Captain's Log ST-CHI: Jeri Ryan and Tim Russ Talk Voyager and Ties That Bind
- Antal Bokor
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Day One's final panel at ST-CHI was definitely worth the wait, as Tim Russ and Jeri Ryan took the stage to talk about Voyager and do a little bit of impromptu request performances from the audience. I just want to say: If you’re ever at one of these conventions, please don’t ask the actors to perform for you. It just creates an awkward situation for everyone, especially if the actors feel compelled to continue fulfilling requests after agreeing to an initial request. Seriously. It started with one fan asking Tim Russ to say his famous (and only) line from Spaceballs! It even extended to Jeri Ryan doing a spot-on Voyager era Seven of Nine voice saying “The fun will now commence!”
It turns out this is Tim Russ’s first time in Chicago. I’m not sure if he meant for a Star Trek convention or EVER (!) but it’s absolutely a treat to be able to finally see the actor who portrayed one of my favorite Vulcans. His very first question revealed that Russ had previous acting experience with Leonard Nimoy, long before he knew he’d be playing a Vulcan on Voyager. He also had the chance to work with LeVar Burton, Avery Brooks, and Kathryn Mulgrew, all before they ended up on Star Trek.
On Voyager, there were lots of on set shenanigans. Ethan Phillips, who played the Talaxian Neelix on Voyager, would famously try to ruffle Russ’s feathers right as the cameras would start rolling. Russ himself isn’t against pulling any pranks though, and he told a story about a particularly raunchy trick he pulled. There was a scene in which Tuvok is to appear naked–a dream sequence. To augment this, Russ went to Matt to have a “prosthetic” assembled for the occasion. I have no idea who Matt is, but Ryan chimed in with “of course Matt would do this” so apparently Matt is known for his antics, as well. “You have to make me an appendage” Russ had said to Matt, as the crowd erupted into laughter at this. “I want to attach it to my shorts, so that it hangs down below them.” And he managed to get the entire cast’s reaction to Russ’s appendage, “I opened my robe, I swung it around. Oh, they tried to hold (in their laughter).” Russ concludes the story by saying “I think they ended up using that take, because that reaction is what they wanted.”
Tim Russ clearly has some comedic timing, and he has one of the most iconic lines in Mel Brooks’ Sci-Fi satire Spaceballs. When asked whether he will be returning for the sequel Russ said that he hasn’t been contacted yet, but he remains optimistic. His exact words were “I would gamble on it,” meaning he expects to be called up to film another “we ain’t found shit!” for the upcoming sequel.
One question by the audience clearly made Jeri Ryan uncomfortable, but she managed through an answer despite the apparent strain in her voice. The question was whether Ryan was aware of the sex appeal angle they were planning on taking with Seven of Nine as her character progressed towards being human again.
Ryan was indeed aware of this, as it was the chance to “break Star Trek into the mainstream.” She briefly mentioned the famous rift between her and Kate Mulgrew after Ryan was brought onto the show, which seems to have been resolved after some time together on a Star Trek cruise.
Ryan knew from the beginning that Seven was being brought in as a sex symbol, but she admired the character for her depth. Seven, despite her form-hugging cat suit was one of Trek’s most compelling characters, and that’s because Ryan did such a good job bringing that humanity forth. Ryan’s performance transcended the catsuit and made Ryan a symbol for those who felt like they were struggling to find acceptance in the world, like those in the LGBTQ+ or even those who may be neurodivergent. That's a lasting legacy that doesn't fade with time. and certainly one of the biggest feathers in Voyager's cap - alongside Russ' fantastic performances, of course.