Tim Russ On Tuvok And 'Star Trek: Voyager'

Tim Russ enjoyed the challenge of acting, but it was not his first love.

As reported by the tri-cityherald.com, Russ has always had a heart for music. "I have been playing music for almost thirty-six years off and on," said Russ, who is now fifty-two. "I used to make a living at it. I haven't been a working actor for the same length of time, but both [music and acting] are special to me. They are two different types of expression that are rewarding in their own unique way."

Regarding his role of the Vulcan Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. Russ felt that he and his character shared some traits. "There is usually a bit of an actor's personality in the characters he or she plays," explained Russ. "I do tend to have some of [Tuvok's] personality traits, and I've been told so on more than one occasion."

Playing a Vulcan who suppressed emotions was not difficult for Russ. "It's actually easier to play a character without emotion than it is with emotion," he said.

Russ appreciated the steady work that Star Trek: Voyager offered and the fact that it made it easier to be more selective in what he chose when offered other roles. "Being on the show for those seven years did have an effect on me in the fact that it made me more secure in my career," he said. "I didn't have to worry so much about getting the next job, and could pick and choose offers that came my way. I also became profoundly aware of how lucky I was to have had these opportunities. Many actors I have known have never gotten a break like that and struggle to get any kind of work at all."

The end of Star Trek: Voyager was both a relief and sad for Russ. "There is always a duality to working on a show that eventually ends," he said. "You can't wait to have the chance to work on other projects or in other areas of the business. On the other hand, you miss your castmates and the steady work. But I was, in fact, growing weary of playing the same role for such a long time."

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