Goodbye, Lt. Kyle

[TLOZ Lover]

Twitter is reporting today that John Winston who played Lt. Kyle in a number of TOS episodes passed away on Sept. 19th, 2019 at age 91, according to a listing in the SAG-AFTRA Spring 2020 newsletter. Not sure why it has taken nearly 9 months for the news to get out, but that's sad to hear. There are so few actors and actresses left from the original series that any loss is keenly felt by all of us who love the series. Here he is in his last TOS appearance in my favorite love story, The Lights of Zetar. Farewell, sir!

 

[Lord Garth]

A belated RIP.

 

[Phaser Two]

Oh, how sad! I have been glad on several recent occasions including rewatches of his episodes that he was still with us. I always thought he was a very professional and convincing actor. RIP, good sir.

 

[Spock's Barber]

Now he really lives among the stars.

RIP.

 

[DonIago]

A sadly-belated RIP. :/

Am I correct in thinking that his last Trek appearance was TWOK? I was always happy to see anyone from TOS get a later appearance in the franchise.

 

[TLOZ Lover]

A sadly-belated RIP. :/

Am I correct in thinking that his last Trek appearance was TWOK? I was always happy to see anyone from TOS get a later appearance in the franchise.

Yes, TWOK was his last Trek appearance while Zetar was his last TOS series appearance.

 

[johnnybear]

R.I.P. Wonder why it took so long to report! Maybe like the character he played they would have gotten around to it!
JB

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I can't find it now, but I read somewhere that TWOK came along when he no longer cared about acting, and he wasn't very enthused about getting the job. Maybe an interview he did somewhere.

 

[Kelso]

A sadly-belated RIP. :/

Am I correct in thinking that his last Trek appearance was TWOK? I was always happy to see anyone from TOS get a later appearance in the franchise.

Officially, yes. He more recently made an appearance in at least one fan film.

 

[DonIago]

I can't find it now, but I read somewhere that TWOK came along when he no longer cared about acting, and he wasn't very enthused about getting the job. Maybe an interview he did somewhere.

If that's the case, then I'm especially glad he came back for the cameo.

 

[Ronald Held]

RIP

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Loved him in episodes like "Mirror, Mirror" and "Wolf in the Fold."

"You didn't have to shove me, Mr. Spock. I'd have gotten round to it."​

RIP, John Winston.

 

[Grant]

And as usual no respect for his cousin Lieutenant Cowell who filled in for him one week when he was on leave during the events of the immunity syndrome.
By the way he had more lines in immunity syndrome than he did in any other episode.

 

[Khan Jr]

RIP. I'm always glad to see Transporter Chief Kyle in an episode.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Am I correct in thinking that his last Trek appearance was TWOK?

Yes, with a goatee, but Kyle had gained his moustache in TAS.


Kyle montage by Ian McLean, on Flickr

It's my understanding that Mr Winston used to work as a Hollywood barber between acting gigs. We noticed once that many of his episodes were Gene Coon episodes. Maybe that was his "in" with Trek? We also wondered if male Starfleeters needing pointed sideburns might be sent to Mr Kyle?

Winston also played Captain Matthew Jefferies in the 2004 fan film "New Voyages: Come What May" (with Eddie Paskey).

I can't find it now, but I read somewhere that TWOK came along when he no longer cared about acting, and he wasn't very enthused about getting the job. Maybe an interview he did somewhere.

Yes. He rarely did interviews, but I seem to recall it.

I tried to secure an interview with John Winston during my first US trip in 1983-84, but he wasn't listed as having a contact agent with the Screen Actors Guild at the time. I had so many questions for him. He spent time in my home town of Sydney, Australia, in 1972/1973 making an episode of "The Evil Touch", and also the kids' series, "Catch Kandy".

 

[Push The Button]

Winston was memorable in every single Trek scene that he was in.

Rest in peace, Cmdr. Kyle, and thank you.

 

[Grant]

Does anybody know how or why he got the part in Wrath of Khan? Not why he took it but why they wrote the part for him in the first place. Don't get me wrong I'm really glad they did and it was always great to see you familiar face even in a small role but I just curious why they brought it for an established character when they could have just made up a new character for the Reliant

 

[Grant]

I don't know if this will work but this is a link to an audio clip of John Winston's last deleted scene as Kyle from Wrath of Khan.
If the link doesn't work let me know and I'll delete it.
Nope it doesn't work. I'll try again later

 

[Grant]

EDIT: sorry apparently those links aren't working.

 

[Kinggodzillak]

Can't get either of those to work...