Editing Brent Spiner (section)

=== ''Star Trek'' ===
In 1987, Spiner was cast as [[Android (robot)|android]] [[Starfleet]] officer Lieutenant Commander [[Data (Star Trek)|Data]] on ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', which spanned seven seasons and four feature films. He appeared as Data in all but one of the series' 178 episodes, and reprised his role in the spin-off films ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' (1994), ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' (1996), ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'' (1998), and ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]'' (2002). Although billed as the final ''Trek'' film for the ''TNG'' cast, the ambiguous ending of ''Star Trek: Nemesis'' suggested a possible avenue for the return of Data. However, Spiner felt he was too old to continue playing the part, as Data does not age.<ref>[https://trekmovie.com/2011/06/29/brent-spiner-talks-typcasting-death-of-data-bringing-back-soong-for-star-trek-sequel/ ""]. TrekMovie.com. June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2018.</ref><ref>Polowy, Kevin (June 23, 2016). [https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/brent-spiner-on-reprising-star-trek-data-role-012732924.html "Brent Spiner on Reprising 'Star Trek' Data Role: 'I'd Look Ridiculous in That Makeup Now'"]. [[Yahoo! Entertainment]]. Retrieved September 3, 2018.</ref> He also played Lore, Data's evil android brother, in several ''Next Generation'' episodes; and B-4, another brother android with a less developed mind, in ''Star Trek: Nemesis'' (2002).

In 2004, Spiner returned to ''Star Trek'' as Dr. [[Arik Soong]], an ancestor of Data's creator Dr. [[Noonien Soong]], whom he also played in a three-episode [[story arc]] of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'': "[[Borderland (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Borderland]]", "[[Cold Station 12]]", and "[[The Augments]]".

Spiner also recorded dialogue as Data that was heard in the final episode of ''Star Trek: Enterprise'', "These Are the Voyages...", which aired in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title="These Are the Voyages..." Nine Years Later |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/these-are-the-voyages-nine-years-later |website=startrek.com |publisher=CBS Studios Inc. |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>

Eighteen years after last appearing as Data, he reprised the role in the 2020 ''Star Trek'' series ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]''<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/star-trek-picard/ |title = Star Trek: Picard (Official Site) Watch on Paramount+| date=January 22, 2020 }}</ref> as well as that of Dr. Altan Inigo Soong, the son of Data's creator. Spiner said that he does not intend to play Data again, though he might be open to playing Altan Soong.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/star-trek-ending-explained-what-happened-end-episode-10-s01e10-1x10-et-arcadia-ego-1494454|title=What happened at the end of 'Star Trek: Picard' and what it means for Season 2|last=Spencer|first=Samuel |date=March 26, 2020|website= Newsweek| language=en|access-date=April 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://trekmovie.com/2020/03/30/brent-spiner-and-patrick-stewart-saying-goodbye-to-data-on-star-trek-picard-and-forever/|title=Brent Spiner And Patrick Stewart: Saying Goodbye To Data On 'Star Trek: Picard'—And Forever|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=TrekMovie.com|language=en-US|access-date= April 6, 2020}}</ref> In Season 2, he plays another of Noonien Soong's ancestors, Dr. Adam Soong. In Season 3 of ''Picard'', he simultaneously played Noonien Soong, B4, Lore, and a version of Data that was designed to feel emotions and naturally use verbal contractions, which the original Data could not do.

In addition to the series and films, Spiner voiced his character in several ''Star Trek'' video games, including ''[[Star Trek Generations (video game)|Star Trek: Generations]]'', ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Hidden Evil]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Away Team]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Bridge Commander]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Luaine|title=A Data with Star Trek again| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=3050422|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=December 9, 2010|date=January 9, 2003}}</ref>