Brent Spiner

Brent Spiner
Spiner at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International promoting the returning Star Trek series on CBS.
Born	Brent Jay Spiner (1949-02-02) February 2, 1949 (age 68) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston
Occupation	Actor, comedian, musician, singer
Years active	1970–present
Spouse(s)	Loree McBride (1 child)

Brent Jay Spiner (/ˈspaɪnər/; born February 2, 1949) is an American actor, comedian, and singer best known for his portrayal of the android, Lieutenant Commander Data, in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. In 1997, he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact, and was nominated in the same category for portraying Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day, a role he reprised in Independence Day: Resurgence. He has also enjoyed a career in the theatre and as a musician.

Brent Jay Spiner was born to a Jewish family on February 2, 1949, in Houston, Texas, to Sylvia and Jack Spiner, who owned a furniture store. After his father's death, Spiner was adopted by Sylvia's second husband, Sol Mintz, whose surname he used between 1955 and 1975. He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas. Spiner became active on the Bellaire speech team, winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation. He attended the University of Houston, where he performed in local theatre.

Spiner is married to the publicist Loree McBride, with whom he has one son, Jackson, born in 2002.