Summary
Sarah Marshall played Janet Wallace, one of the many girlfriends of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) inStar Trek: The Original Series. While Kirk had multiple romances duringTOS, his five-year mission also brought him into contact with a few old flames. For example, Kirk’s ex, Janice Lester (Sandra Smith), was the primary antagonist in “Turnabout Intruder”, the final episode beforeStar Trekwas canceledin 1969. Sarah Marshall’s Janet Wallace was another of Kirk’s old flames, but she came aboard the USS Enterprise to help its captain, not hinder him.
Janet Wallace only appeared once, inStar Trek: The Original Series,season 2, episode 11, “The Deadly Years”, in which she helped Doctor McCoy (DeForest Kelley) to cure the rapid aging virus that was ravaging the crew. Interestingly, there were plans to reunite Sarah Marshall as Janet Wallace with theStar Trek: TOScastin the movies, but they were ultimately abandoned. Despite Sarah Marshall’s abandonedStar Trekcomeback, she still made a memorable appearance in “The Deadly Years”.
Every Captain Kirk Love Interest In Star Trek
James T. Kirk has a reputation as a ladies' man, and the Captain of the Enterprise had a lot of romances throughout Star Trek: The Original Series.
Sarah Marshall Played Kirk’s Girlfriend Janet Wallace In Star Trek: TOS “The Deadly Years”
InStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 11, “The Deadly Years”, Janet Wallace was assigned to the USS Enterprise for a mission to Gamma Hydra IV, during which Kirk and his away team succumbed to unknown radiation. It was revealed in “The Deadly Years” thatJanice and Kirk had been a couple in 2261, but both abandoned their relationship in favor of their careers. Janet Wallace was a scientist specializing in endocrinology and cell structure, which enabled her to reverse the effects of the radiation in time for Kirk to retake control of the Enterprise from aninept Starfleet Commodore.
Sarah Marshall had been performing on stage and screen for over a decade before her appearance inStar Trek: The Original Series. In 1960, Marshall was nominated as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) at the Tony Awards for her role inGoodbye, Charlie.In 1964, Sarah Marshall married Christopher Held, the actor who played Lindstrom inStar Trek: TOSseason 1, episode 22, “Return of the Archons”. As well as movie roles inDaveandDangerous Minds, Marshall also had a string of guest spots in classic TV shows likeAlfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight ZoneandCheers.
Dave (1993)
Star Trek Movies’ Carol Marcus’ Connection To Sarah Marshall & Janet Wallace
InStar Trek: The Original Series' second pilot, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) mentions “a little blonde lab assistant” that Kirk was previously engaged to. Janet Wallace’s appearance in “The Deadly Years” heavily suggested that this was who Gary was referring to. However, that became more complicated with the introduction of Dr. Carol Marcus (Bibi Besch) inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Interestingly,an early draft ofKhanfeatured Janet Wallace as the head of the Omega System, a new and devastating weapon. Later drafts replaced Wallace with Carol and Omega with the Genesis Device.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khanalso introduced Captain Kirk’s son, David Marcus (Merritt Butrick)
However, that wasn’t the end of Janet Wallace and Sarah Marshall’s links to theStar Trekmovies. Alice Eve’s Carol Marcus inStar Trek into Darknessis first introduced as Carol Wallace, adopting her mother’s birth name, rather than her father’s surname. This nod to Sarah Marshall’sStar Trek: The Original Seriescharacter became particularly poignant asStar Trek into Darknesswas released in 2012, the same year that Marshall made her last screen appearance in the movieBad Blood. Two years later, Sarah Marshall passed away, leaving behind one of Captain Kirk’s more memorable ex-girlfriends.
