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It is pretty easy to say that Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner made Star Trek: The Next Generation work, and I am also willing to say that they are probably the most talented regular actors on the show, but which actor do you think gave the better performance throughout the show?

I think I am leaning towards Spiner: he not only had to play the android Data, he also played Lore, Dr. Soong, and various other personalities when Data gets 'possesed' (such as in Decent and Masks). He played all roles excellently, and without his talent, the character of Data may have been a complete failure. Of course, the same could probably be said of Steward with Picard, so it is not an easy call.

What do you think?

It's very hard to say.

Spiner is a brilliant actor, but then again so is Stewart. To be honest, though, Stewart seems to have been more successful when going into other films and franchises, whereas Spiner has been in only one non-Trek film that I've seen. Yes, Spiner has played many roles in Trek. But Stewart has also played many other roles outside Trek.

Actually both Spiner AND Stewart have been in a number of movies other then Trek, it's just that it usually wasn't big movies as opposed to direct-to-video or TV stuff. Of course Stewart has the advantage of additional visibility via the X-Men franchise.
I don't know I can firmly vote either way.

I'd say Spiner. Both are excellent actors, but Spiner brought an artificial being to life not to mention all the other characters he played (Lore, Soong, et al). Spiner FTW.

Hard call to make. Didn't Stewart have a large amount of pre-trek work? Anyone know anything about that?

I do remember a movie called Toy Solders or something like that... Stewart played a villian taking over an private boarding school so he could use it for some master plan or something. Did a right good villian.

I am going to have to say Spiner, for the reasons mentioned.

He managed to portray an emotionless being for years, then, in Generations, played out the transition into a being posessed of emotions and not knowing how to deal with them masterfully.

frigidmagi wrote:Hard call to make. Didn't Stewart have a large amount of pre-trek work? Anyone know anything about that?

I do remember a movie called Toy Solders or something like that... Stewart played a villian taking over an private boarding school so he could use it for some master plan or something. Did a right good villian.

The only things I remember Stewart from are "I, Claudius" and "Dune".

frigidmagi wrote:Hard call to make. Didn't Stewart have a large amount of pre-trek work? Anyone know anything about that?

I do remember a movie called Toy Solders or something like that... Stewart played a villian taking over an private boarding school so he could use it for some master plan or something. Did a right good villian.

The movie you're thinking of is Masterminds. I also remember seeing Stewart as Captain Ahab in Moby Dick.

Stewart also played in Robin Hood Men in Tights, though his role there was relativly minor.

Spiner was in Independence Day, though that would be after TNG. He played some bizarre Area 51 scientist. I can't think of any other films with him at the moment though.

Destructionator XV wrote:Stewart also played in Robin Hood Men in Tights, though his role there was relativly minor.

Spiner was in Independence Day, though that would be after TNG. He played some bizarre Area 51 scientist. I can't think of any other films with him at the moment though.

Spiner had a really minor part in The Aviator, that recent film about Howard Hughes. Stewart apparently has also been doing a lot of Shakespearian stage acting along with movies.

That said, I have no idea which one I'd consider better.

I can't easily decide.

I'm going to lean toward Spiner, because he had a harder job IMO. Steward has, I think, a greater stage presence (it's the voice) but that is not in his case necessarily talent.

I know I'm more a fan of Data than Picard, but that's not really much to bring to the table.

Stewart was also in Excalibur, he also did a ton of stage acting in England before he started acting in North America. The unfortunate thing is Spiner ran into the problem of people not getting past his Data identity after STNG.

There's also the fact that Spiner prefers to wear makeup or other methods of hiding his face on screen from what I understand.

I tend to go with Spiner; the difference between Data and Lore is quite convincing.

Spiner also apparantly voiced Puck in Gargoyles.

Comrade Tortoise wrote:Spiner also apparantly voiced Puck in Gargoyles.

That show had Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis as regulars IIRC. Perhaps other TNG cast members too.

most of the major bridge crew, as well as others.

Data, Troy, Riker, La Forge, O'Brien, Worf, etc

and Kate Mulgrew...don't forget Mulgrew she voice Tatianna)

Hell, about the only two regular's from TNG that DIDN'T VA in Gargoyles was Stewart and McFadden.

Wesley, Ro, Yar, Barkley, Pulaski, Guinan...