Actor Michael Forest, known for his extensive career as a character actor on television and for starring in several B-movie productions by director Roger Corman, passed away on October 14 at the age of 97. Forest was also remembered by Star Trek fans for his memorable role as the Greek god Apollo.
According to his friend James A. Brown via Facebook, the actor had recently been residing in an assisted living facility in Sparks, Nevada. No immediate information regarding his surviving family members has been provided.
The role of Apollo in Star Trek
Among the actor's numerous television roles, one of the favorites among Star Trek fans was his portrayal of the giant Greek god Apollo in the memorable 1967 episode titled Who Mourns for Adonais?.
In 2013, Forest reprised the character of Apollo for the fan-made web series Star Trek Continues, reinforcing his lasting bond with the franchise and its followers.
Other notable television roles
Among his most remembered television appearances is that of a former boyfriend of Laura Petrie, a character played by Mary Tyler Moore, on The Dick Van Dyke Show. In that 1964 episode, his character is set up on a date with Sally Rogers, played by Rose Marie, without Laura knowing that he had become a priest.
That same year, Forest played a member of an alien motorcycle gang in the episode Black Leather Jackets of The Twilight Zone.
Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the actor made appearances in series such as Zorro, Have Gun – Will Travel, Maverick, Ben Casey, The Outer Limits, Gunsmoke, Gomer Pyle: USMC, I Spy, Mission: Impossible, Gilligan's Island, Get Smart, The Rookies, and Who's The Boss.
He also participated in daytime soap operas such as As The World Turns, Days of Our Lives, and The Young and the Restless.
His work in film and with Roger Corman
On the big screen, Forest appeared in drive-in staples like Beast From Haunted Cave (1959) and in several films directed by Roger Corman, including The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1958), Ski Troop Attack (1960), and the sword-and-sandal adventure Atlas (1961).
Decades later, the actor appeared in the 2000 Tom Hanks film Cast Away, playing a pilot, among other late-career film appearances.
Voice acting and dubbing work
In the 1990s and 2000s, Forest shifted much of his career toward voice acting and dubbing for animated series and video games. His credits include installments of the Power Rangers and Dynasty Warriors franchises, as well as World of Warcraft and various anime projects.
Biography and personal life
Michael Forest was born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 17, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota. He moved to Los Angeles in 1955, where he met director Roger Corman through an acting class, which began their collaboration later that decade.
The actor was preceded in death by his wife, actress Diana Hale, who passed away in 2022.
Frequently asked questions about Michael Forest
Who was Michael Forest in Star Trek?
Michael Forest played the Greek god Apollo in the 1967 episode Who Mourns for Adonais?, one of the roles most remembered by fans of the Star Trek franchise.
When did Michael Forest die and at what age?
The actor passed away on October 14 at the age of 97 in an assisted living facility in Sparks, Nevada, according to his friend James A. Brown.
What was Michael Forest’s relationship with Roger Corman?
Forest met director Roger Corman through an acting class shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 1955, which led to a collaboration on several B-movies later that decade.
In what other series and films did Michael Forest appear?
In addition to Star Trek, Forest appeared in series such as The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke, and I Spy, and in films such as Cast Away and various Roger Corman productions like Atlas and Ski Troop Attack.
Did Michael Forest reprise his role as Apollo in any other production?
Yes, in 2013 Forest returned to play Apollo in the fan-made web series Star Trek Continues.
