James Doohan

James Montgomery Doohan (March 3, 1920 – July 20, 2005) was a Irish-Canadian character and voice actor best known for his portrayal of Scotty in the television and movie series Star Trek. His characterization made him one of the most popular characters in the Star Trek franchise universe.

Life and career

Doohan was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, youngest of four children of William and Sarah Doohan, recent Catholic refugees from mainly Protestant Belfast during the Anglo-Irish War. His family later moved to Sarnia, Ontario where he attended high school at the Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School (SCITS) where he excelled in mathematics and science. Doohan's father, who worked at times as a dentist, pharmacist, and veterinarian, is said to have invented a high-octane gasoline in 1923, but according to Doohan's autobiography, was an alcoholic who tormented his family.

Related Topics:
Vancouver, British Columbia - Catholic - Belfast - Anglo-Irish War - Sarnia, Ontario - Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School - Octane - Gasoline - 1923 - Alcoholic

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At the outbreak of World War II, aged 19, Jimmy Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery, and was eventually commissioned as a lieutenant in the Winnipeg Rifles, 13th Field Regiment, D Company, part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division sent to England in 1940 for what became years of training in beach assault tactics. His first combat assignment was the invasion of Normandy at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers along the way, Doohan led his unit to higher ground through a field of tank mines and took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan took six hits from a German machine gun: four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his middle right finger. The chest bullet was stopped by his silver cigarette case; the shot finger was amputated, and on screen he would generally conceal this. Despite his wounds, Doohan remained in the military, trained as a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and flew an artillery observation plane, though he was once labeled the "craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Forces".

Related Topics:
World War II - Royal Canadian Artillery - Winnipeg - 3rd Canadian Infantry Division - 1940 - Beach assault - Normandy - Juno Beach - D-Day - Tank mine - German - Machine gun - Royal Canadian Air Force

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After the war, Doohan started his acting career after being disheartened by the laughable quality of a radio drama, leading him to bone up on Shakespeare, and with his first work a CBC radio show appearance on January 12, 1946. He took a drama class in Toronto, and later won a two-year scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where classmates included Leslie Nielsen, Tony Randall and Richard Boone. For several years he would shuttle between Toronto and New York as work demanded. During this period Doohan appeared on some 4000 radio programs and 400 television programs, and earned a reputation for his versatility. His credits included The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and Fantasy Island.

Related Topics:
Shakespeare - CBC - January 12 - 1946 - Toronto - Neighborhood Playhouse - New York City - Leslie Nielsen - Tony Randall - Richard Boone - The Twilight Zone - Outer Limits - Fantasy Island

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