R.I.P. Rene Auberjonois

More sad Trek news this week— actor Rene Auberjonois died on December 8, at the age of 79. 

Auberjonois (which is pronounced "Awe-bear-zhen-wa") was a hard-working character actor who appeared in dozens of films, guest starred on hundreds of TV shows and was a prolific voice artist in many animated series.

He got his first big break playing Father Mulcahy in the film version of M*A*S*H. He had a small role in the 1976 King Kong as well. He was a regular on several TV series, including Benson, where he played hypochondriac Clayton Runnymede Endicott III, and Boston Legal, in which he played Paul Lewiston. He also voiced Chef Louis in Disney's The Little Mermaid.

Of course Star Trek fans remember Auberjonois as the shapeshifting Constable Odo on Deep Space Nine. His face may have been hidden beneath a latex mask, but his gravely voice was unmistakable. I enjoyed the "friendly enemies" relationship he had with Quark, the station's Ferengi bartender.

I feel like I've been watching Auberjonois my whole life— probably because I have! I always enjoyed his work, and loved seeing him pop up on various shows.

Auberjonois is survived by his wife Judith, their daughter Tessa and son Remy.