Editing Worf (section)

== Casting ==
Initially, Worf was not intended to be a regular character, as Gene Roddenberry wanted to avoid "retreads of characters or races featured prominently in the original ''Star Trek'' series". Accordingly, a cast portrait released in June 1987 to promote the upcoming series did not include Worf.<ref name="schrager">{{Cite book |title=The Finest Crew in the Fleet: The Next Generation Cast on Screen and Off (Star Trek)  |last=Schrager |first=Adam |publisher=Talman Co |year=1997 |isbn=978-1-888149-03-6 |pages=96–97}}</ref> Several "tall, slim, black actors" auditioned for Worf before Michael Dorn came along.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shrager |first=Adam |title=THE FINEST CREW IN THE FLEET: The Next Generation Cast On Screen and Off |publisher=Wolf Valley Books |year=1998 |isbn=1-84024-070-9 |pages=84}}</ref> Not only did the Worf character become a regular on ''The Next Generation'', he was continued on the ''Deep Space Nine'' series for four more seasons (1995–99) and talk of a spin-off Worf show continued even into the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/did-jj-abrams-star-trek-611279 |title=Did J.J. Abrams' 'Star Trek' Kill a 'Worf' TV Series? |last=McMillan  |first=Graeme |date=August 21, 2013 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=October 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="screenrant">{{Cite web |url=http://screenrant.com/star-trek-captain-worf-tv-show-michael-dorn/ |title=Michael Dorn Confirms He's Working on a 'Star Trek: Captain Worf' TV Series [UPDATED]  |last=Schaefer |first=Sandy |date=September 3, 2012 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=October 23, 2017}}</ref>

He made his debut in 1987 in "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]", and last appeared in character in 2023 in ''Picard'' season 3. Dorn as Worf made 283 on-screen appearances, the most of any actor in the ''Star Trek'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/which-actor-has-the-most-appearances-in-the-star-trek-universe/|title=Geek Trivia: Which Actor Has The Most Appearances In The Star Trek Universe?|access-date=October 26, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107091425/http://www.howtogeek.com/trivia/which-actor-has-the-most-appearances-in-the-star-trek-universe/|url-status=dead}}</ref>