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Patriot's Game

"Star Trek's" Data has a "Spiner"-tingling role
in the Broadway revival of "1776"

ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
Special to The Jewish News

I is no wonder that actor Brent
Spiner has been called a poster
boy for versatility.
After all, in the past couple
of years alone he's gone from playing
the Area 51 scientist in the block-
buster film Independence Day to por-
traying John Adams, the second presi-
dent of the United States, in the
Broadway musical revival of 1776.
And in the spring, he will be leav-
ing the New York stage to begin film-
ing another Star Trek movie, returning
to his recurring role as Data, the
endearing silver-skinned, yel-
low-eyed android officer.
It's his ability to
depict a myriad-of
characters that has
enabled Spiner to
land such diverse
roles. And it's clear
that he's thrilled with
the many parts that
have come his way —
his present plum role

of John Adams,
in particular.
With a pas-
sionate interest
in history, Spiner
says the era is
especially appeal-
ing to him. "I
read a lot of
biographies and
always found
John Adams to
be a fascinating
guy," he says.
Brent Spiner, right, plays John Adams in "1776"
"However, he
also was obnox-
watching the show," he chuckles,
ious, and I had to
"because I was busy looking at the
work on being as obnoxious a human
president."
being as I possibly could."
At the time, Spiner, who wanted
Spiner, who did not catch the
to be an actor, had no desire to per-
original production of 1776
form in a play about the adoption of <
some 25 years ago, managed
the Declaration of Independence. "I
to see a touring company
was a hippie, and that just wasn't
performance in Texas. "But
where my mind was at," Spiner told
I had some trouble concen-
the New York Post. "But watching a
trating on the show because
bunch of long-hairs talking about rev-
the night I saw it, Lyndon
olution ended up speaking to me."
Baines Johnson was sitting in
Raised in Houston, Texas, Spiner
front of me. I had trouble
longed to act since boyhood. In high
school, where film star Randy Quaid
was one of his classmates and close
friends, Spiner performed in school
plays. At the University of Houston,
the theater major continued to hone
his thespian skills.
Still, the actor admits, he always
felt that comedy was his true calling.
"Growing up, my biggest heroes were
the silent comedians, like Keaton and
Chaplin," he says. "I try and bring a
little of them into everything I do."
Following college graduation, Spin-
er moved to New York and was cast in
a sequel to the Beggar's Opera. But
then, the real challenge came. While
auditioning for more work, Spiner
earned a living as a New York City
taxi driver.
"I drove a cab for about six
months," he recalls. "It was one of the (
worst jobs in North America."
Fortunately, his taxi driving days

Le • Brent. Spiner: "Watching a bunch
of long-hairs talking about revolution
ended up speaking to me."