Try typecasting Brent Spiner. He doesn't mind. After seven seasons as Star Trek's
Cmdr. Data, the actor continues to land the work he wants, from romantic comedies to
Broadway musicals. And if the android handle ever overwhelms his other credits...
well, that's OK, too. What's with this guy? Doesn't he know actors are supposed to
be temperamental and insecure? - John Walsh


What is it about Star Trek that attracts so many stage actors? 

The objective in most film work is to be slightly realer than real. And the objective in
Star Trek movies is to chew the scenery. It's a lot about words, and it's a lot about
bigger-than-life characters. These are not real people, they're archetypes generally -
good guys and bad guys. I think it attracts a lot of stage-trained actors because it's a
rare, golden opportunity to go way over the top. 


How do you deal with being typecast? 

I certainly am identified with this role. At the end of the day, some people certainly will
remember me as Data. And my hope is that I've done enough other work to balance
that a little bit. I don't want to erase it, certainly, because I feel fine about the
work. I have no interest in putting that away completely. But I do feel better about it
when I have something to balance it.


What would bring you back to Broadway after your success in 1776? 

I wouldn't do a musical. Musicals are just too hard. You've got to be too good. The
discipline is just overwhelming. It's not just you involved: There's you and there's your
voice. And the voice wins every time. I would want to go out with people after the
show and have a drink tonight, and the voice would be saying, "No, you're going
home to rest so you can do this eight more times a week." 
But if I were to do another musical... are the Gershwins still writing? This is fantasy,
right? You're not really going to make this happen for me? I can't think of anybody
other than Stephen Sondheim. He's really the only certified genius working in musical
theater. 
I had a suggestion for Sondheim - I wanted him to do a musical version of
Touch of Evil because I thought all the parts were there. And he said, "Well, I don't
really like Touch of Evil very much. And I said, "Well, you don't know movies."
 [Laughing] And that's the first time he ever looked me in the eye. 


Have you seen the Touch of Evil director's cut yet? 

No. [Laughs] Who has time to see old movies? I'm too busy watching Blade.

Would you ever do another series? 

It's not on my wish list. I have some ideas for TV series, but I don't want to be stuck
playing just one character. I'd like to do something that lets me play a few different
characters. An hour of television is so hard to make, and I did it for seven years. I'm not
eager to work those hours and have that life again. 


What is on your wish list? 

I like the way things are going now - do a Broadway show, do a few movies, do a
Star Trek movie. For my taste it's been working out great the last couple years.

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