John de Lancie
De Lancie at the 2023 GalaxyCon Raleigh
Born
John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr.

(1948-03-20) March 20, 1948[1]
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
Spouse
Marnie Mosiman
(m. 1984)
Children2, including Keegan
Parent
Websitejohndelancie.com

John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr. (born March 20, 1948)[1] is an American actor, best known for his role as Q in various Star Trek series (1987–present); beginning with Star Trek: The Next Generation and leading up to the third season of Star Trek: Picard in 2023.

De Lancie's first television role was in Captains and the Kings in 1976. His other television series roles include Eugene Bradford in Days of Our Lives (1982–1986; 1989–1990), Frank Simmons in Stargate SG-1 (2001–2002), Donald Margolis in Breaking Bad (2009–2010), Agent Allen Shapiro in Torchwood (2011), as well as the voice of Discord in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (2011–2019).

De Lancie has become an outspoken secular activist and was a featured speaker at the 2016 Reason Rally and at CSICon 2019.

Early life and education

De Lancie was born John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 20, 1948,[1] one of two children born to John de Lancie, Sr. (1921–2002), principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1954 to 1977, and Andrea de Lancie. His mother is French. He has a sister named Christina.[2]

As a child, he was diagnosed with dyslexia, and as such, struggled with reading difficulties throughout his school years.[3] He did not learn to read until he was 12. One of his teachers recommended that his parents encourage him to consider a career as an actor. He began to act around the age of 14, performing in a high school production of William Shakespeare's Henry V.[4] De Lancie went on to study acting at Kent State University (he was in attendance during the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970) and won a scholarship at Juilliard.[4] He performed in numerous stage productions, participating at such engagements as the American Shakespeare Festival and the Mark Taper Forum, as well as establishing a successful career in film and television.[4]

Acting career

Film and TV career (1987–present)

Star Trek

De Lancie portrayed Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), and in episodes of several subsequent series taking place during that era. He is notable for his chaotic, mischievous personality. He is one of the few characters appearing in multiple series of the franchise: Eight episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation ("Encounter at Farpoint", "Hide and Q", "Q Who", "Deja Q", "Qpid", "True Q", "Tapestry", "All Good Things..."), one episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ("Q-Less"), three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager ("Death Wish," "The Q and the Grey," "Q2"), and one episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks ("Veritas"). De Lancie's son Keegan de Lancie appeared with his father as Q Junior in one episode of Star Trek: Voyager ("Q2").

My popularity is very disproportionate to the amount of times that I actually was on the show. ... It's a double-edged sword. I never partook of the financial rewards of the show in terms of being a regular, I just came on and once a year would do a show.

De Lancie

Initially, de Lancie was too busy to audition for the part of Q, but Gene Roddenberry (whom he did not know) arranged a second opportunity. De Lancie recognized that even though Star Trek was only a small part of his career, it opened doors for him.[5] In a 2012 interview, de Lancie stated that he recalled his original audition for Q, after which Roddenberry approached him, touched him on the shoulder, and said, "You make my writing sound better than it is."[6]

In April 2021, it was announced that de Lancie would reprise his role of Q in the second season of Star Trek: Picard.[7] He subsequently appeared in multiple episodes throughout seasons two and three.

Video games

De Lancie voiced Antonio Malochio in Interstate '76, Trias in Planescape: Torment, Dr. Death in Outlaws, William Miles in Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Assassin's Creed III, Fitz Quadwrangle in Quantum Conundrum, and Q in both the Star Trek: The Next Generation pinball game and the mobile game Star Trek Timelines, and portrayed Q in Star Trek: Borg. He further voiced the human emperor in Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars.[8][9][10] He also voiced Alarak in StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void[11] and reprised the role for Heroes of the Storm. More recently, he voiced Geist, the leader of the Templars in the XCOM 2 expansion War of the Chosen. He voiced the narrator wizard of Popup Dungeon.[12]

Stage

De Lancie at a performance in 2007

De Lancie is a former member of the American Shakespeare Festival, the Seattle Repertory Company, South Coast Repertory, the Mark Taper Forum, and the Old Globe (where he performed Arthur Miller's Resurrection Blues).[13][14][15] He performed and directed for Los Angeles Theater Works, the producing arm of KCRW-FM and National Public Radio, where the series The Play's the Thing originated.[15][9]

De Lancie co-hosted and appeared in Star Trek: The Music, a touring company, with fellow actor Robert Picardo, who portrayed the Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager. De Lancie and Picardo narrate around the orchestral performance, explaining the history of the music in Star Trek.[9] He performed Pierre Curie in Alan Alda's play Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie in 2001 at the Geffen Theater in Los Angeles.[16] De Lancie hosted the children's concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall during the 2003–04 season; in 2005, he hosted the children's series of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.[17]

Voice acting

Known for his distinctive speaking style, de Lancie lent his voice to a number of projects. In My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, he voiced Discord, a recurring character. Discord was inspired by Q as an omnipotent being who embodies mischief and chaos, but is genuinely good-hearted and is occasionally helpful to the heroes of the show; another connection to Q is that Discord often uses fewer contractions in his vocabulary. Discord is best described as an anti-hero, also similar to Q. Initially, Lauren Faust wanted to cast someone who could impersonate de Lancie, but Hasbro suggested casting de Lancie himself. Ironically, de Lancie has stated in an interview that, in preparation for his role as Discord, he did not draw from his past experience as Q.[18] De Lancie mentioned during a 2013 convention panel that his voice recordings of Discord are slightly sped up and lose their deep bass sound. Nevertheless, fans still praised de Lancie for his performance.[19] According to Jim Miller in The Art of Equestria, de Lancie's sessions are always done by phone, but his first session as Discord was videotaped.

His other animated television roles included The Angry Beavers, Extreme Ghostbusters, Invader Zim, Duck Dodgers, Max Steel, Duckman, Young Justice,[13] and DC Super Hero Girls as Mr. Freeze.[20]

Writing

De Lancie co-wrote the Star Trek novel I, Q with Peter David, as well as co-writing the novel Soldier of Light (with Tom Cool).[21] He wrote the DC comic book story The Gift.[22] In 1996, along with Leonard Nimoy and writer-producer Nat Segaloff, de Lancie formed and recorded Alien Voices, a collection of audio dramas based on classic science fiction and fantasy stories, such as The Time Machine and The Lost World.[9]

Music

De Lancie has performed as narrator with a number of major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic,[13] the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra[14][15] and Symphony Nova Scotia.[23] He provided the narration for the world premiere of Lorenzo Palomo's The Sneetches and Other Stories (based on the book by Dr. Seuss) with the Oberlin Conservatory Orchestra.[24][25] He wrote and directed ten symphonic plays, which were produced with the Milwaukee, St. Paul Chamber, Ravinia, Los Angeles, and Pasadena Orchestras.[15]

De Lancie was the writer, director and host of First Nights, an adult concert series at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,[14][15] based loosely on the book of the same name by Thomas Forrest Kelly, which explored the life and music of Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mahler, Schumann, and Prokofiev. In 2006, de Lancie made his opera directorial debut with the Atlanta Opera performing Puccini's "Tosca" from May 18–21.[15]

In September 2019, de Lancie narrated as "Forever of the Stars" in the first ever live performances of Ayreon's Sci-Fi concept album Into the Electric Castle.[26]

Documentary

While on stage at the 2012 Ottawa ComicCon, de Lancie announced that he had made plans to co-produce a documentary about "bronies" (older, usually male teenage and adult fans of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic). De Lancie stated he was taken aback by how disrespectfully national news media portrayed the brony fandom.[27] He started a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the documentary, since titled Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony.[28] The Kickstarter campaign began on May 13, 2012, and by June 10, had reached a total of $322,022, becoming Kickstarter's second-highest funded film project of all time.[28]

Personal life

De Lancie is married to Marnie Mosiman, with whom he has two sons: Keegan (born 1984) and Owen (born 1987).[1][29]

De Lancie is an experienced sailor, spending time on the Pacific Ocean, which he had stated "sometimes involves very terrifying experiences."[30][31]

He is long-time friends with fellow Star Trek alum Kate Mulgrew.[32] He is also good friends with MacGyver and Stargate SG-1 star Richard Dean Anderson. They have both appeared together in episodes of both series, as well as in the 1995 television series Legend.

Secular activism

Raised by secular parents, de Lancie is an advocate for atheism and humanism. Of his education in a religious school in Philadelphia, he remembers associating religion with manipulation. Rather than developing a religious outlook, he became fascinated by an ever-changing world: "I'm wondering if one of the things at the core of believing in God, or not, has to do with change. I have grown to embrace change. Personally, I love reading the science section in the paper every morning. I'm in awe of humankind's boundless curiosity."[33][34]

On June 4, 2016, he addressed the participants at the Reason Rally in Washington, D.C. Speaking in reference to his Star Trek character Q, he said:

My name is John de Lancie, and I am a god. At least, I've played one on TV. And I'm here to tell you as a god that I was created by humans. And the words I spoke were written by men and women ... My creators took great care in exalting me to the position I hold today. And just like all the gods before me—Zeus, Baal, Yahweh—my god creators wanted you to believe that I am the omnipotent one. The alpha and the omega.  ... Truth be told,  ... I don't exist any more than the thousands of other gods that humans have created, worshipped, and died for since the beginning of time.  ... But if you insist on believing in me, you do so at your own risk.  ... I will lead you down the path of ignorance, intolerance, and bigotry.  ... All because you believe. [33][35]

On July 14, 2017, de Lancie attended the unveiling of a statue of Clarence Darrow at the Rhea County Courthouse, Dayton, Tennessee, the site of the Scopes Trial in 1925, where Darrow had argued in favor of the teaching of evolution and secular education.[36][37]

John de Lancie speaking at CSICon 2019.

In October 2019, de Lancie was a featured speaker at the annual conference of the Center for Inquiry, CSICon.[33][38] At the conference he announced two new projects.[39] The first, an animated series, titled God's Goofs, is meant to point out that intelligent design is absurd. The second project is a play based on the historic 2005 intelligent design trial in Dover, Pennsylvania, the first direct challenge brought in the United States federal courts testing a public school district policy that required the teaching of intelligent design.[40]

Filmography

Film

List of performances and appearances by John de Lancie in film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1979The Onion FieldLAPD Lieutenant No. 2
1990Bad InfluenceHoward
Taking Care of BusinessTed Bradford Jr.
1991The Fisher KingTV Executive
1992The Hand that Rocks the CradleDr. Victor Mott
1993ArcadeDifford
FearlessJeff Gordon
1994Deep RedThomas Newmeyer
1995EvolverRussell Bennett
1996MultiplicityTed Gray
1997TrekkiesHimself
1998Saving Private RyanLetter-ReaderVoice
Uncredited
You Lucky DogLyle Windsor
1999Final RunGeorge Bouchard
2000Woman on TopAlex Reeves
2001NicolasDr. Fisher
Good AdviceTed
2007Reign Over MeNigel Pennington
TeeniusPrincipal Senseman
2008My ApocalypseNathan Eastman
PathologyDr. Quentin Morris
2009Crank: High VoltageFish Halman
GamerChief of Staff
2013Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little PonyHimselfCo-producer
2015VisionsVictor Napoli
2017Olaf's Frozen AdventureMr. OlsenVoice
Featurette[41]
2018Buttons: A Christmas TaleJohnson

Television

List of performances and appearances by John de Lancie in television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1977Barnaby JonesGradyEpisode: "Terror on a Quiet Afternoon"
McMillan & WifePowell
SST: Death FlightBob ConnorsTelevision film
1977–1978The Six Million Dollar ManVarious Characters
1978–1979Emergency!Dr. Neil Colby/Dr. Deroy3 episodes
1978The BastardLt. Stark
1979Battlestar GalacticaOfficerEpisode: "Experiment in Terra"
1981Nero WolfeTom IrwinEpisode: "Might as Well Be Dead"
1982–1986, 1989–1990Days of Our LivesEugene Bradford
1983The Thorn BirdsAlastair MacQueenMiniseries
1986The Twilight ZoneThe DispatcherEpisode: "Dead Run"
MacGyverBrian AshfordEpisode: "The Escape"
Murder, She WroteBinky HolbornEpisode: "If the Frame Fits"
1987–1994Star Trek: The Next GenerationQ8 episodes
1988Trial and ErrorBob AdamsRegular cast
Mission: ImpossibleMatthew DrakeEpisode: "The Killer"
HoopermanLucius CainEpisode: "High Noon"
1989Get Smart, Again!Major Preston WaterhouseUncredited
The Nutt HouseNorman ShrikeEpisode: "Pilot"
1991L.A. LawMark CheliosEpisode: "The Beverly Hill Hangers"
1993Star Trek: Deep Space NineQEpisode: "Q-Less"
Batman: The Animated SeriesEagletonVoice, 2 episodes[41]
1994Without WarningBarry SteinbrennerTelevision film
1995LegendJanos Bartok
1996Picket FencesDistrict AttorneyEpisode: "Three Weddings and a Meltdown"
Touched by an AngelJustinian JonesEpisode: "Jones vs. God"
1997DuckmanTyler FitzgeraldEpisode: "From Brad to Worse"
1996–2001Star Trek: VoyagerQ3 episodes
1996–1997The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestDr. QuestVoice, 17 episodes
2000The Angry BeaversThe Yak in the SackVoice, episode: "Yak in the Sack"[41]
The Outer LimitsDonald FinleyEpisode: "The Gun"
The West WingAl Kiefer2 episodes
Sports NightBert StorsEpisode: "April is the Cruelest Month"
2001–2002AndromedaSid Barry alias Sam Profitt2 episodes
Stargate SG-1Frank Simmons, Goa'uld5 episodes
Max SteelL'Etranger
Military Base Guard
Voice
3 episodes
2001Special Unit 2King of the LinksEpisode: "The Eve"
The PracticeWalter Bannish
2002Crossing JordanMedical Examiner ThaxtonEpisode: "Payback"
Dan Dare: Pilot of the FutureGerard HamiltonVoice, 2 episodes
2003Judging AmyDr. EaganEpisode: "Picture of Perfect"
2003Duck DodgersSinestroVoice, episode: "The Green Loontern"[41]
2004–2005CharmedOdin
2005The CloserDr. DawsonEpisode: "Flashpoint
2005Invader ZimAgent DarkbootieVoice, 2 episodes[41]
2008The UnitElliott GillumEpisode: "Dancing Lessons"
2009GreekHimselfEpisode: "The Dork Knight"
2009–2010Breaking BadDonald Margolis4 episodes
2011Law & Order: LAJudge Avery StaynorEpisode: "Carthay Circle"
Franklin & BashGallenEpisode "Bachelor Party"
Torchwood: Miracle DayAgent Allen Shapiro3 episodes
Young JusticeMister TwisterVoice, episode: "Welcome to Happy Harbor"[41]
2011–2019My Little Pony: Friendship Is MagicDiscordVoice, 24 episodes[41]
2012NTSF:SD:SUV::Leonardo da VinciEpisode: "Time Angels"
The Secret CircleRoyce ArmstrongEpisode: "Crystal"
2014The MentalistEdward FeinbergEpisode: "Silver Wings of Times"
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationGeneral Robert LandsdaleEpisode: "Boston Brakes"
2015The LibrariansMephistophelesEpisode: "And the Infernal Contract"
2016Justice League ActionBrainiacVoice, 2 episodes
2017Star Trek ContinuesGalistiEpisode: "What Ships Are For"
2019DC Super Hero GirlsMr. FreezeVoice[41][20]
2020Star Trek: Lower DecksQVoice, episode: "Veritas"
2022-2023Dota: Dragon's BloodLord RitterfauVoice, 2 episodes[41]
Star Trek: PicardQ8 episodes
2024 Masters of the Universe RevolutionGranamyrVoice

Video games

List of performances in video games
YearTitleRole
1996Star Trek: BorgQ
1997OutlawsMatthew 'Dr. Death' Jackson[41]
Interstate '76Antonio Malochio
1998Star Trek: The Game ShowQ
Interstate '76 ArsenalAntonio Malochio
1999Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the DamnedMontreaux[41]
Planescape: TormentTrias the Betrayer
2000Star Trek: ConQuest OnlineQ
2011Assassin's Creed: RevelationsWilliam Miles
2012Quantum ConundrumProfessor Fitz Quadwrangle[41]
Assassin's Creed IIIWilliam Miles[41]
2014Family Guy: The Quest for StuffQ
2015StarCraft II: Legacy of the VoidAlarak[41]
My Little Pony, Twilight's Kingdom Storybook AppDiscord[41]
2016Master of Orion: Conquer the StarsHuman Emperor
Heroes of the StormAlarak
StarCraft II: Nova Covert OpsAlarak
World of Warcraft: LegionVydhar / Morphael
2017XCOM 2: War of the ChosenGeist
2018Payday 246th President of the United States
2019Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Rushmore
2023Assassin's Creed MirageWilliam Miles
2023Dota 2Ringmaster

Podcast series

List of performances in podcast series
YearTitleRole
2019FrontiersNarrator
2023NPRmageddonJohn
2023Shuttlepod Showguest

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About « John de Lancie". delancie.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. He was born on March 20, 1948, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ...
  2. "John de Lancie, 80, an Oboist And Curtis Institute Director". The New York Times. May 27, 2002.
  3. Eide, Frenette. "Being Dyslexic – Actor John De Lancie". Dyslexic Advantage. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 Allen, Mike (February 18, 2014). "Q&A with 'Star Trek' star John de Lancie". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  5. Nerdist Podcast episode 506: John de Lancie (podcast). April 14, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  6. Walker, Adam (October 14, 2012). "John de Lancie Interview". TrekCore.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  7. Nugent, Annabel (April 6, 2021). "Star Trek: Fan favourite John de Lancie will return as Q opposite Patrick Stewart in Picard season two". The Independent. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. Yin-Poole, Wesley (February 18, 2016). "The new Master of Orion has an impressive voice cast". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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  12. "John de Lancie Joins the Party!". Steam (service). August 11, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021. John Joins the Adventure to Voice the Mighty Wizard!
  13. 1 2 3 "John de Lancie". Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
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  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "John de Lancie – Actor/Director". Texas State Department of Theatre and Dance. Texas State University. Archived from the original on January 24, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  16. Verini, Bob (November 10, 2011). "Review: 'Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie'". Variety. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  17. "Yasuo Shinozake Leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Second Toyota Symphonies For Youth Concert of 2003/04 Season at Walt Disney Concert Hall". Hollywood Bowl (Press release). December 6, 2003.
  18. de Lancie, John (June 6, 2012). "EQD Interviews: John de Lancie". Equestria Daily (Interview). Interviewed by Phoe and Cereal Velocity via YouTube.
  19. de Lancie, John (February 28, 2013). John De Lancie - Las Pegasus Unicon 2013. Everfree Network. Retrieved March 1, 2013 via YouTube.
  20. 1 2 The Late Batsby. DC Super Hero Girls: Super Shorts. January 10, 2019 [released in theaters June 20, 2018]. Event occurs at 3:53. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
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  22. Star Trek: The Next Generation Annual, No. 1: The Gift Comics – 1990. DC Comics. January 1990. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
  23. Arsenault, Tim (October 26, 2018). "John de Lancie performs with SNS while in town for Hal-Con". Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on October 26, 2018.
  24. "Dr. Seuss' The Sneetches". Amazon. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  25. "Palomo: The sneetches". Naxos of America, Inc. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  26. "AYREON LIVE 2019". Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  27. "John de Lancie Announces Brony Documentary (Ottawa Comiccon)". May 13, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012 via YouTube.
  28. 1 2 "BronyCon: The Documentary by Michael Brockhoff". Kickstarter.com. May 14, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
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  33. 1 2 3 Palmer, Rob (June 19, 2019). "Q&A With John De Lancie". Skeptical Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
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  36. Mattise, Jonathan; Zaleski, Mark (July 14, 2017). ""Statue of 'Scopes monkey trial' evolution backer unveiled", AP News, 14 July 2017". Associated Press. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  37. Benton, Ben (July 15, 2017). "Statue for lawyer in famous Dayton, Tenn. Scopes Trial unveiled". Times Free Press. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  38. "CSICon 2019: Speakers". csiconference.org. CFI. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  39. Frazier, Kendrick (April 2020). "From fantasyland America to the fabric of space and time". Skeptical Inquirer. 44 (2): 8–17.
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