Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has long been one of the most popular characters of the Star Trek universe, and just like Spock himself, his parents have been played by several actors across the Star Trek franchise. Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek, and his human mother, Amanda Grayson, were both introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Journey to Babel." Sarek served as a Vulcan Ambassador for the United Federation of Planets and as a representative on the Federation Council, while Amanda worked as a teacher and assisted Sarek with his diplomatic duties.
As established in Star Trek: Discovery, Sarek and Amanda adopted the young human Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) after her parents were killed by Klingons. Sarek had also had a son named Sybok with a Vulcan princess before he met and married Amanda. Sarek and Amanda raised Spock, Sybok, and Michael on Vulcan. After Spock decided to attend Starfleet Academy rather than the Vulcan Science Academy, Sarek grew disappointed in Spock and broke off their relationship. Despite Sarek and Spock's complicated father/son relationship, they cared about each other deeply, as Amanda would remind them. Here is a list of the six actors who have played Sarek and Amanda across the Star Trek franchise.
6 Mark Lenard as Sarek in Star Trek: The Original Series & Movies, Star Trek: The Animated Series, & Star Trek: The Next Generation
The character of Ambassador Sarek was originated by the iconic Mark Lenard, who played him in Star Trek: The Original Series and its accompanying movies, as well as in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Lenard also voiced Sarek in his one appearance in the Star Trek: The Animated Series season 1 episode "Yesteryear." In his understated performances, Mark Lenard brought a certain gravitas and emotional depth to the role of Sarek, up to and including his final appearance in TNG's "Unification, Part 1."
Throughout his acting career, Lenard appeared in several episodes of Mission: Impossible and became a regular on the comedy series Here Come the Brides, as well as the short-lived Planet of the Apes TV series. Aside from his appearances as Sarek in the Star Trek films and in TNG, Lenard had mostly stopped acting by the 1980s and '90s. He ed away at the age of 72 in 1996.
5 Jane Wyatt as Amanda Grayson In Star Trek: The Original Series & Movies
Spock's human mother, Amanda, was first played by Jane Wyatt in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Journey to Babel" and later in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Though she often had to conceal her emotions to live on Vulcan with Sarek, Amanda was a deeply caring and comionate person. She encouraged Spock to connect with his human side and she helped Spock and Sarek reconcile in "Journey to Babel."
Wyatt played the leading lady in the Academy Award-winning film Lost Horizon in 1937, and she would continue to star in several films throughout the 1930s and '40s. Though Jane Wyatt was blacklisted for supposedly ing the Communist cause in the 1950s, she returned to acting in 1954 as Margaret Anderson on the popular sitcom Father Knows Best. Wyatt appeared in several more popular television shows and films, including in a recurring role on St. Elsewhere. She ed away in 2006 at the age of 96.
4 Ben Cross as Sarek in Star Trek 2009
In J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek film, Sarek, portrayed by Ben Cross, served as an Ambassador to the Federation, as well as a member on the that offered Spock (Zachary Quinto) a position at the Vulcan Science Academy. Spock refused due to the way he and his mother had been treated by other Vulcans, shocking and disappointing Sarek. Spock would later rescue Sarek from the destruction of Vulcan, and Sarek would comfort Spock after he was unable to save his mother. Actor Ben Cross achieved fame after his appearance in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, and he starred in many television shows and movies before his death from cancer in 2020.
3 Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson in Star Trek 2009
Winona Ryder only appeared briefly as Amanda Grayson in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek film, before Amanda was killed during the destruction of the planet Vulcan. Spock and Sarek later had a conversation about Amanda's death in which Sarek finally itted he had genuinely loved her, which helped Spock work through his own grief and anger. Winona Ryder has appeared in countless television shows and movies over the years and has been nominated for multiple awards. In two of her most well-known roles, she starred in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice in 1988 and Edward Scissorhands in 1990. She currently stars as Joyce Byers in the Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things.
2 James Frain as Sarek in Star Trek: Discovery
The most recent actor to take up the role of Ambassador Sarek is British actor James Frain, who took over playing the character in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. Despite his estrangement from his son Spock (currently played by Ethan Peck), Sarek maintained a relationship with his adopted daughter Michael Burnham. Throughout the first two seasons of Discovery, Sarek was close to Michael. He advised Burnham about the Klingons and assisted her with getting Spock the help he needed when Spock was struggling with visions of the Red Angel.
James Frain has appeared in many popular television shows, including 24, The Tudors, True Blood, Orphan Black, Gotham, and Elementary. James Frain's portrayal of Sarek feels reminiscent of Mark Lenard's performance but still brings new life to the character, and he will hopefully reprise the role if Sarek makes any future appearances.
1 Mia Kirshner as Amanda Grayson in Star Trek: Discovery & Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
In her appearances in Star Trek: Discovery, Amanda Grayson was portrayed by Canadian actress Mia Kirshner. Kirshner imbued Amanda with heart, and she reprises the role in season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Comionate and kind, Amanda clearly loves Spock and Michael deeply, and she helps both of her children connect with their human side. Amanda helped Spock in Discovery season 2 when he was experiencing mental distress due to his visions of the Red Angel, and she was always there when Michael needed her.
Mia Kirshner has appeared in several well-known television shows, including 24, The Vampire Diaries, and Defiance, as well as starring as one of the main characters on The L Word. In her portrayal of Amanda Grayson, Kirshner has certainly risen to the occasion of playing the mother of one of the most beloved Star Trek characters of all time.