At the time, Alley, who would go on to be a film and TV icon, had so little experience in the industry, she “faked” her résumé. But, Meyer needed a special actress to play Saavik, Spock’s protégé and Starfleet commander-in-training. And that is what he got in Alley.
A day after Alley died of cancer at the age of 71, Meyer, 76, recalls meeting the young actress for the first time and sensing something different.
In 2016, Alley participated in the Star Trek 50th Anniversary Con in Las Vegas where she talked about how extensive the casting process was for her, noting a few times that Meyer was her career “champion” in seeing that she got the role when Paramount execs were not thrilled about her lack of experience.
In 2016, Alley participated in the Star Trek 50th Anniversary Con in Las Vegas where she talked about how extensive the casting process was for her, noting a few times that Meyer was her career “champion” in seeing that she got the role when Paramount execs were not thrilled about her lack of experience.
“She was so passionate or enthusiastic or entranced by the role — or she was an over sleeper — that she wore the ears to bed. She didn’t take them off,” he says, with a chuckle.
At the 2016 Vegas con, Alley also spoke about crying during the scene of Spock’s funeral, which was not scripted; she was simply overcome with emotion in the moment. Meyer also recalls that moment and why he liked it — and why star William Shatner was not thrilled.
Noting that both his cinematographer and script supervisor cried while filming Spock’s death scene with Capt. Kirk, Meyer says he knew the material was emotionally powerful.
And that included her in the funeral scene,” he says. “I didn’t instruct her to weep. When I saw it happening, I remember Shatner came over to me and said, ‘You’re not going to let her do that, are you? Vulcans can’t cry.’ And I said, ‘That will make this so much more effective when she does.'”
On Monday evening, shortly after news of her death broke, Shatner paid his respects via social media.
