Academy Award nominee David Paymer appeared as Dr. Moritz Benayoun inStar Trek: Picardseason 1 and, amazingly, was never seen again. Under showrunner Michael Chabon,Star Trek: Picardseason 1 brought back Patrick Stewart as Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. However, as a producer. Stewart decided thatStar Trek: Picardwould not be a retread ofStar Trek: The Next Generationwith its original cast. Instead, Jean-Luc would find a new motley crew to aid him in saving the galaxy.
Admiral Jean-Luc Picard learned he was dying of Irumodic Syndrome inStar Trek: Picardseason 1. Or, at least, that is what he (and audiences) believed at the time. When he witnesses the murder of Dahj (Isa Briones) and uncovers a Romulan plot targeting her twin sister, Soji (Isa Briones), the retired Picard attempts to return to active Starfleet duty. However,Picard had to be medically certified for deep space service, and his condition prompted the return of his old friend, Dr. Moritz Benayoun.
David Paymer’s Surprise Appearance In Star Trek: Picard Explained
Paymer Plays Dr. Moritz Benayoun
David Paymer appeared asDr. Moritz Benayoun inStar Trek: Picardseason 1, episode 2, “Maps and Legends.” Dr. Benayoun came to Chateau Picard to tell Jean-Luc his Irumodic Syndrome was terminal. Jean-Luc’s dialogue with Moritz soon filled in the blanks that Dr. Benayoun was Chief Medical Officer of the USS Starzager, Captain Picard’s command before the USS Enterprise-D. It was a brief but charming scene between Picard and Dr. Benayoun inDavid Paymer’s loneStar Trekappearance.
Star Trek Picard Cast & Character Guide: All 3 Seasons
Star Trek: Picard season 3’s cast includes several new characters and the return of some of the biggest names and iconic characters in Star Trek.
Academy Award-nominated for his role inMr. Saturday Night,David Paymer boasts an impressive, decades-long career as an actor and a director. Paymer’s memorable films includeCity Slickers, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Get Shorty, The American President, andOcean’s Thirteen. On TV, Paymer appeared inThe Good Wife, Perception,andThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, among numerous other TV series. Paymer also directed episodes ofEverwood, Brothers & Sisters,andHart of Dixie.
What Happened To Dr. Moritz Benayoun & Why He Failed To Detect Picard’s True Illness
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Retconned Jean-Luc’s Irumodic Syndrome
Dr. Moritz Benayoun didn’t return afterStar Trek: Picardseason 1.The elderly physician was called upon by Admiral Picard to certify him for deep space travel after Starfleet Medical denied him. Picard leaned on his past friendship with Dr. Benayoun to grant him what he required. Ultimately, Jean-Luc traveled to outer space on his personal crusade anyway.
Picard died from his illness before being resurrected in a synthetic body at the end ofStar Trek: Picardseason 1.
Dr. Benayoun didn’t detect in Picard’s medical examination that Jean-Luc’s terminal brain disease was not Irumodic Syndrome.Star Trek: Picardseason 3 retconned Jean-Luc’s illnessto be organic Borg DNA left over from his assimilation into Locutus.Moritz, of course, couldn’t have known this since the retcon happened two seasons after his lone appearance.
InStar Trek: Picardseason 3, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) determines organic Borg implants, not Irumodic Syndome, caused Jean-Luc’s death inStar Trek: Picardseason 1.
Presumably, Dr. Moritz Benayoun continued practicing medicine on Earth. Perhaps Dr. Benayoun retired after his appearance inStar Trek: Picardseason 1. As a character invented forStar Trek: Picard,Dr. Benayoun was a clever bridge to Jean-Luc Picard’s pre-Star Trek: The Next Generationpastas Captain of the USS Stargazer. Benayoun meant multiple generations of Picard’s Starfleet career impacted him inStar Trek: Picard’s 3 seasons.
David Paymer Set The Stage For More Surprising Star Trek Castings
Several Oscar-Caliber Actors Have Joined Star Trek
David Paymer, an Oscar-caliber actor, appearing inStar Trekhelped spark the impressive roster of Academy Award-level talent cast in Star Trek on Paramount+. 3 years beforeStar Trek: Picarddebuted in 2020,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 1’s marquee names were Golden Globes-nominated Jason Isaacs andMichelle Yeoh, who won the Best Actress Oscar forEverything Everywhere All At Once. Paymer’s unexpectedPicardrole was a further sign of things to come forStar Trek.
Every Star Trek Actor Who Won An Oscar
Many award-winning actors have joined the Star Trek franchise, while others have used their Trek roles as a stepping stone to Oscar gold.
Star Trek: Starfleet Academynow boasts Academy Award-winner Holly Hunter as its series lead, with Academy Award-nominee Paul Giamatti as season 1’s recurring villain. Oscar winnerJamie Lee Curtis also made a surprise appearance inStar Trek: Section 31. The quality of actors Star Trek on Paramount+ now attracts grows ever more impressive. But it mustn’t be forgotten that Academy Award-nominee David Paymer was one of the acclaimed thespians who paved the way as Dr. Moritz Benayoun inStar Trek: Picardseason 1.
