Rene Auberjonois

René Murat Auberjonois (June 1, 1940 – December 8, 2019) was a renowned American actor, voice-over artist, and director noted for his roles as Chief of Security Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and as the officious assistant of a governer in Benson. Auberjonois was born into an artistic family in New York City to Fernand Auberjonois, a Pulitzer-nominated writer, and Princess Laure Murat, a descendent of one of the marshals of Napoleon Bonaparte. His grandfather, also named René Auberjonois, was a Swiss painter.  Auberjonois is well-known for his versatile acting abilities, evidenced by his myriad roles in movies and shows that differed in genres. His entry into the entertainment industry began with his performance on the Broadway stage as the Fool in King Lear. He was a successful part of many such theatrical productions.

He was similarly successful in the film industry with his appearance in the comedy series Benson, where he earned an Emmy Award nomination for his role. In the feature film M*A*S*H (1970), directed by Robert Altman, Auberjonois played the character of Father Mulcahy. It was one of his best-known film roles for which he received high praise for his phenomenal acting. Some of his other notable works include King Kong (1976), Batman Forever (1995), The Patriot (2000), etc. Auberjonois also left his mark as a voice-over artist in The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries, Superman, Aladdin, Richie Rich, Men in Black: The Series, and The Mummy, to name a few.

Auberjonois is the recipient of several awards, including a Tony Award as Best Featured Actor for his portrayal of Sebastian Baye in Coco, OFTA Television Award for Best Actor in a Syndicated Series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, etc. He was also nominated for Emmy Awards several times for his brilliant acting. The veteran actor passed away on December 8, 2019, due to metastatic lung cancer at his home in Los Angeles.