Michael Ansara, Who Lived in Sherman Oaks and Worked in Studio City, Dies at 91

Michael Ansara, who is known for playing Native American roles as well as recurring Klingons in ‘Star Trek,’ has died at the age of 91.

The actor died July 31 at his home in Calabasas, Calif., after a prolonged illness, his public relations rep confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter. 

Ansara had plenty of local connections. He lived in Sherman Oaks, on Longridge Avenue, for a time with his second wife Barbara Eden of “I Dream of Jeannie” fame. He and Barbara Eden were married from 1958-74.  Their son, an actor as well, Matthew Michael Ansara, 35, died in 2001 of an accidental heroin overdose.

He shot many movies and TV shows at the CBS Radford Studios lot.

One of his most notable films shot in Studio City was “The Manitou” in 1978 co-starring Tony Curtis and Susan Strasberg. 

Ansara’s agent Dade/Schultz, is also located in Studio City.

Also see the video and photos in their Sherman Oaks home.

Here is an obit by Slice of Sci-Fi Productions, located in Studio City:

Michael Ansara

Actor Michael Ansara has died at the respectable age of 91.

He started his career in movies, however, Michael’s acting career took off strong in the very early days of television. His rugged Syrian good looks made him a heartthrob for the ladies and a hero to his male audience.

These qualities and his acting chops got him prime roles in such early pioneering television shows like Broken Arrow, Star Trek-TOS, Law of the Plainsman, The Untouchables, Kojak, The Outer Limits-original series and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Sci-fi genre fans remember him most as the irascible Klingon commander named Kang in the original series of Star Trek, a role he reprised 30 years later for Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Voyager.

Ansara’s movie career was also quite successful with roles in landmark films like The Comancheros and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, however, his greatest fame and body of work was on the small screen.

Married three times, his most famous was with I Dream of Jeannie actress Barbara Eden. His most heartbreaking life event was the death of his son Matthew.

Michael Ansara has been rewarded with the Hollywood Walk of Fame for both television and films, was nominated for an Academy of Science Fiction Award, received the Western Heritage Award, and a Saturn Award.