As today is the 52nd anniversary of 'Star Trek' first debuting on television screens, we're counting down of the most recognisable people to have a role - however small - in Trek history.

We're not necessarily talking famous actors who have since gone on to A-list roles (well, there's a couple), but more people who you wouldn't suspect of being Trek fans who turned up in cameo roles.

Take a look.

 

8. Iggy Pop of The Stooges

That's right - James Osterberg Jr. to his mother, Iggy Pop to the rest of us, was in an episode of 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' where he played the Vorta negotiator Yelgrun. Ira Steven Behr, the showrunner of 'Deep Space Nine' was a huge Stooges fan and had specifically asked for Pop to be cast in the role.

 

7. Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine / Audioslave

Believe it or not, Tom Morello had two cameos in the franchise - one in the movie 'Star Trek: Insurrection' where he played an alien officer under layers of make-up, and another more recognisable cameo on 'Star Trek: Voyager'. Morello specifically asked for a cameo as he was a die-hard Trekkie, and in an odd coincidence, Garrett Wang - who played Lt. Kim in 'Voyager' - was in the music video for 'Sleep Now In The Fire' for a brief second or two.

 

6. Dwayne Johnson

Before Dwayne Johnson was the most recognisable actor in the world, he was the 'Most Electrifying Man In Sports Entertainment' as The Rock. During his prime years in wrestling, Johnson had a couple of cameos on TV shows including 'That '70s Show' (where he weirdly played his father, Rocky Johnson) and in 'Star Trek: Voyager' where he played a champion gladiator who fought Seven of Nine in a brutal cage match.

 

5. Stephen Hawking

To date, Stephen Hawking is the only person in the 52-year history of 'Star Trek' to play themselves in an episode or movie of 'Star Trek'. The author of 'A Brief History Of Time' appeared in the episode 'Descent' where he was shown playing cards with Data, Sir Isaac Newton (played by Sir John Gielgud) and Albert Einstein (played by Irish actor Jim Norton).

 

4. Sarah Silverman

Fresh off the heels of her stint as writer-performer on 'SNL', Sarah Silverman had a two-episode arc on 'Star Trek: Voyager' where she played Dr. Rain Robinson, a research scientist who unwittingly picks up the Voyager's warp signature when they time-travel to 1996. Showrunner Brannon Braga was that impressed with Silverman's character that he almost wrote her into the series as a recurring character.

 

3. Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac

To be fair, this one is kind of ridiculous when you think about it. The drummer and co-creator of legendary rock outfit Fleetwood Mac played an alien in an episode of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation', but you actually never once saw his face. Mick Fleetwood underwent hours of makeup to completely obscure his face, and the end result made him look like a fish. Really. That's him below.

 

2. Seth MacFarlane

Given how 'Family Guy', 'American Dad!', 'The Orville' and pretty much everything Seth MacFarlane has done has had some reference to 'Star Trek', it's no surprise that he had a cameo on 'Star Trek: Enterprise' as a crew officer aboard the NX-1 Enterprise. Macfarlane's also made a habit of hiring former 'Star Trek' actors for his projects. Michael Dorn (who played Worf) turned up in 'Ted', as did Nana Visitor (who played Kira) in 'Ted 2'.

 

1. King Abdullah II ibn al Hussein of Jordan

There's very few TV shows that can boast to having royalty on their show. Sure, Meghan Markle's now a Duchess, but 'Star Trek: Voyager' had a Prince and future King on their show long before then. King Abdullah II of Jordan is a huge 'Star Trek' fan and had a brief, non-speaking role in the series.