Brent Spiner

Brent Jay Spiner (; born February 2, 1949) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the android Data on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (19871994), four subsequent films (19942002), and Star Trek: Picard (20202023). In 1997, he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact, and was nominated in the same category for portraying Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day, a role he reprised in Independence Day: Resurgence. Spiner has also enjoyed a career in the theater and as a musician. Early life Brent Jay Spiner was born on February 2, 1949, in Houston, to Sylvia (née Schwartz) and Jack Spiner, who owned a furniture store. At age 29, Jack Spiner died of kidney failure when his son was ten months old. After his father's death, Spiner was adopted by his mother's second husband, Sol Mintz, whose surname he used between 1955 and 1975. Spiner attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas. He became active on the Bellaire speech team, winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation. He attended the University of Houston, where he performed in local theater. In 1968, Spiner worked as a performer at Six Flags Astroworld, first as a gunfighter and later in Dr. Featherflowers Medicine Show with his friend Trey Wilson. Both performers alternated as Dr. Featherflowers. Spiner also performed the role in the 1968 TV special The Pied Piper of Astroworld. Career