The Hilarious Wit of Patrick Stewart: Unveiling 2 Legendary Star Trek: TNG Worf Jokes

Summary

Michael Dorn's character Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation gained the unflattering nickname "Turtlehead" from Jonathan Frakes.

Worf's notorious unpredictability spawned an internal joke within the cast, with the phrase "Worfland" coined to depict situations spiraling into chaos or someone being in a foul mood.

In his memoir, "Making It So: A Memoir," Patrick Stewart explores his experience portraying Captain Picard and the reunions he had with the Star Trek: Picard cast.

Patrick Stewart reveals in his autobiography, "Making It So: A Memoir," the inspiration behind two humorous jokes about Michael Dorn's character Worf on the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the book, Stewart shares anecdotes from his time in the X-Men and Star Trek franchises, including his experiences playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard. One of the stories he tells is about how Worf gained an unflattering nickname from Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Will Riker. According to Stewart, Frakes coined the nickname because Worf was often the last character to be filmed on the bridge.

Michael Dorn, who played Worf, often found himself as the last character to speak, positioned at the back next to his security panel. It was a challenge for him as he had to remain in his elaborate Klingon makeup, an arduous process that required hours of application. This led to his castmate, Jonathan Frakes, affectionately calling him Turtlehead. On the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation, there was a running joke stemming from Worf's reputation for being volatile, and this tendency even spilled over into their off-screen interactions. Patrick Stewart's memoir encapsulates this humor, as depicted in the quote below.

Michael's portrayal of Worf sparked a beloved inside joke among us. Worf, a Klingon known for his self-discipline, sometimes struggled with controlling his temper due to his warrior heritage. As a result, we playfully started referring to any chaotic or emotionally unpredictable situation as "Worfland." The phrase "Look out, it's Worfland!" became our shorthand for approaching such situations with caution.