

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

David Tristan Birkin (born 1977; age ~43) is a British actor and artist who portrayed René Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fourth season episode "Family". Two years later he appeared as a younger version of Jean-Luc Picard in the sixth season episode "Rascals".

With the exception of his Star Trek appearances, he has appeared primarily in UK productions. In 1998, he played the role of Courfeyrac in the motion picture adaptation of Les Misérables. His other film credits include the 1989 adventure The Return of the Musketeers (with Kim Cattrall), the 1991 romantic comedy Impromptu, the 2001 war drama Charlotte Gray and the 2003 biopic Sylvia.

More recently he was featured in an episode of Identity (2010) and in the drama Men Don't Lie (2011).

Birkin is the son of screenwriter Andrew Birkin (Omen III, The Name of the Rose) and nephew of actress and singer Jane Birkin.