Michael Forest, the actor known for roles in Star Trek and The Twilight Zone, has died at the age of 97. He passed away on Wednesday, October 14, at an assisted living facility in Sparks, Nevada, where he had been living for several years.
His death was confirmed by friend James A. Brown on social media. Brown wrote: "It is with great sadness that I report that we have lost Michael Forest (Gerald Michael Charlebois), April 17, 1929 - October 14, 2026. I knew him as an actor and loved him as a friend. I'm sure others will share, but that’s all I'm capable of right now."
Career highlights and cult fame
Forest amassed over 200 acting credits across television and film. He became particularly beloved among Star Trek enthusiasts for his portrayal of Apollo in the 1967 episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?" He later returned to the role in the fan-produced web series Star Trek Continues in 2013, appearing alongside his late wife, actress Diana Hale, who portrayed Athena.
Forest also delivered a standout performance in the 1964 Twilight Zone episode "Black Leather Jackets," playing a member of an extraterrestrial biker gang. That same year, he appeared in The Dick Van Dyke Show as a former romantic interest of Laura Petrie, played by Mary Tyler Moore.
Early life and breakthrough
Born in Harvey, North Dakota, in 1929, Forest moved with his family to Seattle during childhood and later studied at the University of Washington and San Jose State. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1955, where he began building a career across television, theatre and film.
His major breakthrough came after meeting filmmaker Roger Corman, who cast him as the barbarian Zarko in the 1957 adventure film The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent. He subsequently starred as Gil Jackson in the 1959 horror film Beast From Haunted Cave, which achieved cult status among fans of classic B-movies.
Later work and legacy
Forest's television work included Zorro (1958), Maverick (1959-1961), Gunsmoke (1963), The Outer Limits (1963), Mission: Impossible (1967), Gilligan's Island (1967) and Get Smart (1968). He also appeared in soap operas The Young and the Restless (1973), Days of Our Lives (1979-1990) and As the World Turns (1980-1982).
In later years, he focused on voice work for animated projects, video games and franchises including Power Rangers, Dynasty Warriors and World of Warcraft. He also made a cameo as a pilot in the film Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks. Forest was a distinguished theatre performer, portraying Othello on three occasions and appearing as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew at the Old Globe in San Diego.
His death comes four years after the passing of his wife, Hale, in 2022. Fans have paid tribute on social media, with one writing: "I had the great pleasure of hanging out with him and 4 other fans in the bar at a convention many years ago while he entertained us with stories. He was a wonderful and interesting man!" Another said: "I met him in Las Vegas. Such a lovely man. He liked that I liked his episode, even though I was only 9; it did make an impression on me. RIP." A third wrote: "He was wonderful on Star Trek and other TV shows. May he rest in peace."
