

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

John Frank Tesh (born 9 July 1952; age 68) is a musician and former entertainment-news anchor who portrayed a holographic Klingon in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "The Icarus Factor". He received no on-screen credit for his cameo appearance.

As a child, the original Star Trek was the only television show Tesh was allowed to watch, and he became a huge fan of the series.

In the summer of 1987, a segment of Entertainment Tonight featured a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Star Trek: The Next Generation series, in which Tesh visited the sets, in the midst of filming "Code of Honor". A special segment on his show Entertainment Tonight featured a behind the scenes look at his experiences in make-up and the filming of "The Icarus Factor". In addition, Tesh was interviewed on 21 August 1991 which was published in the TNG Season 2 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Two: Memorable Missions" ("The Icarus Factor"). This special also included behind the scenes footage from his days on set and Tesh told he was 2½ hours in makeup for his role. The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine comic "Stowaway" featured a Starfleet character called Captain Johnson, for which Tesh's likeness was used.

Other acting roles include an unnamed news anchor in Shocker also 1989 with Tesh again working with Brent Spiner as well as Dendrie Taylor. In 1991, Tesh lent his voice to the cartoon series Bobby's World starring Frank Welker in "Clubhouse Bobby" with Miriam Flynn and Kenneth Mars.

Tesh appeared in a cameo role as himself in his Entertainment Tonight capacity in the 1992 box office hit The Bodyguard with Bill Cobbs, Bert Remsen and Mike Starr.

In 1993, Tesh satirized himself as John Teshadactyl in The Flintstones film Holly-Rock-a-Bye-Baby rejoining Frank Welker in addition to Michael Bell and Charlie Brill.