The Kang of three different classic 'Star Trek' series passed away on August 31 due to complication of Alzheimer's disease.
- Aug 3, 2013
AceShowbiz - Michael Ansara, well known for playing Klingon commander Kang on three different "Star Trek" series, has passed away. The actor died on Wednesday, August 31 at his home in Calabasas, Calif. due to complication of Alzheimer's disease. He was 91.
His former publicist and longtime friend Michael B. Druxman confirmed it to EW, "Michael and I have been friends since 1968. He was my best friend. He had a long illness. He died at home. He was a great guy, and a wonderful actor. I really miss him."
Ansara often landed roles as American Indians including playing the Apache chief Cochise in 1950s show "Broken Arrow". He once also played an Arabian prince who kidnaps an American movie star, played by Elvis Presley, in "Harum Scarum".
He played the villainous Kang on the original "Star Trek", "Deep Space Nine" & "Voyager", and most recently voiced Mr. Freeze in the animated series "Batman" and "Batman Beyond". His other on-screen credits included "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and "Hawaii 5-0".
Born in the small village in Syria to American parents, Ansara was married three times. He split from his first wife, actress Jean Byron, after seven years of marriage. Two years later, he married actress Barbara Eden, his co-star in "I Dream of Jeannie". They divorced in 1973, after more than a decade of marriage.
He is survived by his third wife, actress Beverly Kushida whom he had been married with for 36 years. His other survivors are a sister, Rose Browers, a niece and a nephew. Matthew, his own son with his second wife, died in 2001 of an accidental drug overdose.
