Jeff Corey

From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.

This article is written
from the Real World
point of view

... as Plasus

Actor Jeff Corey (10 August 1914 – 16 August 2002; age 88) played Plasus in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Cloud Minders".

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Corey has made over 200 film and television appearances in a career that spanned 61 years. His feature film credits include the classic western adventures Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and True Grit, both released in 1969. The latter film features one-time TOS guest actors Kim Darby, Alfred Ryder, Ron Soble, and John Fiedler.

In 1948, Corey co-starred with TOS actors DeForest Kelley and Whit Bissell in the crime thriller Canon City.

Corey was among the many actors blacklisted in the 1950s in the government's quest to seek out who they thought were communists. He was blacklisted in 1951 for refusing to name names of possible communists before the so-called "House Un-American Activities Committee." Not only did he refuse to name names, but he also critiqued the acting of previous witnesses. After being blacklisted, Corey worked as an acting teacher for twelve years before returning to acting in 1963.

His first film upon his return was in a drama called The Balcony with Leonard Nimoy (1963). He and Nimoy would later appear together in 1971's Catlow.

Corey appeared in the 1951 film Only the Valiant, which also featured veteran Trek actor Michael Ansara. Corey also co-starred with DS9 actress Salome Jens in the 1966 film Seconds, and with Star Trek: Insurrection actor Anthony Zerbe in They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!, released in 1970.

In 1977, Corey, TOS star William Shatner, and frequent TNG/VOY guest star John de Lancie would appear in the mini-series Testimony of Two Men.

His other films include The Killers (1946), In Cold Blood (1967), Little Big Man (1970), Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), and Oh, God! (1977). His later career included a role in the 1986 TV movie Second Serve opposite DS9's Louise Fletcher and an appearance in the adult-oriented film Color of Night, which featured Star Trek: Enterprise actor Scott Bakula, Erick Avari and Brad Dourif, and Surviving the Game (1994), with DS9 actor Bob Minor and Insurrection stuntman Steve Lambert.

His television appearances include guest spots on The Wild Wild West, Bonanza, and Hawaii Five-O. Corey may be remembered as Luke Benson, the xenophobic local shot by the mole men's ray gun in Superman and the Mole Men. He also voiced the villain "Silvermane" in the 1990s animated Spider-Man series.

Corey died due to injuries from a fall in Santa Monica, California on 16 August 2002, just six days after his 88th birthday. His last film was a little-known comedy called Ted, released in 1998 and featuring Trek guest actors Andy Dick and Lee Arenberg. His last television appearance came on 25 November 2000, in an episode of The District.