Walk onto the Promenade today and you’d find it quiet. Empty. But for seven years, that curved metal circle was the beating heart of the grittiest, most complex show in the franchise. Honestly, the star trek deep space 9 cast didn't just play characters; they lived through a production that was often treated like the "black sheep" of the Rick Berman era. While Voyager was getting the big marketing pushes, the DS9 crew was in the trenches, redefining what a space opera could actually be.
They weren't just "Starfleet." They were a messy family of terrorists, bartenders, ex-spies, and a single father trying not to lose his mind.
The Sisko Problem: Where is Avery Brooks?
You've probably noticed it. At the big conventions, you see Kate Mulgrew. You see Patrick Stewart everywhere. But Avery Brooks? He’s basically become the JD Salinger of the Trek world.
There’s this weird myth that he hates the show. That’s not it. Brooks was always an educator first. He was a tenured professor at Rutgers long before he ever sat in the Captain’s chair. Once the show ended in 1999, he didn't feel the need to chase the Hollywood ghost. He did some narrations, a few films like American History X, and then he just... went home.
Cirroc Lofton, who played his son Jake, is one of the few people who stays in close contact with him. On his podcast, The 7th Rule, Lofton has been pretty vocal about the fact that Brooks is doing fine. He’s just living at a different "angle" than the rest of us. He’s into his music and his jazz. If you've seen the documentary The Captains, you know he doesn't communicate in soundbites. He communicates in vibes and piano chords.
Nana Visitor and the Shadow of Odo
The heart of the station was always the relationship between Kira Nerys and Odo. Off-camera, that bond was just as deep, though in a much more "mentor-student" kind of way.
René Auberjonois passed away in late 2019, and it hit the star trek deep space 9 cast incredibly hard. Nana Visitor has mentioned in recent 2025 and 2026 retrospectives that she still feels his presence when she works. René was a titan of the theater. He taught her how to stay grounded when the scripts got wild.
Visitor hasn't slowed down, by the way. She’s been a staple in everything from Dark Angel to Friday the 13th, and she even voiced Kira again for Star Trek: Lower Decks. It’s kinda poetic that while some actors run from their sci-fi roots, she embraced the Bajoran colonel again, even if it was just in animation.
The Dax Swap: Why Terry Farrell Really Left
Let’s be real. We all still feel that sting from the end of Season 6.
Jadzia Dax dying felt senseless. For years, the story was just "contract disputes." But as the years have peeled back the layers, it’s clearer that it was a toxic situation behind the scenes with certain producers. Terry Farrell wanted a reduced schedule to do the sitcom Becker. The office said no. They basically forced her out.
Nicole de Boer stepped into the impossible role of Ezri Dax for the final season. It’s a tough gig, joining a legendary cast in the 11th hour. While some fans found Ezri "whiny," looking back, de Boer did something incredible. She played a character who was literally falling apart under the weight of seven lifetimes. She’s still very active on the convention circuit, often joking about how she’s the "new girl" even 25 years later.
Life After the Dominion War
The rest of the crew has taken some pretty wild paths.
- Colm Meaney: The man never stops. He went from Miles O'Brien to being a powerhouse in Irish cinema and shows like Hell on Wheels. He’s probably the most "successful" in terms of mainstream volume, but he’s famously lukewarm about returning to Starfleet. He thinks O'Brien earned his retirement.
- Alexander Siddig: He went from the naive Dr. Bashir to playing literal royalty in Game of Thrones (Doran Martell) and villains in Gotham. He’s aged into a distinguished, sharp actor who looks nothing like the "kid" we saw in the pilot.
- Armin Shimerman: He’s basically the Godfather of the group. When he isn't playing Quark or voicing Dr. Nefarious in Ratchet & Clank, he’s teaching Shakespeare at USC. He’s the one who usually rallies the troops for reunions.
What Most People Get Wrong About the DS9 Legacy
People think the cast was constantly at odds because the show was so dark. Actually, the opposite is true. Because they felt like the "ignored" middle child of the franchise, they bonded like crazy.
They were filming 16-hour days in heavy prosthetics. You can't do that for seven years with people you hate. Armin Shimerman once said that the Ferengi actors (Max Grodénchik and Aron Eisenberg) would have to eat through straws because of their teeth. That kind of shared misery creates a specific kind of brotherhood.
Sadly, we've lost a few key members. Beyond René, we lost Aron Eisenberg (Nog) and the legendary James Darren (Vic Fontaine), who just passed in late 2024. These losses have made the surviving cast even tighter. They know the window for a live-action "Legacy" style reunion is closing.
Can We Ever See a Full Reunion?
Honestly? Probably not in live-action.
With Auberjonois and Eisenberg gone, a "complete" reunion is impossible. However, Star Trek: Prodigy used archival audio of René to bring Odo back for a cameo, which was a beautiful, tear-jerking moment for the fans.
If you want to see the star trek deep space 9 cast together again, your best bet is the documentary What We Left Behind. It’s the closest we’ll get to seeing the writers’ room break a "Season 8" and the actors reminiscing about that cramped, dark set in Paramount Stage 17.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into what the cast is doing right now in 2026, here is where you should look:
- Listen to "The 7th Rule": This is Cirroc Lofton’s podcast. He regularly has guests like Nana Visitor and Armin Shimerman. It’s the most authentic way to hear them talk about the "old days" without the filter of a PR rep.
- Follow the IDW Comics: The current Star Trek comic runs often feature Sisko and the DS9 crew in stories that are considered "soft canon." It’s the only place the story is truly moving forward.
- Check Convention Schedules: While Avery Brooks doesn't go, Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell, and Armin Shimerman are regulars at ST-LV (the Las Vegas convention) and often do joint panels.
- Watch "What We Left Behind": If you haven't seen the 2019 documentary, find it. It features the last major filmed interviews with René Auberjonois and provides the most honest look at the show's difficult production.