Patrick Barnitt

Real world article

(written from a production point of view)

Patrick Barnitt (born 23 May 1967; age 57) is an actor who played several background characters in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. He also appeared as a Borg in Star Trek: First Contact and was one of the stand-ins for Patrick Stewart on Star Trek: Insurrection, in the exodus scene. He received no credit for his appearances. Best known for his performances as a Borg, Barnitt appeared in all, but two major Borg episodes of Voyager. His trousers from the episode "Stigma" were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay and previously worn by Jason Alexander in the Voyager fifth season episode "Think Tank". [1]^(X) His costumes from the episodes "Innocence" [2]^(X) and "Unity" [3]^(X) were also sold off.

Barnitt appeared on the cover of TV Guide as a Borg with Kate Mulgrew on 10 May 1997 and was also featured with fellow Borg Louis Ortiz and Captain Janeway in an episode of Access Hollywood covering the TV Guide shoot. On the movie poster for Star Trek: First Contact, he is the Borg in the very front, directly beneath Picard. His Borg likeness appears on disc #2 of the Star Trek: Fan Collective - Borg DVD set. Barnitt was interviewed live on the internet show FILMNUT at www.thestream.tv on 19 September 2007 where he spoke about his time as a Borg on Star Trek: First Contact. In the interview, he shared many stories and anecdotes on the making of the film about Borg make-up, stunts, and so forth.

Outside the Star Trek universe, Barnitt was actor Kevin Spacey's stand-in and photo double in Seven (1995), featuring Daniel Zacapa, Peter Crombie, Reg E. Cathey, Leland Orser, and Paul S. Eckstein, and stunts by LaFaye Baker, Sandy Berumen-Justus, Janet Brady, Kenny Endoso, Randy Hall, Kane Hodder, Johnny Martin, and Scott Wilder. Barnitt has also appeared in several Los Angeles stage productions, including The Caine Mutiny Court Martial and Dorothy and Otto. He originated the role of the "Crooner" in the 2005 award winning Los Angeles hit musical, "Shag With a Twist". Barnitt's association with Star Trek led to his re-teaming with First Contact and Insurrection director Jonathan Frakes on Clockstoppers (2002).

Barnitt has since starred in several independent features, including the 2006 comedy film The Waiters. He also worked on the indie films The Ones and Enough is Enough and appeared as astronaut Fred West alongside Robert Picardo and Tim Russ in the science fiction/comedy web-pilot, Chad and the Alien Toupe which also features fellow Trek performers Gregory Sweeney and Stephen Blackehart. [4] His other credits include the NBC series Working and a part in Smokin' Aces (2006, co-starring Chris Pine, Maury Sterling, and Joseph Ruskin). Also a jazz singer, he appears in jazz clubs all over Los Angeles. His debut record is entitled "When the Time is Right".