Star Trek: Voyager's Chakotay Played By Latino Actor Robert Beltran Hosts Reddit AMA

By Nicole Akoukou Thompson First Posted: Mar 10, 2014 04:33 PM EDT

Staged in the 2370s: 75,000 light-years from Earth, on the other side of the Milky Way galaxy, lost from earth were a band of brave misfits who piloted and defended the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager. The fleet, led by the brilliant captain Kathryn Janeway (played by Kate Mulgrew) became stranded in the Delta Quadrant while in pursuit of a renegade Maquis ship. The Maquis having become stranded as well, Janeway welcomed the Maquis convoy aboard the grand vessel, and members of the Maquis quickly integrated into Voyager's cast and crew, particularly the lone Native American character Chakotay, played by the talented Latino actor Robert Beltran. Chakotay would eventually become the First Officer aboard the Voyager, and quite the ladies' man.

Robert Beltran, 60, who's most recognized for his roles in Star Trek: Voyager, Big Love, and the big screen events Night of the Comet and Eating Raoul, recently participated in a Reddit AMA, where fans were allowed to ask the former Commander Chakotay anything that wandered into their Trekkie heads. Playful banter with the audience kept the AMA light and fun; Beltran rewarding meddlesome questions with snarky remarks.

When asked if Chakotay and Janeway ever shared an unaired kiss, Beltran responded that a kissing session had been captured with private cameras at Mulgrew's house, and that they wore their uniforms throughout. Beltran also remarked that Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) insisted on kissing him; in fact she'd even threated to break up with Producer Brannon Braga if she wasn't allowed to kiss Beltran on air.

Fans shared their favorite moments, and probed Beltran about his thoughts on the entire Star TrekUniverse, portrayal of stereotypical Native American characters, and his outspoken dissatisfaction with the Voyager series.

Dispelling the rumor that the Voyager set was "dour and dark," the Mexican American stage, screen and film actor, shared with fans that in reality everyone "had so much fun on the set, that actually getting down to work required the producers to send SWAT teams to the set occasionally."

Beltran added, "My discontent on the show has been greatly exaggerated, partly because some people take my flippant comments too much to heart. My Voyager experience was wonderful."

While denying robust hatred of the series, Beltran did comment that if he was able to keep a memento from the set, it would have been his uniform... solely for the purpose of burning it. The series' hasty wrap up, the memorization of lines that made him nauseous, and the portrayal of character who was under developed -- and had a flute-accompanied entrance are things that Beltran detested about the Voyager.

When asked if it bothered Beltran that racial stereotypes were reaffirmed with statements such as, "In the ancient legends of my people," Beltran cleverly responded, "What bothered me most was trying to find the location of that damned flute that was playing every time I had a private moment. I kept waiting for the pow-wow to start and it never did! Yes, annoying!"

"Indians are people too," Beltran continued. "So whether they have feathers in their hair or a space age medicine bundle, the wants and needs and aspirations of the character are always universal. I don't look at the ethnic origin of the characters I play, as much as what makes them tick."

Father to a three-year-old who's fluent in English and German, and perfecting Spanish, Beltran also shared how the Star Trek franchise and the Hobbit franchise has afforded him much sleep. With an admitted dislike of Sci-fi, Beltran stated that he would have elected to be on Deep Space Nine, though noted that it would have been difficult from the Delta Quadrant.

The 60-year-old actor listed the pilot, "Tattoo", "Unforgettable", "In the Flesh", "Maneuvers", "Scorpion 1 & 2", "Emanations", "Nemesis," and the episode with Virginia Madsen as his favorite episodes. And he reflected on his onscreen interactions with Capt. Janeway, the writer's decisions to tone down Janeway/Chakotay clash in order to make it seem like Janeway was always "right," and how women are always believe that they're right.

"Well, Captain or no Captain, all women everywhere always believe they are right. This has been validated with my three marriages. You have to choose your fights and accept defeat graciously. Happy wife, happy life. Happy Captain, happy voyage," Beltran said in response to fan lowbonedensity.
Beltran will be returning to sci-fi with a Kickstarter campaign-funded film, entitled Resilient 3D, which will begin shooting next month depending on the Kickstarter's success. Resilient 3D will employ string theory equations, rather than the "technobabble" that was rabid in Star Trek. According to Beltran, the film is rooted in "actual science and the positive future of mankind."