Remember That Time Tyler Perry Was in ‘Star Trek’? Yeah, We Forgot Too
Let’s face it: Hollywood works hard, but Tyler Perry works harder, and whether you love him or hate him, there’s no arguing that the divisive filmmaker completely devotes himself to his craft and has built an impressive empire. Though he is perhaps best known for creating and portraying the elderly, street-smart Mabel “Madea” Simmons in an ever-growing list of projects and plays, Perry has also been the mastermind behind TV shows like House of Payne as well as non-Madea movies, including Why Did I Get Married? and For Colored Girls.
Perry himself has branched out of the world of comedy and has starred in the crime thriller Alex Cross and David Fincher’s acclaimed hit Gone Girl, and in 2009, he made his first appearance in a film he didn’t write, direct, or produce when he joined the cast of J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi knockout Star Trek. His supporting role as Admiral Richard Barnett in the blockbuster hit surprised fans of the franchise and the actor at the time, and in the 16 years since its debut, we still can’t help but forget Perry was involved in the film.
Perry Makes an Unexpected Cameo in the Sci-Fi Hit 'Star Trek'
Back in 2009, Tyler Perry was steadily establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s most unique and distinct talents, with the actor, filmmaker, and playwright having already released popular movies like Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Why Did I Get Married?. While he was known for his career-defining portrayal of the tough and feisty elderly woman Madea in the enduring comedy series, Perry shocked the world when he appeared in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek, a reboot of the beloved sci-fi franchise that featured Chris Pine as Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock.
In the blockbuster, Perry portrayed Admiral Richard Barnett, the head of Starfleet Academy, who showed up in two scenes of the hit film: Kirk’s disciplinary hearing and his subsequent promotion to Enterprise Captain. Though the appearance was minor, fans of the franchise and the actor couldn’t help but wonder why Perry was involved in a project so different from his usual comedic fare, but it was Abrams who actually reached out to the funny man in hopes of getting him to appear in Star Trek. In an interview with Female, Abrams said, “Tyler’s someone who I’ve admired for years” before revealing:
“I mean, this guy is amazing. And quite frankly, I’ve been jealous of him for a long time, because the work that he’s done has been incredible. And we have people in common. And I just used those connections to reach him and send him an e-mail just to say, ‘Hey, it’s JJ Abrams. Would you be interested in playing a role in this movie?’ And he was intrigued.”
Perry's 'Star Trek' Appearance Was a Learning Experience
In that same interview, the decorated director also pointed out that Perry didn’t know much about Star Trek at all, but that he nonetheless “kind of pushed a little bit” to have the actor take a look at the script and read the role. Perry himself had directed/starred in seven films by the time he appeared in the sci-fi flick, and Adams pointed out, “He’d never been on anybody else’s set before. He’s never acted in anybody else’s movie.” Abrams sang Perry’s praises and commended the Hollywood triple threat for his silver-screen contributions, declaring:
“The way that he’s created his business, his industry, his studio, and done his work, TV and film, is unbelievable to me. And I just — again, I’m just a fan.”
The gamble to branch out and try something different spectacularly paid off for Perry, as Star Trek went on to gross over $385 million worldwide while garnering widespread acclaim and numerous Academy Award nominations, ultimately winning for Best Makeup. Due to its overwhelming popularity among critics and audiences, the film was followed up by the sequels Star Trek into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, with a fourth installment currently in the works. Perry was absent from the sequels but called his brief work in the film “really exciting” in a sitdown with Trekmovie.com.
Perry shared similar admiration for Abrams and appreciated the experience of filming Star Trek, saying he was “shocked” when he was first approached to appear, before adding that, “It really helped me to see what it’s like to be on someone else’s set.” Abrams is the genius behind groundbreaking shows like Lost and Alias and movies including Super 8 and The Force Awakens, with his films collectively grossing over $4 billion worldwide. Perry commended Abrams’ hustle in the interview:
“Looking at him and talking to him, he is the Jewish version of me. He works on television and works on films. He does not stop. He writes as well. I was watching him work and rework the scene, and there’s something about my story that is so similar to him in what I’m doing.”
Even if he’s not your cup of tea, there’s no denying that Tyler Perry and his many big and small screen creations have helped him become one of the entertainment industry’s most successful stars, as he currently has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Perry is still making one project after another and shows no signs of slowing down, as he has already directed and starred in three movies this year alone including STRAW featuring Taraji P. Henson and the Netflix sitcom She the People, with even more projects on the horizon.
Stream Star Trek on Paramount+.
