Wilson Cruz starred as Dr. Hugh Culber for all 5 seasons ofStar Trek: Discovery,and he madeStar Trekhistory as part of the franchise’sfirst gay couple with Anthony Rapp’s Commander Paul Stamets.Star Trek: Discovery - The Final SeasonandStar Trek: Discovery - The Complete Seriesare available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Dr. Hugh Culber’sStar Trek: Discoverystory is epic.Culber actually diedinStar Trek: Discoveryseason 1 but, after his resurrection in season 2, Culber grappled with the meaning of life. In later seasons ofStar Trek: Discovery,Culber embraced a new role as counselor to the USS Discovery’s crew, developing even deeper relationships with the show’s characters.Star Trek: Discoveryseason 5 challenged Wilson Cruz’s acting chopseven more, as Dr. Culber underwent a profound spiritual awakening.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Finale Ending & Shocking Epilogue Explained
Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end with season 5’s finale wrapping up the Progenitors treasure hunt and an epilogue concluding the entire series.
Screen Ranthad the pleasure to chat with Wilson Cruz about his run as Dr. Hugh Culber onStar Trek: Discovery, his favorite memories of Discovery’s 5 seasons, and the show’s legacy.
Wilson Cruz Missed Filming Star Trek: Discovery’s Finale Epilogue
“Through the magic of television and special effects, Culber was there, but I was not.”
Screen Rant: Wilson, congratulations on five amazing seasons ofStar Trek: Discovery.I wanted to start by asking, is it true that you missed out on filming the finale epilogue because you were filmingMother of the Bride?
Wilson Cruz: Wilson Cruz: True story. Yeah, because we didn’t find out that we were canceled until I had already booked that job, and was actually getting ready to go. And it was impossible for me to fly back from Thailand to Toronto and shoot that and then go back. And it just didn’t work schedule wise for either production. So, through the magic of television and special effects, Culber was there, but I was not.
Screen Rant: I had no idea. I was totally fooled, I have to say.
Wilson Cruz: Good, good, good. I’m so happy it happened. Because for a while there, I didn’t know if he was going to make it in at all, which was incredibly disheartening to me. So I’m so grateful that he was.
Wilson Cruz’s Favorite Star Trek: Discovery Memories
“I also loved season 3 and who he became, really stepping into himself.”
Screen Rant: Do you have a particular season among the five that stands out as your favorite, or do you love all five kids the same?
Wilson Cruz: I love them all for very different reasons. Season two is really special to me, mainly because I was in my own story. So the entire season was about Anson and Ethan coming on and bringing that story, and dealing with the A.I., and eventually moving 900 years in the future. Whereas, meanwhile, in med bay, Hugh Culber is just trying to figure out how it is that he’s alive again. And what happened and who he is now, and what this means for his life. And we really get to see him deal with the ramifications of death and becoming and living again. Dealing with how it all happened.
We never… we don’t really get to see that. When someone dies and comes back. I loved that opportunity. That question, what does it mean? What does it feel like if you have died and come back? What questions does that bring up? Who are you? Who do you want to be now that this thing has happened? Those questions fascinated me, so I enjoyed that. I also loved season 3 and who he became, really stepping into himself, and this new confidence that he had. This ability to really step into his genius now that we’ve jumped 900 years into the future. And he’s accepted his husband again and all of that. I mean, season five, I was given more than I had ever been given to do, and challenged in ways that I had never been challenged before. And to be able to step up and deliver a performance that I’m incredibly proud of. So I guess I do love them all.
Wilson Cruz On Working With David Ajala And Culber’s Friendship With Book
Screen Rant: I cannot get over how beautifulCulber’s friendship with Bookwas in season 5. Tell us a little bit about working with David. And also, was that real mofongo you guys ate?
Wilson Cruz: It was pretty close. It was very, very close. It was very, very good, by the way, which is why we’re eating it during the scene so much. I was like, ‘Oh, I have to speak?’ But one of my most satisfying things about season five was working with the incomparable David Ajala, who made it easy. I’ve always loved working with him.
Back in season four, when we had our first counseling session, that is one of my favorite storylines. To see this straight black man and this gay Latino man bond over their relationships, over their work, over philosophy, is incredibly satisfying. And just working with him is so easy. It was always surprising, it’s always changing, and it’s always fun. So, I mean, I can’t say enough about it.
Wilson Cruz Considers What Star Trek: Discovery’s Legacy Is
Screen Rant:Discoverywill eventually be discovered by new audiences. It’s going to live forever, and then new people will come and watch it. As someone who lived it from start to finish, what is something you want future fans to understand aboutDiscovery?
Wilson Cruz: That was as much about self-discovery as it was discovering the universe. That it was so much about who we are, and how we work is just as exciting to discover as a new planet. Discovering you’re capable of more than you even knew you were capable of. The way we challenge ourselves and step up to challenges. How we deal with disappointment. How we relate to others. How we connect, or not. All of that. The show is really about that. It’s about connection on every single level, from the individual out to the universe.
I hope to see you inStar Trek: Starfleet Academyat some point. I hope that call is coming for you one day.
Wilson Cruz: They know where I am.
About Star Trek: Discovery Season 5
The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.
Check out our otherStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5 interviews here:
All 5 seasons ofStar Trek: Discoveryare available to stream on Paramount+.
