Mark Lenard was an American actor, best known for his roles in television, particularly his portrayal of Vulcan ambassador Sarek in the Star Trek franchise.
Born Leonard Rosenson in 1924 in Chicago, Illinois, Lenard grew up in South Haven, Michigan, the son of a Russian-Jewish immigrant. He joined the United States Army in 1943, where he was trained as a paratrooper and eventually became a technical sergeant.
After his military service, Lenard pursued a formal education in acting at the University of Michigan, graduating with a master's degree in theater and speech. He began his acting career in New York City, performing in various theatrical productions.
In the 1960s, Lenard moved to Los Angeles, where he made his film debut in the 1965 epic "The Greatest Story Ever Told". He later appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series, initially playing a Romulan commander in 1966 and then as Vulcan ambassador Sarek in 1967.
Lenard continued to play Sarek in various Star Trek productions, including the animated series and the film franchise. He also appeared in numerous other television shows, including Mission: Impossible, The Wild Wild West, Gunsmoke, and Hawaii Five-O.
In addition to his Star Trek roles, Lenard had a recurring role in the comedy Western series Here Come the Brides and appeared in various science fiction series, often playing authority figures. He had a rare villainous role in the 1990 film "The Radicals".
Lenard retired from television in 1993 and focused on theater, appearing in a production of "The Boys in Autumn". He passed away in 1996 at the age of 72, after a battle with multiple myeloma.
