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Behind-the-scenes:
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| After playing Commander Pete Harkins in [Pathfinder] and [Inside Man] (and possibly [Author, Author] yet to be produced at the time of this interview, although, postscript, he did not appear in it) Richard McGonagle says of his character and his relationship with the Project Pathfinder's resident neurotic genius, Lieutenant Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz): |  Richard McGonagle as Commander Pete Harkins |
The stories in both [Pathfinder] and [Inside Man] are driven by Starfleet's attempts to assist USS Voyager on its long journey back to the Alpha Quadrant. But McGonagle's role in the two episodes mainly requires him to play the 'straight man' to Dwight Schultz's neurotic genius, and that is his character's contribution to the storyline. Fortunately, McGonagle reports that Harkins' and Barclay's warm interplay comes very easily to him.
I love working with Dwight. I've known him for many years. We actually did an A-Team together years ago - I played a member of a neighbourhood that Dwight and the rest of the A-Team saved from a gang of thugs! It was a pleasure to work with him again. Dwight is one of the most fun people I've ever had to work with as an actor because he is so creative and so full of energy, and he loves to play. And that's what we do as actors anyway.
 Richard McGonagle as Cmdr. Harkins with Dwight Schultz as Lt. Reginald Barclay |
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What about the people on  ?
The whole group over there on Voyager are terrific. |
 Richard Herd as Admiral Paris with Richard McGonagle as Commander Harkins |
I did [see below for details], this was the first time we got to really work together and relate together as people as well as characters.
Before being cast as Pete Harkins, McGonagle had been in the running for several other guest roles on
. With the benefit of hindsight, he now says that he probably could not have wished for a more suitable or enjoyable character to play than Pete Harkins. McGonagle also makes it clear that he has thoroughly enjoyed his time on the show's soundstages.
It was a lot of fun. For the most part, there's a very high level of playing on the set. Everyone seems to be pretty interested in having a good time while they're working, and that's really important because when you're using your imagination and trying to be creative, the atmosphere needs to be conducive to creativity. So working on Voyager was a terrific opportunity to stretch your imagination, and was more fun than the so-called 'real life' roles I do a lot of. It was also great just to work on a Star Trek show. I've always been a science- fiction fan and I've always been a fan of Star Trek from the original series. I think they're all terrific shows. They're well written and deal with poignant issues, like human rights and human decency.
Although most of McGonagle's scenes in [Pathfinder] and [Inside Man] have been comically charged, his most satisfying moment to date was actually one of his character's dramatic exchanges with Barclay.
| I think my favourite scene was the scene in [Pathfinder] where Harkins confronts Barclay about what he's been doing and how much time he's been spending on the holodeck, and brings up his former addiction and tells him he has a problem and needs help. |  |
Pete Harkins' Earthbound exploits in
are a far cry from McGonagle's aforementioned first foray into the Star Trek universe. Back in 1991, the fifth season episode [TNG: New Ground] saw McGonagle beaming aboard the USS Enterprise-D as the alien scientist and propulsion specialist Dr Ja'Dar.
One of my most outstanding memories of that was being in a make-up chair for five hours. It was fascinating because I'd never done anything that extensive as far as make-up was concerned. It was amazing, because when I was made up and in costume, I saw myself in the mirror and had no recognition of who it was. I was completely unrecognisable. My own mother didn't recognise me until she heard my voice! When I was in the costume and make-up, a completely different character came out of me and that was a fascinating experience. I was only on that show for one day, but everyone I worked with - Patrick Stewart [who plays Captain Picard], LeVar Burton [who plays Geordi La Forge] and Michael Dorn [who plays Worf] - were all great. They were all consummate professionals and had a great sense of humour about what they were doing. Patrick is, of course, such a solid actor; he's got so much experience and weight behind him, and he's just great.
Away from Starfleet, Richard McGonagle has been kept busy over the past three decades by a wide range of screen roles. A prolific character actor, McGonagle's many film credits include the likes of Mighty Joe Young, Rules of Engagement, The American President, Speechless, Innerspace, Tattoo, The Man With One Red Shoe, Dad and the In The Line Of Duty films. His small-screen appearances include recurring roles in General Hospital and 3rd Rock from the Sun. He has also appeared in The Practice, Quantum Leap, Charmed and The X-Files. He starred in Murder One and has appeared in episodes of Seinfeld, Moonlighting and Family Ties.
Looking ahead, Richard McGonagle's main career goal is to keep working. He is currently seeking new roles, and would particularly like to land a recurring or regular television gig. If the opportunity arose, he would also happily revisit the Star Trek universe, either as Commander Pete Harkins or in a new ongoing role.
I love doing my job. I consider myself very fortunate to be someone who gets to actually work at what he loves to do and make a living at it. If I can keep doing that, that would be good - and if I could go a few steps beyond that to make a very comfortable living, that would be great!
Thanks to Eos Development for the page background from the set Charting Territory.
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