Brent Spiner, best known for his portrayal of the emotionless android Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, recently shared a wild behind-the-scenes story from the show's Western-themed episode, "A Fistful of Datas." Speaking at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, on a panel moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt, Spiner revealed a wardrobe malfunction that left him wearing a stuntman's sweat-soaked costume.
The episode, which aired in 1992, was directed by Patrick Stewart and required Spiner to play multiple characters, including Data, a gunslinger, and a saloon girl. To accommodate the various roles, the production needed multiple copies of his costume. However, the costumer—described by Spiner as "a genuine cowboy"—admitted just before filming that he had "forgot to bring doubles." A stunt performer had already worn the costume Spiner was about to put on, and as the costumer ominously warned, "it's wet."
With time on set limited, Spiner agreed to wear the damp costume. Jonathan Frakes, who played Commander Riker, joked that Spiner must have "smelled like a stuntman for the first time in [his] career." The incident occurred during a rare on-location shoot at the Universal Studios backlot, where the cast endured blazing hot weather. Despite the discomfort, Spiner's cooperation earned him a unique gift from the costumer: a Colt revolver that supposedly belonged to the man who killed infamous Wild West lawman Pat Garrett. The costumer warned that the gun had been used by Tommy Lee Jones in a movie and that it shot "a little high and to the left."
What Happens in "A Fistful of Datas"?
In the episode, the Enterprise is between missions, and Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge (LeVar Burton) and Data are working on using Data's positronic brain as a backup for the ship's systems. Meanwhile, Worf (Michael Dorn), his son Alexander (Brian Bonsall), and ship counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) explore a holodeck program set in Deadwood, South Dakota, where they play lawmen. As is typical in holodeck-centric episodes, things go awry: Data begins exhibiting cowboy mannerisms, and every character in the program—from outlaws to sheriffs to an amorous female bartender—takes on Data's appearance, all played by Spiner. The day is saved before Worf, Alexander, and Deanna meet an untimely end.
Spiner was no stranger to playing multiple characters on Star Trek. On The Next Generation, he also portrayed Data's evil "twin brother," Lore, and in the episode "Brothers," he played Data, Lore, and their creator, Noonien Soong, under heavy old-age makeup. He later played both Data and the prototype android B-4 in the film Star Trek: Nemesis.
For fans of Westerns, this episode offers a fun twist on the genre, much like Val Kilmer's 'I'm Your Huckleberry' remains the ultimate Western mic drop. And for those who appreciate the moral complexity of classic TV Westerns, Bonanza: The Trailblazing Western That Became TV's Greatest Moral Compass is a must-read.
Spiner's story is a reminder that even in the polished world of Star Trek, real-life mishaps can lead to memorable—and smelly—moments. The episode remains a fan favorite, blending sci-fi with the Wild West in a way only The Next Generation could.
