Character actor Michael Pataki died of cancer on 15 April 2010. Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on 16 January 1938, he was the first actor to name the Star Trek language “Klingonese” when he appeared as Korax in the original ST episode “The Trouble with Tribbles” (1967).
After majoring in drama and political science at the University of Southern California, Pataki made his film debut with an uncredited role in the 1958 war film The Young Lions. His tv debut came the same year, in M Squad. His first true acclaim came in 1966, on stage in Edinburgh. In his later years, most of his acting work was voice-overs for animation, and he also worked as an acting coach.
Footage of Pataki’s original Star Trek role was used in the 1988 Deep Space Nine episode “Trials and Tribble-ations”, and he also appeared as Karnas in the 1988 Next Generation episode “Too Short a Season”. His other genre roles include: Dexter’s Laboratory (1996), three episodes of The Ren & Stimpy Show (1992-93), Batman: The Animated Series (1992), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988), six episodes of Mighty Mouse, the New Adventures (1988), The Highwayman (1988), Death House (1987), Airwolf (1987), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Sweet 16 (1983), Automan (1983), Dead & Buried (1981), Graduation Day (1981), Beyond Westworld (1980), Love at First Bite (1979), Samurai (1979), Dracula’s Dog (1978), Mansion of the Doomed (1976), The Invisible Man (1975), Grave of the Vampire (1974), The Bat People (1974), A Man for Hanging (1973), The Baby (1973), The Return of Count Yorga (1971), The Andromeda Strain (1971), Dream No Evil (1970), two episodes of Batman (1966), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1965), My Favorite Martian (1965), and The Twilight Zone (“A Quality of Mercy”, 1961).