Nana Visitor

Nana Visitor’s distinguished career in television, film, and theatre began with her Broadway stage debut in My One and Only in 1983. Prior to this, she made her film debut in the 1977 horror film The Sentinel and held early television roles, including co-starring in the 1976 sitcom Ivan the Terrible and recurring appearances in soap operas such as Ryan’s Hope, The Doctors, and One Life to Live between 1978 and 1982. Officially adopting the stage name ‘Nana Visitor’ in the early 1980s, she subsequently appeared in popular television series including Hunter (1985), MacGyver (1985), Remington Steele (1985), and Knight Rider (1986). A significant turning point in Visitor’s career arrived with her iconic role as Major (later Colonel) Kira Nerys in the acclaimed series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

She portrayed the character from 1993 to 1999 across 173 episodes, establishing her as a prominent figure in the science fiction genre and earning multiple awards and nominations for her performance. Following her tenure on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Visitor continued to diversify her portfolio, taking on a recurring role as Dr. Elizabeth Renfro in the television series Dark Angel in 2001. In 2001, Visitor also captivated audiences as Roxie Hart in both touring and Broadway productions of the celebrated musical Chicago.

Most recently, in 2024, Visitor published her highly anticipated book, Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, an insightful exploration of female characters within the enduring Star Trek franchise.