looking forward to connecting with Tulsa Trekkies. "I've been to Oklahoma before. I love it," said O'Reilly. "It's a wonderful convention. I hope to see my old friends. I look forward to coming." "Visit me!" Hertzler urges sci-fi lovers. "This wouldn't exist if it weren't for fans. I've never understood any attitude by the players toward the fans." About the actors Robert O'Reilly: Chancellor Gowron on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." He played Gowron for nine years. O'Reilly played three other roles on Star Trek shows, and he's appeared in more than 100 films, made-for- TV movies and television episodes. J.G. Hertzler: General (later Chancellor) Martok on "Deep Space Nine." He is one of only a handful of actors to play seven or more different characters in the Star Trek franchise. Hertzler has guest-starred on TV shows including "Diagnosis Murder," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Seinfeld," "Charmed," "Roswell," "Touched by an Angel" and "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." ------ A Q&A with Klingons How long does the makeup take? does it present acting difficulties? O'Reilly: 4 1/2 hours. It helps the acting. Hertzler: Makeup takes about 3 1/2 hours. Best makeup top man in the business: Michael Westmore. The Westmore family has been doing this for like 80 years in Hollywood. They are an institution. My personal makeup artist is Dave Quashnick, a brilliant artist and beautiful friend. The costume and makeup for a Klingon is an actor's greatest gift. They are alone a character, a complete body mask. Is it weird to be part of such an iconic series, especially when your costume keeps you from being recognized as much as other stars? Or is the relative anonymity a blessing? O'Reilly: I can't get a table at a restaurant, but I live in peace. Hertzler: True fans recognize me out of makeup but only profoundly knowledgeable fans of Star Trek. Otherwise, no one could possibly recognize me. Not a bad thing for an actor. I ain't no star. I am just an actor and my job is to bring any given character to life. All the Klingons who'll be at trek expo have been active doing voiceovers for cartoons, video games, etc. is that a vital component to being a Klingon, a distinctive, strong voice? O'Reilly: Yes, I actually change my voice somewhat for the role. Hertzler: My voice comes from my dad and from years of opera lessons. Really, I wanted so badly to be an opera singer but just did not have the right shapes in my head, but all that training did give me a voice. How do you feel about meeting fans? O'Reilly: I like fans. They like my work. Hertzler: I love the fans. Without fans, where the hell would I be? A performer needs an audience or what are we doing? What's the nicest thing a fan ever did or said? What's the most disturbing? O'Reilly: Most disturbing? That's easy. Someone said I was sexy. Very disturbing! Hertzler: The nicest thing a fan has said? Someone once said that Martok's semi-blindness did not seem to hamper him in becoming a military leader and eventually chancellor of the empire, and that overcoming of his disability was an inspiration to those out there that have some physical challenge. That thought moved me considerably. I understood, partly because my actual left eye is virtually blind, and it never seemed to stop me playing football or basketball or fencing or acting. But I still hate the smell of adhesive from wearing a patch over my "good" eye for years as a child. ------ Trek Expo 2010 Through Sunday John Q. Hammons UMAC Arena, 6836 S. Mingo Road For a full schedule of events, ticket prices, celebrity guest list and more, go online to tulsaworld.com/trekexpo Amanda Fite 581-8334 [email protected] To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). |