Star Trek: Lower Decks - Season-by-Season Guide: Meet the Stellar Cast Behind Your Favorite Characters!

Summary

Star Trek: Lower Decks is an animated, half-hour comedy set in the Star Trek universe, focusing on the junior officers of the USS Cerritos.

The main characters in the show are Lieutenant Beckett Mariner, Lieutenant Brad Boimler, Lieutenant D'Vana Tendi, Lieutenant Sam Rutherford, Lieutenant T'Lyn, Captain Carol Freeman, Commander Jack Ransom, Lieutenant Shaxs, Dr. T'Ana, Chief Engineer Andy Billups, Dr. Migleemo, and Peanut Hamper.

Several Star Trek legacy actors, including Jonathan Frakes, Marina Sirtis, John de Lancie, Robert Duncan McNeill, James Cromwell, Armin Shimerman, Nana Visitor, Jeffrey Combs, and George Takei, have made guest appearances on the show.

Meet the talented voices behind Star Trek: Lower Decks, and discover where you may recognize them from! Created by Mike McMahan (known for Rick & Morty), this animated comedy marks the first of its kind in the Star Trek universe. Set onboard the USS Cerritos, a California Class ship that holds the title of being Starfleet's "least important," Lower Decks follows the adventures of Ensigns who have recently been promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade.

Taking place during the beloved 24th-century era seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Lower Decks focuses on the unsung heroes - the junior officers responsible for the less glamorous aspects of the ship's operations. Moreover, the Cerritos possesses a unique Starfleet mission; specializing in Second Contact, they handle the challenging task of integrating new worlds into the United Federation of Planets. With 4 seasons, each consisting of 10 episodes, Star Trek: Lower Decks lovingly pays homage to every facet of the Star Trek franchise and even features a crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. So, without further ado, let's meet the cast of Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Tawny Newsome as Lieutenant Beckett Mariner

Jack Quaid as Lieutenant Brad Boimler

: A Starfleet Officer like no other, Beckett Mariner defies discipline yet excels in her role. With Captain Carol Freeman, her mother and the esteemed Admiral Alonzo Freeman as her parents, Mariner possesses a remarkable and enigmatic Starfleet career for someone of her youth. Despite her penchant for chaos, Mariner represents the very essence of Starfleet's greatness. Notably, Tawny Newsome, known for her appearances in 2 Broke Girls, Superstore, and Space Force, brought Mariner to life in the live-action series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Additionally, Newsome has also contributed her talents to the writer's room of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Raised on a raisin farm in Modesto, California, Bradward Boimler found inspiration in a recruitment poster depicting Number One (Rebecca Romijn) from the 23rd century USS Enterprise. Boimler, an ardent Starfleet enthusiast, aspires to command his own starship. To fulfill this destiny, he must overcome his anxiety and penchant for overthinking. Jack Quaid, known for his role as Hughie Campbell on The Boys, has also appeared in Scream 5 and Oppenheimer. In Lower Decks' crossover with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Quaid portrayed the live-action version of Brad Boimler.

Note: Jack Quaid also voices Brad Boimler's transporter accident-created doppelganger, Lt. William Boimler, who joined Section 31 in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3.

Noël Wells as Lieutenant D'Vana Tendi

D'Vana Tendi, a kind-hearted, devoted, and enthusiastic individual, initially served as a member of the medical team aboard the USS Cerritos before discovering her true passion as a junior Science Officer. As the first ever Orion to join Starfleet, Tendi feels a sense of shame regarding her species' notorious portrayal as space raiders. She strives to showcase a more positive side of Orions, while simultaneously downplaying her own notoriety as the "Mistress of the Winter Constellations" on her homeworld. Notably, Noel Wells, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, portrayed Rachel in the series Master of None.

Eugene Cordero as Lieutenant Sam Rutherford

Gabrielle Ruiz as Lieutenant T'Lyn

An exceptionally skilled engineer, Samanthan Rutherford stands out as the embodiment of kindness aboard the USS Cerritos, a remarkable contrast to his troubled past in Starfleet where he was regarded as a troublemaker until a mishap resulted in him acquiring a cybernetic implant. Rutherford's resourcefulness, unwavering loyalty, and consistently optimistic nature are truly admirable. Notably, Eugene Cordero has made memorable appearances in Ghostbusters 2016, Kong: Skull Island, and The Good Place.

T'Lyn, a character introduced in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, initially served in the Lower Decks of a Vulcan starship. However, her superiors labeled her as "too emotional" and "out of control." Despite this setback, T'Lyn joined Starfleet as a provisional Ensign and quickly rose to the rank of Lieutenant, junior grade, thanks to her exceptional skills. Although her primary goal is to convince the Vulcan High Command to accept her back, T'Lyn has found her place on the USS Cerritos. Gabrielle Ruiz, known for her role in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, lends her voice to T'Lyn and also voices Rio Morales in Spidey and his Amazing Friends.

Dawnn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman

The commanding officer of the USS Cerritos faces two ongoing challenges: the disappointment of her ship not being recognized as one of the top Starfleet vessels and the constant effort to prevent her daughter, Mariner, from facing a court-martial. Nevertheless, thanks to Captain Freeman's leadership, the Cerritos has established a formidable reputation as the premier starship of the California Class, earning the title of the "Enterprise." In addition to her notable accomplishments as a voiceover artist, Dawnn Lewis has also showcased her talent in television shows like A Different World, Hanging With Mr. Cooper, and The Secret Life of an American Teenager.

Jerry O'Connell as Commander Jack Ransom

Commander Jack Ransom, the First Officer of the USS Cerritos, is not only a capable Number One but also a fitness enthusiast. Captain Freeman, much to his disappointment, assigned Ransom the task of overseeing Lt. Mariner and their relationship has become a dysfunctional mix of love and hate. Jerry O'Connell, known for his notable roles in Sliders, Piranha 3D, Scream Queens, and Billions, is married to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Rebecca Romijn, who portrays Number One.

Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs

The crew has a mix of love and fear for the Cerritos' strong and formidable Bajoran Security Chief. Shax bravely gave up his life to protect the Cerritos in the final episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1, only to miraculously return to life. Beyond his role on the ship, Shax shares a long-standing friendship with Colonel Kira Nerys from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Nana Visitor). Fred Tatasciore, known for his voice work in numerous animated films and TV shows such as Scoob!, Batman: The Killing Joke, and Young Justice: Outsiders, lends his voice talent to bring life to Shax's character.

Gillian Vigman as Dr. T'Ana

The Cerritos' Chief Medical Officer, Dr. T'Ana, is a Caitian known for her harsh bedside manner. She maintains a secretive romantic relationship with Lt. Shax, both desiring to keep it hidden from the rest of the crew. Gillian Vigman, who starred in Life Sentence and appeared in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, has played multiple roles throughout her career.

Paul Scheer as Chief Engineer Andy Billups

Paul F. Tompkins as Dr. Migleemo

Lieutenant Commander Andarithio "Andy" Billups hails from the planet Hysperia, known for its rennaisance fair. However, he chose to forsake his royal destiny and pursue a career in Starfleet as an engineer. Lt. Rutherford holds Billups in high esteem, considering him to be the most exceptional engineer in all of Starfleet. Notably, Paul Scheer has made appearances in popular shows such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Good Place.

Meet Dr. Gabers Migleemo, the Counselor aboard the USS Cerritos. Though some criticize him as the most unsatisfactory Counselor in Starfleet due to his overreliance on food analogies, he continues to serve as a valued member of the Cerritos' crew. Notably, Migleemo is a member of an avian species. In spite of his shortcomings, he remains dedicated to his role. Not only known for his work on the ship, but Paul F. Tompkins, a renowned comedian and prolific voiceover artist, has also made an appearance in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.

Kether Donohue as Peanut Hamper

Peanut Hamper, an Exocomp, temporarily served on the USS Cerritos until she betrayed Starfleet towards the end of season 1 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Peanut Hamper, exhibiting traits of sociopathy and megalomania, resurfaced in season 3 of Lower Decks, only to be incarcerated in the Daystrom Institute on Earth. From there, she vowed to exact revenge on the Cerritos. Kether Donohue, known for her roles in Pitch Perfect and You on Netflix, portrayed this complex character.

Star Trek Guest Stars In Star Trek: Lower Decks

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, several actors from the Star Trek franchise have reprised their roles, including Jonathan Frakes as Captain Will Riker, Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi, John de Lancie as Q, Robert Duncan McNeill as Lt. Tom Paris from Star Trek: Voyager, James Cromwell as Dr. Zephram Cochrane from Star Trek: First Contact, Alice Krige as the Borg Queen, Armin Shimerman as Quark, Nana Visitor as Colonel Kira Nerys from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Jeffrey Combs as AGIMUS, and George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu.