American actor Michael Forest, best known for playing the Greek god Apollo in the original ‘Star Trek’ series, has died at the age of 97.
According to Deadline, Forest died on 14 October. His death was announced by his friend James A. Brown, according to reports. He had been living in an assisted-care facility in Sparks, Nevada.
Born Gerald Michael Charlebois on 17 April 1929 in Harvey, North Dakota, Forest later moved to Seattle with his family. He pursued higher education before relocating to Los Angeles in 1955 to build a career in acting.
Forest appeared in numerous films and television productions over several decades. He worked with filmmaker Roger Corman and featured in popular television series, including ‘Star Trek’ and ‘The Twilight Zone’.
His appearance as Apollo in the 1967 ‘Star Trek’ episode ‘Who Mourns for Adonais?’ remains among his best-known roles. The episode drew on Greek mythology, depicting Apollo as a powerful being who encounters the starship Enterprise crew.
Forest also spent a decade in Rome, from 1968 to 1978, working in European and Italian productions and as a voice actor. His career spanned American television, cinema and international projects.
