Both William Shatner and Michael Ansara wore toupees. In the "Day of the Dove" it sure looks like Kang is wearing one of Shatner's hair pieces, possibly as a budget saving move.
Kang's Toupee
- Thread starter Spock's Barber
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That hairpiece was a common style, even Anan 7 had a similar rug.
The biggest toupee surprise for me was banker Mr. Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies. Actor Raymond Bailey showed up in several Dobie Gillis episodes only a year earlier and on both shows for one season. He had more skin exposed on top of his head than Patrick Stewart.
I was surprised to learn that Lorne Greene made it 3 out of 4 Bonanza stars to wear a toup. That weird "side comb over" thing he had going on should have been a clue.
Did Don Adams wear one? His hair always looked a bit funny.
Did Don Adams wear one? His hair always looked a bit funny.
Like they say
Another was Larry Hagman. I'd first seen him in I Dream of Jeannie and some other tv work. Then in 1974, he did the film Harry and Tonto without the toupee. He was terrific in a dramatic role. He'd been hiding a receding hairline for years, even as Tony Nelson.
I was surprised to learn that De Kelley had been wearing one for years, since long before Star Trek.
Those of us with theatrical experience will not be surprised in the least to learn how many people wore toupees in the course of their roles. It's not uncommon, in fact quite the opposite. For all the ribbing Shatner alone gets about it, the truth is about a third of the TOS regular cast were wearing wigs as a part of their screen roles (sure, not all of them unlike Shatner were wearing them because of baldness, but nevertheless the 'image' we think we have of them is false, an illusion). It's like how people obsess over costume details, but would be surprised to discover that sometimes the clothes worn by actors in a role are usually elaborate lightweight versions stitched together, rather than being practical 'hero' costumes made up of the layers that they actually appear to be. This is for ease of the actors: the clothes still look authentic, but they're easier to move around in. 
Only for scenes that call for any of those layers to actually be removed would a 'hero' version usually be used. That's show-business. It's all an illusion, smoke-and-mirrors stuff. 
Only for scenes that call for any of those layers to actually be removed would a 'hero' version usually be used. That's show-business. It's all an illusion, smoke-and-mirrors stuff.
^ Yeah, in college we did The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail, and rented 19th century costumes from a theatrical supply. There were full topcoats, but the vests and shirts were only front panels that tied in the back like an apron. I think the neckties were sewn into the shirts. It's been over 40 years ago, so don't quite remember.
A more recent one, I sometimes felt that the lead guy on The Strain had odd looking hair. Little did I know it was a full wig, Billy Zane style.
Strain with hair: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3994075904/nm1015684?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_sf_35
Normal with bald: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2783167488/nm1015684?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_sf_13
Strain with hair: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3994075904/nm1015684?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_sf_35
Normal with bald: http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2783167488/nm1015684?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_sf_13
I wonder why they did not use his natural balding look? Ansara had a formidable presence, and without hair--as a Klingon, it would have been interesting.
Not to go too far O.T., but there was an episode of Voyager where Janeway was girding for personal combat or something. She progressively stripped off so many layers of her everyday uniform, it was ridiculous. The ship would have to be a refrigerator for the rig she had on to be comfortable. It was just obvious that all those under-layers were never normally worn.
Sisko in The Rapture was like that too. He had his jacket open to reveal a vest made of the same material underneath...and the turtleneck underneath that. It looked pretty ridiculous.
The episode director and series producer probably said, "Slap a wig on him. Whoever heard of a bald Klingon." Twenty years later, ST had a bald captain and receding hairline Klingons.
Maybe Kang wore the syrup to hide the advancing ridges on his head? LoL
JB
JB
Guess they never saw Tige Andrews in "Friday's Child" or maybe they did.
Ansara's first taste of fame was before that, with two years as a barechested Cochise on Broken Arrow. It's where I first saw him, and he easily overshadowed series star John Lupton. Leonard Nimoy appeared in an episode.
Ansara was married to Barbara Eden when he did Star Trek. If only she'd been able to play Kang's wife, though she was busy with Jeannie at the time.
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Yep - I do remember that and his marriage. He guested on Jeannie a few times.
I remember his Outer Limits episode, "The Soldier." It opened the second season.
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