Actor Michael Forest, who played Apollo in the Star Trek episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?" and guest starred on shows from The Twilight Zone to The Dick Van Dyke Show. died on October 14, 2026, at the age of 97. He also appeared in several Roger Coman movies and dubbed voices on several anime projects (including Alex Rosewater on The Big O).
Michael Forest was born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 27, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota. He moved with his family to Seattle while very young. He decided to become an actor after he saw a friend in a play at the Seattle Rep Playhouse. He attended the University of Washington and then San Jose State, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Drama.
In 1955, he moved to Los Angeles. He made his television debut in episodes of Lux Video Theatre, being credited under his given name Gerald Charlebois. In the Fifties, he guest starred on the shows Highway Patrol; Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre; Cheyenne; Tombstone Territory; The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin; Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok; Zorro; Have Gun-Will Travel; Zane Grey Theatre; Yancy Derringer; Lawman; The Texan; The Rifleman; Bronco; Death Valley Days; The Dennis O'Keefe Show; One Step Beyond; Bat Masterson; The Alaskans; First Person; General Motors Presents; and The Westerner. He appeared in the movies The Deadly Mantis (1957), Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend (1957), The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent (1958), Beast from Haunted Cave (1959), Ski Troop Attack (1960), and Valley of the Redwoods (1960).
In the Sixties, Michael Forest guest starred on the shows Adventures in Paradise; Michael Shayne; Maverick; The Tall Man; Bachelor Father; Cheyenne' Festival; The Detectives; 87th Precinct; Frontier Circus; Tales of Wells Fargo; Wagon Train; Room for One More; Laramie; Ben Casey; Dr. Kildare; The Outer Limits; The Dick Van Dyke Show; The Twilight Zone; Perry Mason; The Man From U.N.C.L.E.; Rawhide; Gunsmoke; Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; 12 O' Clock High; I Spy; Branded; Combat!; The Virginian; Mission: Impossible; Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color; Laredo; Gilligan's Island'; Mr. Terrific; Star Trek; Bonanza; Ironside; Daniel Boone; Get Smart; Garrison's Gorillas; It Takes a Thief; The Doris Day Show; Here Comes the Brides; and Lassie. He appeared in the movies Atlas (1961), A House is Not a Home (1964), The Glory Guys (1965), Deathwatch (1965), Mosby's Marauders (1967), The Money Jungle (1967), The Sweet Ride (1968), and 100 Rifles (1969).
In the Seventies, Michael Forest guest starred on the TV shows The Rookies; As the World Turns; and The Young and the Restless. He was a guest voice on the anime series Lupin the III Part II and Back to the Forest. He appeared in the movies The Last Rebel (1971), Lo ammazzò come un cane... ma lui rideva ancora (1972), Hector the Mighty (1972), The Assassination of Trotsky (1972), Racconti proibiti... di niente vestiti (1972), The Dirt Gang (1972), Now They Call Him Sacramento (1972), Cotter (1973), The Magnificent Dare Devil (1973), Elena sì... ma di Troia (1973), The Loves and Times of Scaramouche (1976), The Message (1976), and Icacciatore di squali (1979). He provided voices for the English versions of the animated movie The Adventures of Manxmouse (1979).
In the Eighties, Michael Forest appeared in the television mini-series Mussolini: The Untold Story. He guest starred on the TV shows Simon & Simon; Who's the Boss; and Days of Our Lives. He provided voices for the English version of the anime series Red Spark Zillion, Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: A War in the Pocket, Crying Freeman, and Gundam 0083. He appeared in the movies King Kong Lives (1986), Deep Space (19988), and Border Shootout (1990). He provided voices for the English versions of the anime movies Fist of the North Star (1986), The Story of Fifteen Boys (1987), and Doomed Megalopolis: The Last Megalopolis (1988).
In the Nineties, he was the voice of villain Alex Rainwater on the anime series The Big O. He also provided voices for the English versions of the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Orguss 02, Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, Armitage III, Street Fighter II V, Space Knight Tekkaman Blade, Tokyo Revelation, El Hazard: The Magnificent World 2, Saber Marionette J Again, Giant Robo: The Animation: The Day the Earth Stood Still, Trigun, Black Jack, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure, and Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran. He provided voices for the English version of the Italian anime Detective Extralarge, Casshan, He also provided voices in the English versions of the live-action Power Rangers shows. He guest starred on the shows Silk Stalkings and Seven Days. He provided voices for the English versions of the Jackie Chan movie Operation Condor (1991) and the Chinese TV movies Romance of the Three Kingdoms Part 1. He appeared in the movies Body of Evidence (1993) and Cast Away (2000).
In the Naughts Michael Forest provided voices for the anime movies Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) and Naruto the Movie 3: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006). He provided voices for the English version of the movie Izo (2004). He provided voices for the English versions of the anime series Witch Hunter Robin, Overman King Gainer, Heat Guy J, The Twelve Kingdoms, I'll/CKBC, Someday's Dreamers, Last Exile, Rumic Theatre, R.O.D. the TV, Scrapped Princess, Texhnolyze, Gungrave, Paanoia Agent, Mars Daybreak, Planetes, Samurai Champloo, Daphne in the Brilliant Blue, Otogi Zoshi, IPGX: Immortal Grand Prix, Gun X Sword, Ghost Slayers Ayashi, Aika R-16: Virgin Mission, and Nyoron Churuya-san. He guest starred on Cold Case and Alias,. He provided voices for the English version of the French film Replay (2001) and the anime movie Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom (2006).
In the Teens,he appeared in the movies The Scarlet Worm (2011) and Unbelievable!!! (2020). He reprised his role as Apollo in the fan TV series Star Trek Continues. He provided a voice for the anime series The Disapperance of Nagato Yuki-chan.
Michael Forest was a remarkable actor. He had a voice perfect for both live-action and animation. It was deep and resonant, and also versatile. Between his height (he was 6 foot 3) and his voice, he was the perfect actor to play the god Apollo on Star Trek. And while he played the role of the haughty Apollo well, he was adept at other roles as well. He did a fine job as Joe Coogan, the former flame of Laura who has become a priest, in the Dick Van Dyke Show episode "The Live and Love of Joe Coogan." With regards to anime, he did a great job as the voice of Alex Rosewater, the ruthless and power-hungry chairman of the Paradigm Corporation, in the English dub of The Big O. Throughout his career he played a number of diverse roles and played all of them well.
