Rene Auberjonois of 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' and 'Benson' dies aged 79
'Star Trek' actor Rene Auberjonois, passed way at 79, in his Los Angeles home - he had been battling metastatic lung cancer. On Sunday, December 8, a tweet was sent out on his official twitter account confirming the news, 'Minions: We're sad to confirm that René passed away today Sunday.'
Tributes poured in from social media from co-stars William Shatner, George Takei and Armin Shimerman along with his other 'Deep Space Nine' co-stars.
"I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor 'To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René," William Shatner tweeted.
George Takei tweeted, "This is a terrible loss, Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend."
Armin Shimerman wrote, "His last message to me was entitled "Don't forget..." I know that I, Killy and all that knew him will never forget, The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him."
His first major movie role was as Father Mulcahy in the 1970 film “M.A.S.H.” Auberjonois, also played Paul Lewiston of Boston Legal, the shape-shifter Changeling Odo in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' (1992) and Clayton Runnymede Endicott III in 'Benson' - the latter winning him an Emmy nomination in 1984 for best-supporting actor.
Auberjonois said in a 2011 interview on the Star Trek website: "I am all of those characters, and I love that. I also run into people, and they think I’m their cousin or their dry cleaner. I love that, too." Sci-fi fans have lost an absolute star.