https://archive.org/details/CharacterInsightEp234
As covered recently on this segment, many of the regular "faces in the crowd" used in Star Trek are actually played by the stand in actors for the main cast. Ensign Youngblood is another character in this category, as the tall, lanky character bears a resemblance to William Riker, except younger and without the beard.
In season 1, Youngblood is a constant background presence in nearly episode, which makes sense since Riker had no beard at the time. He is a sciences division officer usually seen wearing blue, and most of his appearances are during his duty shifts on an aft bridge station. Most often, we see Youngblood reacting as an average Joe to the major events that occur to the crew of the Enterprise.
In season 2, Youngblood apparently switches to command division, taking on the red tunic. Ironically, his bridge appearances substantially disappear at this point, as he is most often used as the guy who walks past a major character in the corridors of the ship in about half this season's episodes. It's thankless work, but some background actor has to do it.
Youngblood's final season was season 3, and most of his handful of appearances are in Ten Forward this time. He's seen interacting with female crewmembers on multiple occasions, and playing a game of three-dimensional chess. In his only credited appearance in the episode The Offspring, we see him introduced to another crewmember interested in him in one scene and then sharing drinks and good conversation in another scene, all as back dressing to the android Lal working in Ten Forward to learn crew behaviors.
Perhaps hitting it off with this crewmate led these two lovebirds off the ship, as we only see Youngblood in a couple more episodes. The sendoff in The Offspring was planned, as Jonathan Frakes directed that episode, and it's likely a new stand in was needed for his Riker character at that point. Plus the actor had decided to leave the show and go back to college to pursue his degree.
Ensign Youngblood was played by James G. Becker in all 41 appearances. Becker grew up on a farm in Oswego Illinois, and he decided to try acting based on his fascination with television shows like the original Star Trek. His only acting credit is on TNG, as he then moved to Iowa to get married and have children, and led a life as an insurance salesman until his death two years ago. He basically lived the American dream, all the way around.
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