Star Trek's Quark comes to Indianapolis

Quark is coming home.

But don't look for him on the Bajoran-Federation outpost where he – actor Armin Shimerman, that is – made a name for himself as the greedy Ferengi bartender on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

From Nov. 29 to Dec.1, Shimerman will be on stage answering questions and signing autographs at his first Star Trek convention in Indianapolis – the city where he proposed to wife more than three decades ago. In 1980, the classically trained actor was starring in the Indiana Repertory Theatre's 1980 building-opening play run of "Hoagy, Bix and Wolfgang Beethoven Bunkhaus."

"I had been living in Indy for about two months. (My girlfriend) had just flown in for the opening of the play," Shimerman, 54, said by phone recently from his Hollywood home. "At the (post-play) celebration, I thanked the crowd, then turned to my girlfriend and said, 'Let's change your status,' and she very nicely said, 'Yes.' "

Shimerman and Kitty Swink – who appeared in two "DS9" episodes, the only spouse of a cast regular to perform in a Star Trek series – have been married 34 years.

"I'm hoping to revisit the place that was so important in my life, where it all started," the New Jersey-born actor and UCLA English major said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how much it has changed, too. Good or bad, change is good. Human beings need it to grow, and to do that they have to change. I suspect Indianapolis has changed a lot since then."

Indeed, it has – and so has the world of Star Trek. The sci-fi genre has spawned six TV shows (counting the animated series) and 12 movies; a billion-dollar merchandising franchise; and decades of fan conventions around the world, including Starbase Indy's event this weekend at the Indianapolis Marriott East.

Shimerman, who appeared as the same character on three different Star Trek series – 'The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" – said he's not surprised Star Trek has become such an enduring piece of Americana.

"I believe its popularity, the reason for its longevity, is that it represents hope, and that future will be a good place," said Shimerman, whose 171 TV and movie credits include "Boston Legal," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Beauty and the Beast." "It shows us that we will continue to solve problems and that humanity will survive.'

Sadly, you won't find Quark in any Star Trek reboot movies, he said.

"The movies are under the auspices of J.J. Abrams now, who is an incredible writer and producer. But my opinion is you won't see any of (the series actors) in any of his movies. He wants to create his own vision. It'll be a long time before they put any Ferengi in the films. My participation is over."

Conventions? That's a different story. Shimerman's appearances have taken him around the world and to countless U.S. stops in between – invitations he's glad to accept.

"I'm very grateful to be a part of Star Trek convention world. The people are incredibly intelligent … Star Trek fans are the most interesting people. (Appearing at conventions) is the greatest gift -- besides paying for my house."

When he's not on the convention road, Shimerman helps run a classical theater, teaches Shakespeare to acting students and is working to finish his novel. He also is appearing in an episode of "CSI" this month.

His latest project: Studying for his role as Tolstoy in the play titled, "The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord" at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollwood (Jan. 17-Feb. 23).

So, does the man who played an alien believe there's life in space?

"I believe the answer is pretty obvious. There are billions of stars, some of them with their own planets. Whatever caused life on Earth … not just humanity, but basic life forms … it seems unlikely that we're unique. The trick is to find (life). It's possible that it might not be that far away."

Scott Thien has covered Starbase Indy's conventions for more than 15 years. Contact him at scottthien@comcast.net . Follow him on Twitter: @webnewsguy.

Want to go?

Starbase Indy's 18th annual event is Nov. 29- Dec. 1 at Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 E. 21st St. $50 for weekend pass; daily rates available at door.

Highlights include sci-fi actor appearances by Renee Auberjonois (DS9); Jay Acovone and Teryl Rothery (Stargate SG-1); John Paladin (Star Trek Klingon makeup artist). Also, dealer's room, movie screenings, costumes, karaoke, raffle and more.