Summary
- Sam Kirk serves as a xenoanthropologist in the life sciences department on the USS Enterprise, working under the command of Lt. Spock and being friends with Captain Pike.
- "Lost in Translation" reveals that James Kirk has been promoted to First Officer of the USS Farragut, making Sam somewhat jealous of his younger brother's rapid advancement in Starfleet.
- George Samuel Kirk is brought to life in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as a charming and fully realized character by an actor best known for The Good Witch.
WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, "Lost in Translation."
Dan Jeannotte has finally brought the character of George Samuel Kirk to life on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The older brother of James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley), Sam works in the life sciences department on the USS Enterprise as a xenoanthropologist. Though Lt. Sam Kirk serves under the direct command of Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), he is also friends with Enterprise Captain, Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), who personally requested Sam the Enterprise crew. Though he often works in the science labs on the Enterprise, Sam occasionally goes on away missions, especially when they may involve alien lifeforms.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 6, "Lost in Translation," reveals that James Kirk has just been promoted to First Officer of the USS Farragut, making him the youngest First Officer ever, a record previously held by James and Sam's father. Though Sam seems genuinely proud of his younger brother, he also feels a bit jealous over how quickly James is able to climb the ranks of Starfleet. Still, Sam clearly cares for his brother and Dan Jeannotte has made Sam Kirk a charming and fully realized character.
Sam Kirk & Who Plays Him In Strange New Worlds Explained
Sam Kirk was first mentioned in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" as Jim Kirk discusses his brother with an android. Sam had a wife named Aurelan (Joan Swift) and three sons. Though he served aboard the USS Enterprise for a time, Sam would eventually leave Starfleet and become a civilian scientist. Later, when James Kirk took command of the Enterprise and left on his five-year mission, Sam and his family would be there to see him off. Sam would then take a job as a research biologist on an Earth Colony research station.
Canadian actor Dan Jeannotte is best known for his roles as Brandon Russell in The Hallmark Channel's The Good Witch and Ryan Decker in Freeform's The Bold Type. Jeannotte has done motion capture and voiceover work for the Assassin's Creed video game series, most notably as assassin Arno Victor-Dorian in Assassin's Creed: Unity. He also starred in several made-for-television romantic comedy movies, and appeared as James Stewart on The CW's Reign.
What Happens To Sam Kirk In Star Trek: The Original Series?
After being mentioned in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?," Sam Kirk did not actually appear in the series until after his death in "Operation - Annihilate!," when his corpse was portrayed by William Shatner. While Sam was working as a research biologist, his colony was attacked and overrun by flying parasites. Though Sam's wife, Aurelan, was able to get a signal to the Enterprise, Sam had already died and Aurelan herself would die soon after. Their young son, Peter (Craig Hundley), survived the attack. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds still has a few more years before its story catches up with Star Trek: The Original Series, and Dan Jeannotte's portrayal of Sam Kirk as such a likable character makes his ultimate fate all the more tragic.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.