Born:
February 02, 1949
in
Houston, Texas
Best Known For:
Playing android Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Early-life:
Brent Jay Spiner was born on February 2, 1949, in Houston, Texas. His parents, Jack and Sylvia owned a furniture store. Jack died of kidney failure at 29, when Brent was 10 months. His mother later married Sol Mintz, who adopted Brent and his older brother Ron. Although they divorced after seven years of marriage, Brent retained his adopted father's surname until 1975, when he took back his birth name. He started acting in high school thanks to much inspiration from teacher Cecil Pickett, who also taught Dennis and Randy Quaid. After graduating, Spiner followed his mentor to the University of Houston and other local colleges, while launching his professional acting career in theatre.
Career:
Spiner made his TV debut in 1970 movie My Sweet Charlie, and eventually established himself as a stage actor in New York, appearing in a number of off-Broadway and Broadway plays. He had a bit part in the Woody Allen movie Stardust Memories. He moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and appeared in TV movies Robert Kennedy and His Times, Crime of Innocence and Manhunt for Claude Dallas. Spiner became a household name when he was cast as android Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. He played the role until the movie Star Trek: Nemesis (which he co-wrote), when the character was killed off. He has also appeared in the movies Independence Day and Dude, Where's My Car? His recent work includes roles in the film The Aviator, and TV series Enterprise and Threshold.
Quote:
On his Data action figure: "At first I was reluctant. But then I figured, if it's good enough for Alec Guinness, it's good enough for me."
Trivia:
Away from acting, Spiner has released an album, Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back.