Star Trek Icon and Shakespeare Fan Appears in LA: Guess Who?

A Star Trek icon was seen taking a break from gracing the small screen to run errands in Los Angeles over the weekend.

This actor, 72, played Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager, a role he reprised in the animated series Star Trek: Prodigy.

His impressive resume kicks off with a part in the legendary Hollywood film Zoot Suit, the 1981 film starring Edward James Olmos.

The following year he portrayed the titular character in Eating Raoul, a black comedy about a couple who murder and rob rich swingers in order to build a restaurant.

This talented actor has also starred in numerous Shakespeare plays and even founded the East LA Classic Theater Group, where he has brought the legendary playwright’s shows to life. From 2009 to 2010, he also had a recurring role as Jerry Flute in Big Love.

Can you guess who this actor is?

If you guessed Robert Beltran, you are correct!

Beltran was spotted doing a grocery run in Los Angeles this past Saturday in the company of his furry friend.

The actor stocked up his pantry at Vons and emerged from the shop with a cart full of groceries, which he pushed through the parking lot with his dog dutifully scampering by his side.  

Beltran kept it casual in a blue zip-up sweater, jeans, boots, and a black cap for the autumnal outing. 

Zoot Suit marks Beltran’s first-ever acting credit on IMDb followed by Eating Raoul. 

He also starred alongside Hollywood icon Chuck Norris in Lone Wolf McQuade, a 1983 Neo-western action film.

Beltran’s long resume also includes a role in the 1995 biopic about President Richard Nixon, Oliver Stone’s Nixon, which saw Anthony Hopkins in the title role.

That same year Beltran started his role as Native American first officer Commander Chakotay on Voyager.

It was a role he inhabited from 1995 to 2001.

Despite the iconic franchise, Beltran was initially unaware of the depth of the fandom when he first joined the cast. 

‘I had no idea what I was getting into,’ he told TrekMovie.com in 2017. ‘I had friends in college that liked the original show. I never did, but mainly because I never watched one all the way through. 

‘I wasn’t that interested. There are a lot of genres I was not that interested in, so I had no idea. As far as the fans, the fans are great. They care and that is what you want. When you are doing something in the theater I want the audience to really want to be there and really look forward to being there and taking an active interest.

‘So when you have something like that for a franchise like Star Trek, it is a wonderful thing. The fans are everything when it comes down to it. There is a lot of upside and actually very little downside. 

‘They have supported charities. They supported my charity and all the charities for guys on the show that had charities. They were able to make a difference. I was able to raise $250,000 in the four charity events I had for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles.

‘The downside? I can’t think of any except for the occasional fan that gets a little too emotionally involved and makes something personal. That is more amusing than anything.’

Since his time on Star Trek, Beltran has made numerous small screen appearances in addition to furthering his passion for theater.  

However, given the choice, Beltran would rather appear on stage than behind a camera.

‘It’s not a high priority for me to do guest spots on TV shows honestly,’ he told StarTrek.com when asked about doing guest roles on TV. ‘I would much rather do a good play than to do a spot on a TV. But my agents want me to do it and some of the auditions I go on have some good material. But nothing has hit yet and I’m okay with that because it gives me time to do some theater which is what I love to do anyway.’