More About Forks’ ‘Captain Picard’, Curt White

This morning ‘Jean Luc’ emailed me. I immediately asked for permission to publicly share what was shared with me during the few moments we connected at Raincon.

Then I asked for a bullet list of talking points about the evolution of his acting history so I didn’t mess it up in the retelling.

Here’s the  email I received in response, which I share in its entirety since it’s every bit as charming as Curt White and Jean Luc themselves (fictional and factual, and I include Sir Patrick Stewart in this accolade) are!!!

Hello Kris,

Great to hear from you.

Yes, sharing would be great.

I’m happy to share photos of my performances because I have so much fun doing them.

I’m pretty sure I have a photo somewhere of me playing Spock for Sakuracon’s Cosplay Chess Game. I will send it if I can find it.

A little about me from the “Captain” – Bullet List Edition!

First Convention of any kind: Star Trek Spokane to see DeForest Kelley (This is the same convention where I reconnected with De after 18 years–and Curt remembers the occasion!!!)

Became interested in Acting, Performing Arts and Costuming from attending conventions

Decided to try Voice Acting and Puppeteering after seeing Jim Henson’s “The Dark Crystal”

Spent the next decades performing in live stage and theater productions including “Forbidden Broadway”, “The Foreigner” and “The Big Bad Musical” (I was cast as the wolf because of my voice.)

Began volunteer staffing for the Northwest’s largest animation convention “Sakuracon” around 2005 and “discovered” Cosplayers! Began cosplaying and helped create “Cosplay Chess” for Sakuracon.

Continued to Cosplay and also what is called “Cross-Play” playing opposite gender characters as I am Non-Binary

I came to the role of Star Trek the Next Generation playing Capt. Jean Luc Picard because I wanted to surprise a friend who looked just like William Riker for one of my cosplay chess games.

The idea for assembling many of the bridge crew cast blossomed from that and we appeared at Emerald City Comicon for live action role-playing and were fortunate enough to use the full size set for a photo shoot.

I hope to continue to audition for acting roles and puppeteer roles. There is something magical about entertaining people.

All the best,

Jean Luc

Curt included several photos, which I have permission to share with y’all, so here we go! I made one of them the Featured Image so it’ll appear with the headline on social media because… well, you can see why!  It’s freaking fabulous!!!

If Curt finds the photo of “Spock” (mentioned in the email above) I will be sure to add it when I get it…

I wish you could hear Curt’s voice–it’s perfectly androgynous, immensely reassuring and 100% pleasing. I wish we had thought to get some video footage of our brief visits so you could hear it.

Everything about Curt communicates warm affection and true caring, just as DeForest Kelley did.

Everybody who was with me, or came to see me, at the con was equally impressed. I know we all embraced the opportunity to have our pictures taken with Curt.

So I wanted to share more about this unique Raincon perk: having the chance to meet, get to know, and hang with a walking, talking gem of a human being, Curt White.

If you ever get the chance to meet Curt, do not hesitate. MAKE IT SO!!!

I want to repeat and underscore something Curt said, because I have the same experience every single time:

I hope Curt continues to encourage younger people to give acting and cosplaying a try. It helps shape participants into interesting, engaging individuals even as it carries us outside our comfort zones.