- - 'Star Trek' Legend Offered 'Klingon School' to 2026 Cast

Jeff LuceJanuary 4, 2026 at 2:18 AM

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Photo by CBS Photo Archive on Getty Images

Michael Dorn, the man who defined Worf for Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, is now helping a key cast member of the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy learn how to emote under layers of prosthetics and the weight of Klingon tradition.

Karim Diané, who plays the Klingon cadet Jay-Den Kraag, said he got a FaceTime session with Dorn right before his first day in makeup. “It was really dope to be able to talk to the Klingon, and then go and become a Klingon for the first time,” Diané shared, mentioning Dorn’s encouragement and practical advice helped calm his nerves before long hours under silicone.

What makes Dorn’s involvement so meaningful (beyond the inherent cool factor of a Trek legend coaching new cast members) is how intimately he understands this performance challenge. In interviews over the years, Dorn has spoken candidly about the physical and emotional demands of playing Worf, including the heavy makeup that was “pretty tough” at first because of all the glue and time in the chair.

Related: ‘Star Trek’ Alters Iconic Alien Race and Fans Are Not Happy

Dorn once reflected on his own process by comparing auditions to muscles you have to work: you “just get better and better” by doing it and preparing yourself so that you’re not afraid of the moment but ready for it. That focus and persistence are the same qualities he’s now passing along to actors stepping into complex alien roles.

There’s a rich history here, too. Like the new cadet Jay-Den Kraag, Dorn’s Worf wasn’t an average Klingon; Dorn's performance helped shift the portrayal of the species away from one-dimensional antagonists into a culture with honor, conflict, and depth. It’s not hard to imagine a similar bridge being built in those conversations between Dorn and Diané, linking Trek’s 1990s peak and its new frontier in 2026.

Fans are impressed with Dorn's mentorship. 'I used to be a scare actor and did 3 hours daily in the makeup chair for my prosthetics,' one fan commented. 'It's no joke how hard it is getting it applied and then spending the day working in it.' Another chimed in 'Talked to THE Klingon, you're (expletive) right.'

Considering what it must be like to perform under the pressure of both layers of latex and increasing expectations from fans, this generosity from Dorn is touching. Klingons might typically be angry, but the actors who portray them can be overwhelmingly kind.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”