When Star Trek was originally commissioned Gene Roddenberry created a pilot called “The Cage”. When this wasn’t picked up Lucille Ball personally authorized the creation of a second pilot called “Where No Man Has Gone Before”. The Pilot convinced NBC to commission a series from Desilu, but it was decided that the pilot didn’t have enough action of sci-fi elements to effectively open the series. In the end NBC opted to use the fifth episode of the series “The Man Trap” as a vehicle to launch its new show.
This is the episode with the iconic “Salt Vampire” that sneaks aboard the Enterprise in the form of a crewman. In this episode Garrison True played an unidentified security guard (also known as a “redshirt”) who interacts with the Salt Vampire in human form.
Later when the Salt Vampire is being hunted on the ship he is seen again standing guard duty.
Despite having lines he did not receive on screen credit for this role.
From the 1960s until the 1980s he was a working actor on various shows, including a notable stint on the soap opera General Hospital during its heyday in the early 1980s. Most recently he was on an episode of “Criminal Minds” in 2013.
Later in his career he became a casting director and acting teacher.
As you can see from his correspondence now aged 86 he generally declines to sign autographs but says he made an exception for me, and even requested copies of the photos I sent. They were dutifully printed and mailed this afternoon.
To be honest, I have often wondered why any of the Star Trek actors continue to respond to fan mail, especially when the autograph requests are not accompanied by payment. I get the impression that many of them are just happy that decades later their performances are still appreciated and remembered.
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