Michael Dorn was cast due to his theater training and the lack of a "street-accent". The character was intended to appear in seven of the first thirteen episodes, but after Dorn's performance in the pilot "Encounter at Farpoint", this was expanded to a series regular.
Michael Dorn was cast because of his theater background and lack of a "street-accent". Initially meant to appear in seven out of the first thirteen episodes, his performance in the pilot "Encounter at Farpoint" resulted in him becoming a series regular.