The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Star You Might Not Recall as Jerry’s Girlfriend on Seinfeld
When you think of Jerry Seinfeld, the character played by the real-life comedian Jerry Seinfeld, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t necessarily a series of successful romantic relationships. In the nine-season run of the iconic sitcom, Jerry had his fair share of dates, but he seldom managed to foster any meaningful, lasting connections. His most significant relationship was with his ex-girlfriend Elaine, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which presented an unusual yet refreshing dynamic between the two characters. However, this leaves a notable absence of long-term love interests for Jerry throughout the series.
The longest romantic involvement Jerry experienced on screen was with Rachel, played by Melanie Smith, for a mere four episodes. Their most memorable encounter took place during a screening of the film Schindler’s List, where Jerry and Rachel shared a kiss that elicited horror from Jerry’s nemesis, Newman, played by Wayne Knight. While Rachel may not be the standout name among Jerry’s love interests—thanks in part to her relatively normal demeanor—Smith’s performance effectively showcased her talent alongside some of the most hilarious figures of the ’90s television landscape.
This experience may have better equipped Smith for her subsequent role as Tora Ziyal, an intriguing character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Just three years post-Seinfeld, she transitioned to portraying the complex half-Bajoran, half-Cardassian daughter of the warlike Gul Dukat, played by Marc Alaimo.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine delved into weighty, often grim themes, making it distinct from some of its franchise counterparts. Ziyal was emblematic of such complexity—caught between her Cardassian heritage and Bajoran identity, she was the byproduct of a forbidden romance between Gul Dukat and a Bajoran woman named Tora Naprem. After being pushed away due to her father’s fears for their safety, Ziyal’s eventual reunion with Dukat sparked a complicated relationship, and she formed a meaningful friendship with Major Kira Nerys, portrayed by Nana Visitor.
Ziyal’s character provided a rare glimmer of hope amid the series’ bleak backdrop of Bajor’s occupation by the Cardassians, which served as a parallel to real-world struggles. Tragically, Ziyal met her end while trying to aid her friends during a Cardassian invasion of Deep Space Nine, significantly impacting her father and pushing him toward madness.
Despite the heavy subject matter surrounding Ziyal’s character, Smith brought warmth and depth to the role, creating a figure of compassion in a tumultuous narrative. Notably, younger versions of Ziyal were depicted by Cyia Batten and Tracy Middendorf.
Moreover, Smith was not the sole actor who transitioned from Seinfeld to Deep Space Nine. Phil Morris famously portrayed Kramer’s lawyer Jackie Chiles in Seinfeld and appeared in various roles on Deep Space Nine, including as a Klingon and a Jem’Hadar. Brian George, remembered as Babu Bhatt from Seinfeld, also graced the Deep Space Nine set as Dr. Julian Bashir’s father.
Interestingly, despite the numerous connections between the casts, some actors had less-than-pleasant experiences on Seinfeld. For instance, Armin Shimerman, known for his role as Quark on Deep Space Nine, expressed disdain for his guest spot as Kramer’s caddy during a 2017 event, citing a lack of camaraderie on set. In contrast, his time on Deep Space Nine proved far more rewarding, solidifying Quark as one of the standout characters within the entire Star Trek universe.
