Abraham Sofaer (1 October 1896–21 January 1988; age 91) was a veteran character actor who played the Thasian in the Star Trek: The Original Series first season episode "Charlie X" and voiced the Melkot in the third season episode "Spectre of the Gun".
Sofaer was born in Rangoon, Burma. Originally a teacher, his first acting job came in 1931, and he worked steadily, if in small parts, until the early 1970s.
Sofaer filmed his scene for "Charlie X" on Tuesday 19 July 1966 at Desilu Stage 9.
Because of his nationality, he played many Native American roles and also frequently appeared in science fiction and fantasy projects. He co-starred with Arlene Martel in the "Demon With a Glass Hand" episode of The Outer Limits, which was written by Harlan Ellison and directed by Byron Haskin. He made many guest appearances on television, including such series as Mission: Impossible (with Barbara Luna, directed by Marc Daniels), two episodes of The Time Tunnel (1966 & 1967, starring James Darren, Whit Bissell and Lee Meriwether, former with Joseph Ruskin and Paul Carr, latter with Arnold Moss, and Rhodes Reason), Lost in Space (starring Bill Mumy), The Twilight Zone, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (with Yvonne Craig, David Hurst, Nancy Kovack, Liam Sullivan, and Bill Quinn, and directed by James Goldstone). Sofaer was also noted for his recurring role as Haji in I Dream of Jeannie.
In films, he appeared in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), Quo Vadis (1951), the Byron Haskin-directed The Naked Jungle (1954), Taras Bulba (1962, with Perry Lopez), The Monkees' Head (1968, with Logan Ramsey, Terri Garr, Charles Macaulay, and Tania Lemani) and Chisum (1970, starring John Wayne, with Glenn Corbett and Ron Soble), among others.
Sofaer was grandfather to digital artist Daniel Kramer, who had worked as such on several Star Trek live-action productions in the Berman-era.
Sofaer died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, as the result of congestive heart failure in 1988. [1]