Performers considered for DS9 roles
This is a list of performers who were considered for  roles, but ultimately did not appear in the role in the final episode or film. Performers listed here have been verified as having been considered by Star Trek personnel for a particular role on Trek in which they ultimately did not appear.

Barbara Alyn Woods
Main article: Barbara Alyn Woods
Barbara Alyn Woods was considered and auditioned for the role of both Kira Nerys and Jadzia Dax.   Alyn Woods had previously appeared as Kareen Brianon in .

Richard Dean Anderson
 was reportedly considered for the role of Commander Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p. 266)

Anderson came to the spotlight for his role of the title character in the television series MacGyver from 1985 to 1992. He later took the role of Jack O'Neill in the television series Stargate SG-1 from 1997 through 2007, Stargate Atlantis from 2004 to 2007 and Stargate Universe from 2009-2010.

Teri Austin
 is a Canadian former actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Austin is best known for her role as Jill Bennett in the soap opera Knots Landing between 1985 and 1989. She has also appeared in such series as Quantum Leap (starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell), Wings, Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom) and Models, Inc..

James Avery
Main article: James Avery
James Avery was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available due to co-starring in the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air at the time.  Avery later appeared as K'Vagh in  and .

Brigitte Bako
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. 

Bako is a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in such series as Red Shoe Diaries and Californication, and such films as Strange Days (1995). She also lent her voice to such animated shows like Godzilla: The Series and Gargoyles.

Kathy Bates
 is a multiple award-winning actress, who was considered for the role of Opaka, however she did not do television projects at the time.

Richard Beymer
Main article: Richard Beymer
Richard Beymer was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was busy directing a film at the time.  Later, Beymer played Li Nalas in the second season episodes , , and .

Lisa Blount
 (1957 - 2010) was an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Blount has appeared in films such as An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Cease Fire (1985), and Blind Fury (1989), and series such as Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom), Picket Fences, and Judging Amy.  She also played a lead role in the cult classic Prince of Darkness, co-starring Jessie Lawrence Ferguson.

Jesse Borrego
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir.

Kim Braden
Main article: Kim Braden
Kim Braden was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Braden is the wife of  director David Carson. She had previously appeared as Janet Brooks in , and went on to play Elise Picard in , directed by Carson.

Suanne Braun
 auditioned and was initially accepted for the role of Arandis. However, by the time she arrived for her costume fitting, she was informed that Vanessa Williams had expressed interest in the role the night before and had been subsequently cast. 

Immediately following, Braun would go on to audition and be accepted for the role of Hathor in Stargate SG1.

Claude Brooks
Claude Brooks was considered for the role of Julian Bashir.

Pierce Brosnan
 was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in doing a television series at the time. 

Brosnan is most famous for the television series Remington Steele and for playing James Bond in four films, including GoldenEye (1995) with Famke Janssen, and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) with Teri Hatcher, Michelle Yeoh, and Vincent Schiavelli.

Clancy Brown
Main article: Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available due to back surgery at the time.  A decade later, Brown appeared as Zobral in .

Ron Canada
Main article: Ron Canada
Ron Canada was considered and auditioned for the role of Martok (or technically the Changeling impersonating Martok) in . He impressed casting directors enough to earn a second, and was called at home and given feedback for his callback by Ronald D. Moore.  Ultimately, however, the role wend to J.G. Hertzler, a former roomate ot his.  Canada would appear as another Klingon on the series later than season, however, as Ch'Pok in .

Peter Capaldi
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  

Capaldi is a British actor, most famous for playing the Twelfth Doctor in the British science fiction series Doctor Who from 2013 to 2017. He also played spin doctor Malcom Tucker in the sitcom The Thick of It from 2005 to 2012. He also appeared in films such as Bean (1997, with Harris Yulin, Danny Goldring and Larry Drake), Max (2002), In the Loop (2009), and The Fifth Estate (2013, with Benedict Cumberbatch and Alexander Siddig).

Bernie Casey
Main article: Bernie Casey
Bernie Casey  was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266) He later appeared as Calvin Hudson in two episodes of DS9.

Kim Cattrall

Lanei ChapmanMain article: Lanei ChapmanLanei Chapman was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Chapman had previously appeared as Ensign Sariel Rager in , , , and .

Morris Chestnut
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Claudia Christian

Doran Clark
 is an American actress who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Clark has appeared in several series in guest roles, such as MacGyver, Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom), Quantum Leap (starring Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell), and Chicago Hope (starring Jayne Brook).

Scott Coffey
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Jeff Conaway
 was reportedly approached for an unspecified guest role on either  or , but declined. Conaway mentions the offer in the DVD audio commentary for the Babylon 5 TV movie Thirdspace. Conaway was a series regular as Security Chief Zack Allan on the Babylon 5 series, along with Andreas Katsulas, Bill Mumy, Patricia Tallman, Robert Rusler, and Tracy Scoggins. He also reprised the role in the aforementioned Thirdspace (which co-starred Clyde Kusatsu), River of Souls (with Joel Brooks), and A Call to Arms (with Tony Todd). Conaway is best known for his role as Kenicke in the 1978 film adaptation of the musical Grease and as taxi-driver/struggling actor Bobby Wheeler on the sitcom Taxi (with Christopher Lloyd).

James CromwellMain article: James CromwellJames Cromwell was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Cromwell had previously appeared as Nayrok in . He went on to play Jaglom Shrek in  and , Hanok in , and Zefram Cochrane in  and .

Mary CrosbyMain article: Mary CrosbyMary Crosby was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Crosby later appeared as Natima Lang in .

Ben CrossMain article: Ben CrossBen Cross was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Cross later went on to portray Sarek in .

Melinda CuleaMain article: Melinda CuleaMelinda Culea was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Culea had previously appeared as Soren in .

Liane Curtis
 is an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Curtis started her career as a child actress at the age of 4, and subsequently appeared in films such as Sixteen Candles (1983), The Brother from Another Planet (1984), and Benny & Joon (1993), and series such as Married... with Children and ER.

Stephen DaviesMain article: Stephen DaviesStephen Davies was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Davies went on to play the Saratoga Tactical officer in , Arak'Taral in , and Nakahn in .

Elizabeth DennehyMain article: Elizabeth DennehyElizabeth Dennehy was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Dennehy had previously appeared as Shelby in  and .

Cliff DeYoungMain article: Cliff DeYoungCliff DeYoung was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  DeYoung later appeared as Croden in .

Susan Diol

Tate Donovan
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Michael DornMain article: Michael DornMichael Dorn was to appear as mirror universe  in . The schedule conflicted with the filming of TNG. 

Less than two years later, Dorn became a regular on the series and he finally played the character in  and .

Maria Doyle
 in an Irish singer and actress, who was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she was not available due to music commitments at the time. 

Doyle is best known for her television roles in such series as Father Ted (1998), The Tudors (2007-10), Downtown Abbey (2011), and Orphan Black (2013-17).

Marta DuboisMain article: Marta DuboisMarta Dubois was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Dubois had previously appeared as Ardra in .

Kurt Deutsch
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Shelley Duvall
 was considered for the role of Opaka. 

Samantha EggarMain article: Samantha EggarSamantha Eggar was considered for the role of Opaka.  Eggar has previously appeared as Marie Picard in .

Laurence Fishburne
 was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in doing a television series at the time. 

Fishburne is most famous for playing Morpheus in The Matrix (1999) and its two sequels and Doctor Raymond Langston in three seasons of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (co-starring Wallace Langham and Liz Vassey). He also appeared in such films as King of New York (1991), Boyz n the Hood (1991), and Man of Steel (2013).

 Michelle Forbes Main article: Michelle Forbes 
Michelle Forbes was originally planned to reprise her role as Ro Laren in the series, turning the character into a regular (possibly the first officer of Deep Space 9). Forbes turned down the offer, and the character became the basis for Kira Nerys. (Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages)

As Forbes explained: "It was, again, about wanting variety in my career. If I'd gone on to do DS9, I might not have had the variety I've been lucky to have in my career. That's not to say I wasn't grateful for the opportunity; I genuinely was. However, I had to make a choice that felt right for me, which was a difficult one, especially as a young actor being offered a steady job." (TV Zone Magazine, January 2005)

John FleckMain article: John FleckJohn Fleck was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Fleck had previously appeared as Taibak in . He later went on to play a Cardassian overseer in , Ornithar in , Koval in , Abaddon in , and finally landed in the recurring role of Silik in .

Meg FosterMain article: Meg FosterMeg Foster was considered for the role of Opaka.  Foster later appeared as Onaya in .

 Robert Foxworth Main article: Robert FoxworthRobert Foxworth auditioned for a guest role in  (most likely as Goran'Agar). () He would be cast later in the season as Leyton in the two-part  and , as well as V'Las in the  season four episodes ,  and .

Don Franklin
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

John GloverMain article: John GloverJohn Glover was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Glover later went on to play Verad Dax in .

Whoopi Goldberg Main article: Whoopi GoldbergWhoopi Goldberg was approached to do a cameo as Guinan in  (where Martus Mazur would be revealed to be her wayward son), but had to turn it down as it conflicted with the filming of other projects (Goldberg also did not appear in any Next Generation episodes in the 1993-94 season). All references to Guinan were then removed from the episode's script. ()

Barry GordonMain article: Barry GordonBarry Gordon was considered and auditioned for the role of Quark.  Gordon later appeared as Nava in  and Ardon Broht in .

Robert Goulet
 was a Canadian singer and actor, who was approached to play Vic Fontaine after Frank Sinatra, Jr. turned down the role. He also passed on the offer. ()

James Darren was the final choice to play both prime universe Vic Fontaine, and  in .

Goulet played a variety roles in film and television, including the TV-movie version of the musicals Brigadoon (1966), Carousel (1967), and Kiss Me Kate (1968), and appearances on such series as Mission: Impossible, Fantasy Island (starring Ricardo Montalban), The Love Boat, and Murder, She Wrote (starring William Windom). He also appeared in movies like Beetle Juice (1988, with Winona Ryder) and The Naked Gun 2 ½: The Smell of Fear (1991, with Peter Mark Richman, Tim O'Connor, and John Fleck). Goulet provided his singing voice for the animated film Toy Story 2 (2000), which also featured the voices of Wallace Shawn and Kelsey Grammer.

 Gary Graham Main article: Gary GrahamFaye Grant
 was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she turned down the offer. 

Grant is an American actress best known for her role as Julie Parrish in the 1983 science fiction miniseries V and its follow-ups, V: The Final Battle (1984) and V: The Series (1984-85). Grant was married to  actor Stephen Collins between 1985 and 2015.

Bruce GreenwoodMain article: Bruce GreenwoodBruce Greenwood was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Greenwood later went on to play  in  and .

Max GrodénchikMain article: Max GrodénchikMax Grodénchik was considered and auditioned for the role of Quark.  Grodénchik was eventually cast in the recurring role of Quark's brother, Rom. He had previously appeared as Sovak in  and Par Lenor in .

Ronald GuttmanMain article: Ronald GuttmanRonald Guttman was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Guttman later appeared as Gathorel Labin in .

Martha HackettMain article: Martha HackettMartha Hackett auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax, but lost out to Terry Farrell. ("Behind the Masks" panel at Destination Star Trek Birmingham, 21 October 2018) She was subsequently cast as Androna in the final  episode , only to have her scene cut from the episode. Nevertheless, she was cast on , months later as the T'Rul in  and . Soon after, she was approached for yet another role, this time on , in the role of the treacherous Seska.

Molly HaganMain article: Molly Hagan 
Molly Hagan was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was unavailable at the time due to co-starring in the sitcom Herman's Head.  Hagan later appeared as Eris in .

Hagan was due to reprise her role as Eris both in  and , but she was unavailable both times.

Charles Hallahan
 was a veteran character actor who was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo. 

Five years later, he had been cast to play Liam Bilby in the  episode . He and actor Nick Tate were both up for the role, but director Allan Eastman (who had suggested Tate for the role) and producer Ira Steven Behr (who suggested Hallahan) chose Hallahan due to his resemblance to Miles O'Brien actor Colm Meaney, which they believed would give the characters a father-son quality to them. Sadly, Hallahan died of a heart attack before production began, and Tate assumed the role in Hallahan's memory. (; )

Hallahan is best known for his role in . His other film credits include Silkwood (1983), Pale Rider (1985), Fatal Beauty (1987, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Harris Yulin), True Believer (1989), Dave (1993, with Frank Langella, Parley Baer, Stefan Gierasch, Stephen Root, Dawn Arnemann, Dendrie Taylor, Paul Collins, Peter White, Robin Gammell, Dan Butler, Tory Christopher, and Pam Pruitt-McGeary), Stuart Baird's Executive Decision (1996), and Dante's Peak (1997). He also made guest appearances on shows like Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote, and NYPD Blue and had recurring roles on Hunter, The Paper Chase, and Grace Under Fire.

Jerry HardinMain article: Jerry HardinJerry Hardin was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Hardin had previously appeared as Radue in  and as Samuel Clemens in  and . He later appeared as Neria in .

Mariska Hargitay
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Hargitay is an Emmy and Golden Globe Award winning actress, best known for playing Detective Olivia Benson on the NBC drama series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 1999.

Roxanne Hart
 was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, however, she turned down the offer. 

Hart is an American actress, best known for the original 1986 Highlander film, which co-starred Clancy Brown, and her role as Nurse Camille Shutt in the medical drama series Chicago Hope (1994-98), which co-starred Jayne Brook.

Teri HatcherMain article: Teri Hatcher 
Teri Hatcher was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she turned the offer down.  Hatcher had previously appeared as the uncredited B.G. Robinson in .

Jennifer HetrickMain article: Jennifer HetrickJennifer Hetrick was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Hetrick had previously played Vash in  and , and went on to reprise the role in .

Leslie HopeMain article: Leslie HopeLeslie Hope was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Hope later appeared as Kira Meru in .

Jana Marie HuppMain article: Jana Marie HuppJana Marie Hupp was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Hupp had previously played Pavlik in  and Monroe in .

Famke JanssenMain article: Famke Janssen 
Famke Janssen was offered the role of Jadzia Dax but turned it down, wanting to focus on a film career rather than television. She had previously played Kamala in the  episode . The role of Jadzia Dax eventually went to Terry Farrell. Interestingly the forehead ridges seen on Trill in  were discarded in favor of spots similar ones seen on Kamala. ()

Salome JensMain article: Salome JensSalome Jens was considered for the role of Opaka.  Jens later appeared as an Ancient humanoid in , and was eventually cast in the recurring role of the Female Changeling from 's third season onward.

James Earl Jones
 was among the final few actors considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, but eventually the role went to Avery Brooks. ()

During a career which spans more than seventy years, Jones appeared in numerous film and television projects. He is probably most famous for voicing the character of Darth Vader (played by David Prowse) in the original Star Wars trilogy and subsequent films and video games – a role which in the  of the films was handled by Brock Peters, who, in fact, played Sisko's father during DS9's run. He also lent his voice to the acclaimed animated feature The Lion King (1994), which also featured the voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Madge Sinclair, Frank Welker, and Brian Tochi. In live-action, Jones played the first African-American president in The Man (1972), which was directed by Joseph Sargent and also featured William Windom, Barry Russo, Garry Walberg, Vince Howard, and music by Jerry Goldsmith. His other feature film credits include Swashbuckler (1976, with Sid Haig and directed by James Goldstone), Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977, with Louise Fletcher), Coming to America (1988, with Madge Sinclair), Three Fugitives (1989, with Alan Ruck, Bruce McGill, and Brian Thompson), The Hunt for Red October (1990, with Gates McFadden and Daniel Davis), Patriot Games (1992, with music by James Horner) and Sommersby (1993, with William Windom). His television credits include guest roles in series such as L.A. Law (starring Corbin Bernsen), Stargate SG-1, and Homicide: Life on the Streets (starring Michelle Forbes). He also appeared in miniseries such as Jesus of Nazareth (1977, with Christopher Plummer) and Roots: The Next Generations (with Percy Rodrigues, Jason Wingreen, Brock Peters, Paul Winfield, Logan Ramsey, Bill Quinn, Patricia Smith, music by Gerald Fried, and partially directed by John Erman).

Leilani Jones
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. 

Jones is an accomplished stage actress and singer, whose Broadway credits include the musical Grind, for which she won a Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She is also a voice actress, whose credits include such the popular Monkey Island computer game series.

Renée JonesMain article: Renée JonesRenée Jones was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Jones later appeared as Aquiel Uhnari in .

Andreas KatsulasMain article: Andreas KatsulasAndreas Katsulas was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Katsulas had previously appeared as Commander Tomalak in  and , and later reprised the role in . He later also appeared as Drennik in .

Jack KehlerMain article: Jack KehlerJack Kehler was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Kehler later appeared as Jaheel in .

Brian Krause
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Clyde KusatsuMain article: Clyde KusatsuClyde Kusatsu was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  In an interview, Kusatsu claimed he had been auditioned for the role of Quark. 

Kusatsu had previously appeared as Nakamura in . He later reprised the role in  and .

Eriq La Salle

Ed LauterMain article: Ed LauterEd Lauter was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Lauter had previously appeared as Lieutenant commander Albert in .

Sheryl Lee
 was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was deemed too expensive for the series' budget. 

German-born Lee is most famous for portraying Laura Palmer in the television series Twin Peaks (1990-91) and its subsequent movie spin-off, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). She later appeared in films such as Backbeat (1994), Mother Night (1997) and series such as One Tree Hill and Desperate Housewives (starring Teri Hatcher).

Ted Levine
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. 

Levine is most famous for portraying the serial killer "Buffalo Bill" in the 1991 film The Silence of the Lambs (which also featured Charles Napier), and Captain Leland Stottlemeyer in the television series Monk (in which Stanley Kamel had a recurring role) from 2002 to 2009. He also appeared in 1998 TV movie adaptation of Moby Dick, which starred Patrick Stewart as Captain Ahab and in films such as Flubber (1998, with Christopher McDonald, Wil Wheaton and Clancy Brown), Wild Wild West (1999), Ali (2001, with LeVar Burton), American Gangster (2007), and Shutter Island (2010).

Kamala Lopez-DawsonMain article: Kamala Lopez-DawsonKamala Lopez-Dawson was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  She later appeared as Tincoo in .

Charles LuciaMain article: Charles LuciaCharles Lucia was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Lucia had previously appeared as Ves Alkar in , and later went on to play Mabus in , and Keene in .

Franc LuzMain article: Franc LuzFranc Luz was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Luz had previously played Odan in .

 Stephen Macht 

Chase MastersonMain article: Chase MastersonChase Masterson auditioned for the role of Jake Sisko's girlfriend Mardah in . Actor Avery Brooks, who was directing the episode, did not find their age difference between her and Cirroc Lofton plausible as a love interest for Jake.() Nevertheless, producers liked Masterson's playful performance enough that they would later bring back as another Bajoran dabo girl and love interest, Leeta, who, unlike the single-appearance Mardah, recurred in seventeen episodes over five seasons.

Jeff McCarthyMain article: Jeff McCarthyJeff McCarthy was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  McCarthy had previously appeared as Roga Danar in , and went on to play the ill-fated Chief Medical Officer in .

 Roddy McDowall 

Malcolm McDowellMain article: Malcolm McDowell 
Malcolm McDowell wanted to play a role on Deep Space Nine. He only wanted to appear in an episode directed by his nephew, Alexander Siddig, and after his appearance as Doctor Tolian Soran in , he would have needed to play an alien, which he did not want to do.

Bruce McGillMain article: Bruce McGillBruce McGill was considered for the role of Odo, however, he was not available due to filming a project titled Smouldering Lust at the time.  Later, McGill appeared as Braxton in .

Stephen McHattieMain article: Stephen McHattieStephen McHattie was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  McHattie later appeared as Senator Vreenak in , and as an Alien foreman in .

Kate McNeilMain article: Kate McNeil 
Kate McNeil was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however, she was unavailable at the time due to co-starring in the series Bodies of Evidence. McNeil later appeared as Commander  in .

 Eric Menyuk 

Tracy MiddendorfMain article: Tracy MiddendorfTracy Middendorf  also auditioned for the role of Mardah in  (Cinefantastique, vol. 28, no. 4/5, p. 63) though Jill Sayre ultimately won the role. Middendorf would later become the second of three actresses to play Tora Ziyal, appearing once in .

Katherine MoffatMain article: Katherine MoffatKatherine Moffat was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Moffat had previously appeared as Etana in , and later went on to play Vaatrik Pallra in .

Cathy Moriarty
 was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she was not interested in doing a television series at the time. 

Moriarty is an Academy Award-nominated actress, best known for starring in the 1980 film Raging Bull, and also appearing in such films as Neighbors (1981), Kindergarten Cop (1990, featuring Jayne Brook), The Mambo Kings (1992), Matinee (1993, featuring Robert Picardo, William Schallert and Dick Miller), Casper (1995), and Analyze That (2002). She also appeared in such series as Tales from the Crypt and Law & Order.

Phil MorrisMain article: Phil MorrisPhil Morris was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Morris had previously appeared as an Only boy in , and  in , and later went on to play Thopok in , Remata'Klan in , and John Kelly in .

Tim Blake Nelson
 is the American actor, writer and director who auditioned for the role of Quark. Nelson thought the role was a natural fit for him, asserting that he "basically [is] a Ferengi." The part went to Armin Shimerman, which Nelson claimed left him "heartbroken." He began finding steady film work years later with directors such as Joel and Ethan Coen who, according to Nelson, were looking for "Human Ferengis." As Nelson stated, his "Ferengi career came, it just came later." 

Nelson first achieved recognition for his role as Delmar in the Coen brothers' acclaimed 2000 comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou? He has since had supporting roles in such films Steven Spielberg's Minority Report (with Patrick Kilpatrick, Neal McDonough, and George D. Wallace), Holes (with Eric Pierpoint, Jeff Ricketts, and Rick Worthy), Syriana (with Alexander Siddig, Christopher Plummer, Robert Foxworth, and David Clennon), The Astronaut Farmer (starring Virginia Madsen), and 2008's The Incredible Hulk. He has also written and directed such films as 2001's The Grey Zone (based on his own play) and Leaves of Grass (for which he cast Josh Pais). In 2019, Nelson starred in Watchmen.

Sandra NelsonMain article: Sandra NelsonSandra Nelson was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Nelson later appeared as Marayna in  and as Tavana in .

David Newsom
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Julia NicksonMain article: Julia Nickson 
Julia Nickson was considered for the role of Jadzia Dax, however she was unavailable at the time due to filming a project titled Genghis Kahn. Nickson has previously appeared as Lian T'Su in The Next Generation episode  and later went on to play  in the Deep Space Nine episode .

Natalia NogulichMain article: Natalia NogulichNatalia Nogulich was considered for the role of Opaka.  Nogulich was later cast as Alynna Nechayev in several episodes of both  and .

Michael Nunez, Jr.
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Tricia O'NeilMain article: Tricia O'NeilTricia O'Neil was considered for the role of Opaka.  O'Neil had previously played Rachel Garrett in . She later appeared as Kurak in  and as Korinas in .

Terry O'QuinnMain article: Terry O'QuinnTerry O'Quinn was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not interested in science fiction projects at the time.  Later, O'Quinn appeared as Erik Pressman in .

Ed O'RossMain article: Ed O'RossEd O'Ross was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  O'Ross later appeared as Gaavrin in .

Corey Parker
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Eric PierpointMain article: Eric PierpointEric Pierpoint was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Pierpoint later appeared as Voval in ,  in , Kortar in , Shiraht in , and  in , , , and .

Glenn Plummer
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Jon Polito
 was considered for the role of Quark, however, he turned the offer down.  
Polito was a prolific character actors in both films and television, often playing policemen, such as Detective Steve Corsetti in the acclaimed drama series Homicide: Life on the Street, which co-starred Michelle Forbes. He appeared in five films by the , including Miller's Crossing (1990) and The Big Lebowski (1998) (co-starring David Huddleston).

Iggy PopMain article: Iggy Pop 
Iggy Pop was approached to play Grady in , but he was unavailable due to a music tour in Spain. () Ira Steven Behr, a fan of his work, pushed Iggy Pop to be cast for a role in the series, which resulted in him getting to play Yelgrun in  three years later.

James ReadMain article: James ReadJames Read was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Read later appeared as Jaffen in  and .

Richard RiehleMain article: Richard RiehleRichard Riehle was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Riehle had previously appeared as Batai in , and went on to play Seamus in  and , and Doctor Jeremy Lucas in  and .

Charles RocketMain article: Charles RocketCharles Rocket was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Rocket later appeared as Jippeq in .

Andrew RobinsonMain article: Andrew J. RobinsonAndrew J. Robinson originally auditioned for the role of Odo, and was briefly considered for the role of Laas in , before they ultimately decided on J.G. Hertzler for the part. The creative staff thought Robinson's voice was unmistakable, and fans of Garak were very protective of the character, and wouldn't allow Robinson to play another role. ()

Stephen RootMain article: Stephen RootStephen Root was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Root had previously appeared as Captain K'Vada in  and .

William SadlerMain article: William SadlerWilliam Sadler was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Sadler later went on to portray Luther Sloan in , , and .

Carolyn SeymourMain article: Carolyn SeymourCarolyn Seymour was considered for the role of Opaka.  Seymour has previously appeared as Taris in  and as Mirasta Yale in . She was last cast as Toreth in  and as Mrs. Templeton in  and .

Martin Sheen
 is the multiple award-winning American actor, who was originally considered for the role of Luther Sloan in  and consequent episodes. Producers finally chose William Sadler for the part. As Ira Steven Behr explained, "We needed someone who had real power as an actor, who could keep you from jumping to a final conclusion about his character." ()

Since the early 1960s, Sheen has established himself as a successful actor in both film and television. One of his earliest credits is "Nightmare", a 1963 episode of The Outer Limits, directed by John Erman, written and produced by Joseph Stefano and featuring Willard Sage, Whit Bissell, David Frankham, Bernard Kates, , and Vic Perrin as the Control Voice. Also, Fred B. Phillips provided make-ups for the series, while Robert Justman served as first assistant director. His other television credits include episodes of Mission: Impossible ("Live Bait", with Dick Dial and John Crawford), Hawaii Five-O (including "Time and Memories", with Diana Muldaur), The F.B.I. (including "A Second Life", directed by Ralph Senensky and featuring George Sawaya, "Condemned" with James B. Sikking and "The Dynasty" with Ian Wolfe), Medical Center (starring James Daly, including "A Duel with Doom", with Marj Dusay), Columbo, and Two and a Half Men. In 1998 Sheen starred in the television film, Babylon 5: The River of Souls, based on the popular science fiction series running concurrent with Deep Space Nine. This telefilm also featured Tracy Scoggins. Sheen's most famous television role is that of President Josiah Bartlet in the popular series The West Wing, which ran from 1999 to 2006.

In feature films, Sheen has appeared in numerous acclaimed projects, including Francis Ford Coppola's classic Vietnam drama Apocalypse Now (1979), The Final Countdown (1980), Gandhi (1982), The Dead Zone (1983, with Anthony Zerbe), Wall Street (1987, with Saul Rubinek), Gettysburg (1993, with W. Morgan Sheppard), Dilinger and Capone (1995, with F. Murray Abraham, Stephen Davies, Catherine Hicks, Jeffrey Combs, Clint Howard, and Bert Remsen), Catch Me If You Can (2002, with Thomas Kopache and Malachi Throne), and The Departed (2006, with Mark Rolston).

Sheen has also branched out into video games with his portrayal of the Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2 (2010) and Mass Effect 3 (2012), which also featured the voices of Jennifer Hale, Raphael Sbarge, Robin Sachs, Keith Szarabajka, Michael Dorn, Armin Shimerman and Dwight Schultz.

Gregory SierraMain article: Gregory SierraGregory Sierra was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Sierra later appeared as Entek in .

Frank Sinatra, Jr.
 was an American singer, songwriter, conductor and occasional actor, the son of Frank Sinatra. He was originally approached to play Vic Fontaine during the fourth season, after he turned out to be a fan of the show. Despite finding the role interesting, Sinatra turned it down, saying he only wanted to play an alien character. Finally the role went to James Darren. ()

Sinatra is best known as a vocalist and composer, who worked as his father's musical director and conductor from 1988. He also performed successfully with his own acts, touring thirty countries as early as 1968. Alongside his musical career, he occasionally appeared in film and television, including A Man Called Adam (1966, directed by Leo Penn), Zebra Force (1976, featuring Charles Dierkop and Anthony Caruso) and episodes of The Dean Martin Comedy Hour, Mercus Welby M.D., and The Love Boat. He also voiced himself in three episodes of Seth MacFarlane's animated series, Family Guy.

Kurtwood SmithMain article: Kurtwood SmithKurtwood Smith was considered for the role of Odo, however, he did not want to play a role requiring special makeup prosthetics. 

Interestingly enough, Smith later appeared in  as the Cardassian Thrax, wearing prosthetic makeup and playing the predecessor of Odo as security chief of Terok Nor. Smith also played the Federation President in  (in which he shared scenes with Rene Auberjonois), and Annorax in  and .

Rebecca Staab
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. 

Staab is a former beauty queen, model and actress, known for her roles in such series as Guiding Light, Wonder Years and The Young and the Restless. She also played The Invisible Girl in the 1994  version of The Fantastic Four.

Adam Storke
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Brenda StrongMain article: Brenda StrongBrenda Strong was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Strong had previously appeared as Rashella in .

Cali Timmins
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax. 

Timmins is a Canadian actress, best known for her roles in the soap operas Ryan's Hope and Another World. She also appeared in guest roles in such series as Walker, the Texas Ranger, Frasier (starring Kelsey Grammer), and Highlander: The Series.

Hallie ToddMain article: Hallie ToddHallie Todd was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Todd had previously appeared as Lal in .

Tony ToddMain article: Tony Todd 
Tony Todd was one of the original actors considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko but was beat out by Avery Brooks. 

Besides appearing as Worf's brother Kurn in episodes of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, Todd  played Sisko's son, Jake in . He also appeared later as a Hirogen in . He also provided his voice for a number of Star Trek video games.

Liz VasseyMain article: Liz VasseyLiz Vassey was considered and auditioned for the role of Jadzia Dax.  Vassey had previously appeared as Kristin in .

John VickeryMain article: John VickeryJohn Vickery was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Vickery had previously appeared as Andrus Hagan in , and later went on to play Gul Rusot in , , and , and  in .

Chuck Wagner
 claimed that he auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266)

Robert WalkerMain article: Robert WalkerRobert Walker was approached in 1997 by the producers for a role on the sixth season of Deep Space Nine. He turned down the offer, as he was "not interested in renewing his acting career." 

Basil WallaceMain article: Basil WallaceBasic Wallace was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Wallace had previously appeared as a Klingon guard in .

Dylan Walsh
 was considered for the role of Julian Bashir. 

Gwynyth WalshMain article: Gwynyth WalshGwynyth Walsh was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys.  Walsh had previously played B'Etor in  and . She went on to reprise the role in , , and . Later, she also appeared as Chief Examiner Nimira in .

Sydney Walsh
 is an American actress, who was considered and auditioned for the role of Kira Nerys. 

Walsh has appeared in films such as 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990) and Point Break (1991), and in television series such as T.J. Hooker (starring William Shatner, James Darren and Richard Herd), Melrose Place, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (starring Teri Hatcher), ER, and Crossing Jordan.

David WarnerMain article: David WarnerDavid Warner was approached by the producers for the role of Akorem Laan in . According to Ira Steven Behr, Warner wanted to do the role, but his wife talked him out of it, as they were on a vacation. (Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages) 

Previously Warner played three roles in Star Trek: St. John Talbot in , Gorkon in , and Madred in  and "Part II".

Carl Weathers
 was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko. (Science Fiction Television Series, 1990-2004: Histories, Casts and Credits for 58 Shows, p.266)

Edward WileyMain article: Edward WileyEdward Wiley was considered and auditioned for the role of Odo.  Wiley had previously appeared as Vagh in , and later played  in .

Barbara WilliamsMain article: Barbara WilliamsBarbara Williams was considered for the role of Kira Nerys, but she turned down the offer.  Williams later appeared as  in .

Fred WilliamsonMain article: Fred WilliamsonFred Williamson was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Williamson had previously appeared as Anka in .

Ray WiseMain article: Ray WiseRay Wise was considered for the role of Benjamin Sisko, however, he was not available at the time.  Wise had previously played Liko in , and later went on to play Arturis in .

Tom WrightMain article: Tom Wright''
Tom Wright was considered and auditioned for the role of Benjamin Sisko.  Wright later went on to play Tuvix in , and Ghrath in .

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