Biography
Who is John de Lancie?
Early life and education
John de Lancie was born in Philadelphia on March 20, 1948. His father, John de Lancie, was a principal oboist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, and his mother, Andrea, was French. During his childhood, John faced learning challenges and struggled with reading until he reached the age of 12. A teacher eventually suggested he pursue acting.
He began his theatrical path at 14 by participating in a high school play of Henry V. Later, he studied at Kent State University and earned a scholarship to attend the Juilliard School. While at Kent State, he was present during the May 1970 campus shootings.
Career breakthroughs in television
His professional acting career gained momentum with a breakout role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. Starting in 1982, he portrayed Eugene Bradford for several years. Critics at the time praised his collaboration with co-star Arleen Sorkin, labeling their pairing a creative highlight of the show.
John de Lancie achieved significant fame for his role as the omnipotent Q in Star Trek: The Next Generation. This role spanned decades and multiple series, including Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Picard. He also appeared in various other television projects, such as Stargate SG-1, Breaking Bad, and Torchwood, playing distinct characters like Colonel Frank Simmons and Donald Margolis.
Voice acting and stage work
Beyond live-action roles, he built a substantial career as a voice actor. He voiced Discord in the animated series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, drawing inspiration for the character as an anti-hero. His extensive animation resume also includes contributions to Invader Zim, Young Justice, and DC Super Hero Girls. In video games, he provided voices for projects like Assassin's Creed: Revelations, StarCraft 2, and the Dota 2 hero Ringmaster.
His stage career is equally diverse. John has performed with organizations including the American Shakespeare Festival, the Seattle Repertory Company, and the Old Globe. He has also directed opera, including a production of Tosca for the Atlanta Opera in 2006. Also, he has served as a narrator for numerous major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Writing and additional projects
John de Lancie has expanded his career into writing and production. He co-authored the Star Trek novel I, Q and the book Soldier of Light. In the mid-1990s, he helped form Alien Voices, which produced audio dramas of classic science fiction literature. Also, he produced a documentary titled Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony, which was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign.
Birthday and age
John de Lancie was born on March 20, 1948, which makes John 78 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. John shares the date with 35 other famous people.
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