I love spotting characters from beloved TV shows or movies in other roles later or earlier in their careers. B5 is especially fun because it's difficult to find the characters appearing anywhere else... with the exception of Bruce Boxleitner of course, but even he is a little under the radar. The last time I watched Tron Legacy (after plowing through all five seasons of Babylon 5), I almost asked "what the heck is Sheridan doing at an Encom board meeting?!"

I spotted Claudia Christian (character Susan Ivanova) quite recently on an episode of Grimm, "Let Your Hair Down," playing a grieving mother.

As for a more obscure character, I recognized Dr. Franklin's dad from "GROPOS" (played by Paul Winfield) in an episode of Crossing Jordan in a very similar role: a military father who disapproves of his son's choice of career as a medical examiner.

In a reverse manner, I watched B5 almost directly after going through the cult TV series "Twin Peaks." As the hosts already mentioned on the show, the actor who played Twin Peaks character Dr. Jacoby appeared as Sheridan's former commanding officer in the season 2 episode "A Distant Star", and I had squeefully recognized the actor the first time I had watched the episode last year.

I'd like to hear stories from anyone else who's enjoyed spotting a B5 character in some other show or movie.

Yay! This is one of my favourite games!

Of course Paul Winfield is also Capt. Terrell in The Wrath of Khan (Chekov's cmdg officer who tells Khan "I've never even met Admiral Kirk!")

As I said on the podcast, Russ Tamblyn, while being brilliantly creepy in Twin Peaks, will always be Gideon Pontipee (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) and Riff (West Side Story) to me. If you're not a fan of musicals, you wouldn't know that, but he's a bit of an icon. I cannot see him on telly without exclaiming "Goin' Dancin'?" *chortle*

Quick, before the next episode goes live (and without googling/imdb-ing) From which iconic SF film, and which equally iconic SF TV show do you recognise the actor playing Duncan in Exogenesis?

I've racked my brain. His face looks familiar but I can't place him anywhere else. To be fair, I'm not very up on my sci-fi experience. Sorry that I'm terrible at this game :-P I guess I'll find out when I listen to the episode!

I thought he was in Dune? maybe not. Can't think of what TV he was in, except that as with Blakes7 & Dr Who many actors did both, the same is true of B5 & DS9

<edit> sorry, I keep forgetting there are people who have not seen this </edit>

I spotted Tucker Smallwood in "Matters of Honour" there he played the investigator asking everyone about the Shadow ship the idiot Keffer had brought to everyone's attention. I know him etter as Space: Above and Beyond's blues playing Commodore Ross.

Boxleitner of course also recently appeared in Chuck as Awesome's Dad, he was excellent there as well.

I do love playing "It's him off that thing"

Tucker Smallwood rocks, I like him as Commodore Ross too.
You must read his book "Return to Eden" if you have not done so already - he is a pretty heavy dude.
www.amazon.com/Return-To-Eden-Tucker-Smallwood/dp/1847281699

Another B5 / Twin Peaks connection is the movie 'The Hidden'.
Claudia Christian and Kyle MacLachlan.

Wow, didn't realise he was ex services. Wonder if he assisted the Military advisors on S:AAB. May pick that up nect time I have money.

I saw Claudia Christian in an episode of Colombo this afternoon

Martin said...


DaveNarn said...


After spotting her on Grimm I can imagine Claudia Christian popping up in many places. She seems a versatile actor.

I can't believe I failed to recognize Brad Dourif (starring in the B5 episode "Passing Through Gethsemane") from his role as Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings, or that I mistook him for a character in The Hogfather. Apparently I've seen him on Star Trek: Voyager as well, but not well enough to remember.

It was exhilarating to spot Mira Furlan on Lost. I never expected to see the actor who played Delenn anywhere else. She preforms excellently as the French woman Danielle Rousseau.