‘Star Trek,’ ‘Little Mermaid’ Actor René Auberjonois Dead at 79 (VIDEO)
Actor René Auberjonois, whose extensive career spanned over 50 years, from “Star Trek” to The Little Mermaid, has died at the age of 79.
The actor died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles of metastatic lung cancer, According to his son Rèmy-Luc Auberjonois, the actor died of metastatic lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles.
Despite an extensive acting resume, it is his role as Odo on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” however, that won him his greatest notoriety. As the station security chief, Odo was a Changeling who would shift from a liquid-like state to a human-like form.
The role gave him the chance to flex his dramatic acting muscle on many occasions, and he quickly became a fan favorite.
In the years after the show, he was a regular on the convention and comic con circuit, where he often made a personal connection with fans.
His extensive career included some of Hollywood’s most memorable films, including M.A.S.H., where he played Father John Mulcahy. He also appeared in Batman Forever, The Princess Dairies, and The Patriot.
Many will likely remember him as the voice of Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid, as the castle cook who tried to boil Sebastian the Crab.
On television, Auberjonois appeared on the popular 1980s sitcom “Benson,” and later starred on “Boston Legal,” also on ABC.
Born in New York in 1940, René Auberjonois was raised in New York, Paris, and London. According to the Associated Press, he lived for a time in an artists’ colony in New York, alongside actors John Houseman, Helen Hayes and Burgess Meredith.
He was nominated for two Emmys and four Tonys during his career.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, writer Judith Auberjonois; sisters Marie-Laure Degener and Anne Auberjonois; daughter Tessa Auberjonois; son-in-law Adrian Latourelle, daughter-in-law Kate Nowlin and three grandchildren.
In this clip from the documentary “What We Left Behind,” the actor discussed his role on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”
In this clip from The Little Mermaid, Auberjonois sings the classic song “Les Poissons.”
Our sympathies to the family, friends, and fans of René Auberjonois.
