David Carson


 * For the ILM crew member on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, see David Carson (ILM).

David Carson is a director of four episodes each of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, including the latter's pilot episode,. Carson also directed, his first feature film effort. He was interviewed by Lee Goldberg for the article "David Carson - Captain of, published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 19, pp. 31-35.

Carson was born in England and has been married to actress Kim Braden who had a guest role in the fourth season episode and in the by her husband directed feature film Generations. The couple and their two kids relocated in Los Angeles in 1988. Carson previously worked with Marina Sirtis on an episode of Sherlock Holmes in his home country. Carson enjoyed being part of the process creating the episode. When he arrived at the studio for he took part in the concept meetings for the episode due to time pressure. He also cites this episode as a favorite. (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 19, pp. 32-33)

In addition to Star Trek, Carson has directed episodes of such shows as L.A. Law (starring Corbin Bernsen and Larry Drake), Doogie Howser, M.D. (starring Lawrence Pressman and James B. Sikking), Alien Nation (starring Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint and Michele Scarabelli), Northern Exposure, Beverly Hills, 90210, One Tree Hill, Smallville, and the pilot for Manny Coto's Odyssey 5, which starred Peter Weller. He also directed the pilot of Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Hans Beimler series The Dresden Files and two other episodes of its first season, just like he did with DS9's first season. He was a producer on the series, as well.

Carson directed Star Trek: Voyager guest actor Bruce McGill in the 1993 television movie Shameful Secrets and the 1998 film Letters from a Killer. He also directed part ten of the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, helmed the 2002 television adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie, and directed Scott Bakula in the 2007 Lifetime movie Blue Smoke.

Carson cast Andreas Katsulas for a role in the 1989 Alien Nation episode "The Game" and went on to cast Katsulas in the role of Tomalak for the TNG episode. For another episode of Alien Nation, Carson cast Armin Shimerman, who became the first actor to read for the role of Quark during the casting process for DS9's pilot, which Carson directed. (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion)