Veteran actor Christopher McDonald has been cast in a pivotal guest role. ALSO: Ona Grauer returns to Stargate !

In a final bit of Stargate Universe casting news this week, veteran actor Christopher McDonald has been cast in the role of Senator Armstrong — a pivotal guest character in the series premiere, “Air.”

A 30-year veteran of film and television, you may recognize him as Quiz Show host Jack Barry, Happy Gilmore‘s nemesis Shooter McGavin, or Veronica’s ex-husband in Veronica’s Closet. But to us he’ll always be Lt. Richard Castillo in one of the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes of all time, “Yesterday’s Enterprise.”

He’s also played Ward Cleaver in the 1997 Leave It To Beaver remake, ridden The Perfect Storm in the 2000 George Clooney film, and lent his voice to Jor-El in the animated adventures of Superman.

“Another experienced Hollywood veteran, Chris brings gravity and charisma to the role of Senator Armstrong,” consulting producer Joseph Mallozzi wrote on his blog. “When I was on set the other day, he approached me, shook my hand, and told me how happy he was to be working on the show. A class act.”

The Senator is the father of series regular Chloe Armstrong (Elyse Levesque).

Mallozzi also revealed that actress Ona Grauer will return to Stargate, in “some heartfelt scenes” with Justin Louis (“Colonel Everett Young”). She originally played the Ancient Ayiana in SG-1‘s sixth season episode “Frozen,” and in the opening scene to Atlantis‘s “Rising.”

Louis’s character is married, but is forced to live apart from his wife when he is assigned to command a secret off-world base. Could Grauer be playing Young’s wife back on Earth?

Stargate Universe is now filming in Vancouver, B.C. for a fall premiere in the U.S. Learn more about the show at our Stargate Universe Launch Center, and check out the newly completed cast of characters!

(Thanks to kennythwraith for the tip!)