Brent Spiner

Media Library:
- Additional pictures as Data

From IMDb:

Birth name
Brent Jay Spiner

Height
5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini biography
Brent Spiner, whose primary claim to fame is his portrayal of the beloved android Data on the television series "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), was born and raised in Houston, Texas. His parents, Jack and Sylvia Spiner, owned and operated a furniture store. Jack died of kidney failure at age 29, when Brent was 10 months old. When he was 6 years old, his mother married Sol Mintz, who adopted Brent and his older brother Ron. Although his mother divorced Mintz after 7 years of marriage, Brent retained his adopted father's last name until 1975 when he took back his birth name.

Spiner first began pursuing his interest in acting while in high school. There his inspirational drama teacher, Cecil Pickett, gave a great start to the careers of a remarkable group of aspiring young actors (and directors), including Spiner, Cindy Pickett (Cecil's daughter), Randy Quaid, Dennis Quaid, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl and Thomas Schlamme, all of whom later attained success in Hollywood. After graduation, Spiner followed his mentor to the University of Houston and other local colleges, while also launching his professional acting career in theater (The Houston Music Theater and other regional theater) and in film (My Sweet Charlie (1970) (TV), which was shot on location in Texas). After a couple of false starts in New York and Hollywood, Spiner eventually established himself as a stage actor in New York, appearing in a number of off-Broadway and Broadway plays, such as 'A History of the American Film' (1978), 'Leave It to Beaver Is Dead' (1979), 'Sunday in the Park with George' (1984), and 'Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (1985). While in New York, he had a bit part in Woody Allen's Stardust Memories (1980) and starred in an independent film called Rent Control (1984). The play 'Little Shop of Horrors' brought Spiner to Los Angeles in 1984, where he eventually took up permanent residence.

In 1986, after a number of character parts in television series and movies, such as "Robert Kennedy & His Times" (1985) (mini), Crime of Innocence (1985) (TV), Manhunt for Claude Dallas (1986) (TV), and Family Sins (1987) (TV), Spiner snagged the role that would bring him international fame: Data, the endearing android, whom Spiner played "by tapping into his inner child." "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), the sequel to the original television series "Star Trek" (1966), became hugely popular, moving to the big screen for four films (so far) after its 7-year run on television. Aside from these films, Spiner has made cameo appearances in a number of films directed by his friend and old schoolmate Thomas Schlamme, such as Miss Firecracker (1989), Crazy from the Heart (1991) (TV), and Kingfish: A Story of Huey P. Long (1995) (TV), and has appeared in small roles in more recent films, such as Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) and The Master of Disguise (2002). Arguably his most popular film portrayal was Dr. Brakish Okun in Independence Day (1996), a role that elicited his unique eccentricity and sense of humor.

IMDb mini-biography by Lyn Hammond

From StarTrek.com:

Brent Spiner played the android Lieutenant Commander Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and was featured in the three ST: TNG motion pictures "Star Trek Generations," "Star Trek: First Contact" and "Star Trek: Insurrection." The character Data possesses super-strength and an incredible memory. He's virtually an encyclopedia, but only in terms of information, not behavior. Data is totally innocent; however, he does possess a sense of question and wonder that allows him to evolve.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Spiner moved to New York after college, where he performed in numerous off-Broadway plays. "The play that finally pushed me over into the serious-actor category was a public theater production of 'The Seagull' [Anton Chekhov] for Joseph Papp," he says. Spiner eventually won roles in the Broadway musical productions of "Sunday in the Park with George," "The Three Musketeers" and "Big River," which was based on the story of Huckleberry Finn.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1984, Spiner appeared in the Westwood Playhouse production of "Little Shop of Horrors." His other credits include the Woody Allen film "Stardust Memories," a cameo in the movie "The Miss Firecracker Contest" and guest-starring roles in such television series as Cheers, Twilight Zone, Night Court and Hill Street Blues. Spiner has also featured in the films "Phenomenon," "Independence Day" and "Out to Sea."

During the fourth season hiatus of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Spiner co-produced and released his first album. Entitled "Ol' Yellow Eyes is Back," the album features some of the most popular classic standards ever recorded. Included on the album is the single "It's A Sin To Tell A Lie," which has background vocals provided by the "The Sunspots," more familiar to Star Trek: The Next Generation fans as Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn.

Following on from his Star Trek duties, Spiner has performed in a variety of capacities. His vocal talents can be heard impersonating late night talk show host Conan O'Brien in the feature length animated movie "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut." He has also appeared in "Introducting Dorothy Dandridge," the movie based on the tragic life of the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Oscar ("Carmen Jones" 1954). Spiner plays her faithful manager Earl Mills. In 2000, Brent portrayed Stromboli in Disney's musical live action version of "Geppetto." Spiner also appeared in the 2000 mini-series "A Girl Thing."