Christopher Shea

Born

1969-07-21

Birthplace

Arlington, Massachusetts, USA

Biography

Christopher Shea is an American actor and singer who has carved out a distinct legacy in television, film, and theatre. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, he initially established himself on stage as a founding member of the Los Angeles-based theatre group The Neurotic Young Urbanites, performing in various productions throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, and touring internationally as Tony in West Side Story. To science fiction fans, however, Shea is most widely recognized for his memorable guest-starring roles across multiple Star Trek series. His most prominent contribution to the franchise was his recurring portrayal of the smug, pragmatic Vorta commander Keevan in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine sixth-season episodes "Rocks and Shoals" and "The Magnificent Ferengi". He later expanded his franchise repertoire by appearing as Saowin in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Think Tank", and taking on two distinct roles in Star Trek: Enterprise—first as the alien detainee Sajen in "Detained" and later as the Andorian soldier Telev in "Cease Fire". Beyond his ventures into the alpha quadrant, Shea has maintained a prolific career as a character actor on mainstream television, making appearances on acclaimed series such as The West Wing, Frasier, Charmed, The Shield, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and The Practice.