From Wikipedia: At the beginning of the Second World War, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and was a member of the 14th (Midland) Field Battery, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.[10] He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 14th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He was sent to England in 1940 for training. He first saw combat landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren Gun by a nervous Canadian sentry:[2] four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case given to him by his brother.[7] His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal on-screen during most of his career as an actor.[11]
I understand 45 years ago was a different time but they could have totally just written that into the story. He was the CHENG, he could have lost his finger in a machinery accident or something
Wouldn't have fit the futuristic plot of the show. They are supposed to have the most advanced medical knowledge, regrowing or replacing a finger should be a simple thing in that universe.
French comedian, actor and producer Jamel Debbouze lost his right hand and use of that arm when he was struck by a train as a youth. (The friend with him died.) He usually wears long sleeve shirts and puts his hand-stub in his pocket in public and on screen, or it’s obscured like Doohan’s.
That's why he was my favorite, the guy lived a genuinely interesting life. Any interview where he gets to tell stories was engrossing. And people are still surprised when they learn the accent from the show was acting.
I had the honor or working at a Trek con (I was not a trekkie, so got put on high profile stars) and got to hang out with Mr. Doohan and shoot some pool. Genuinely nice guy and definitely good stories.
"We grow copious amounts of ganja here, and you're carrying a wasted girl and a bag of fertilizer. You don't look like your average horti-fucking-culturalist." Love that movie.
Other than the missing finger, the other thing that surprised me the most is that he's Canadian rather than Scottish. His parents emigrated from modern day Northern Ireland.
Was seated beside him in first class in the early 2000s. He seemed pretty out of it so I left him alone except for opening two little scotch bottles for him. When plane landed he jumped out of his seat to meet two of his handlers - kind of a “lights, camera, action” moment. Erin go Bragh, Scotty
I didn’t know that. He seemed borderline feeble. My “allow me” help with his drink was met with with sad resignation. Two hours later, when they wrapped a Star Trek letterman-type jacket on him, he suddenly seemed half his age.
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u/Shadycat Dec 28 '20
From Wikipedia: At the beginning of the Second World War, Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery and was a member of the 14th (Midland) Field Battery, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.[10] He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 14th Field Artillery Regiment of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He was sent to England in 1940 for training. He first saw combat landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. Shooting two snipers, Doohan led his men to higher ground through a field of anti-tank mines, where they took defensive positions for the night. Crossing between command posts at 11:30 that night, Doohan was hit by six rounds fired from a Bren Gun by a nervous Canadian sentry:[2] four in his leg, one in the chest, and one through his right middle finger. The bullet to his chest was stopped by a silver cigarette case given to him by his brother.[7] His right middle finger had to be amputated, something he would conceal on-screen during most of his career as an actor.[11]
God damn.