Paul Carr, who played "Lt. Lee Kelso" in the second Star Trek pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before," died on Friday, February 17, after a long battle with lung cancer. He had just turned 72.

Kelso was a helm officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise when the ship approached the edge of the galaxy and Gary Mitchell gained god-like powers. Kelso only appeared in the one episode because he was killed when Mitchell telekinetically strangled him with a cable.

Carr was born and raised in New Orleans to a mother of Cajun descent and a father from New York. As a young man, he had aspirations of becoming a professional musician, but when he performed in a high school play, his father suggested that perhaps acting was a career he should consider. He then auditioned at the local community theater and secured a part in the Mardi Gras production of "A la Creole." After a number of other local theater productions, Carr moved to New York and studied at the American Theatre Wing, then worked in summer stock, Broadway plays, and live television, including Star Tonight and Kraft Television Theatre. He made his screen debut in 1957 in the Alfred Hitchcock film "The Wrong Man" starring Henry Fonda.

Carr worked steadily in film, television and stage for the next four decades, and was particularly recognizable as a frequent guest star in many classic TV shows. His wide range of credits included westerns such as Have Gun - Will Travel, The Rifleman, Bonanza, Rawhide, Gunsmoke, The Virginian and Alias Smith and Jones. Besides Star Trek, he appeared in other science-fiction classics from the '60s through the '80s such as The Time Tunnel, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Invaders, The Green Hornet, Land of the Giants, The Six Million Dollar Man and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. He also was a familiar face in crime dramas from 77 Sunset Strip and Adam 12 to Mannix and The Rockford Files.

He also performed in nearly 100 stage productions on Broadway and off, as well as touring companies, stock, and in regional theatres around the country. This devotion to his craft led to the L.A. Weekly Award for Best Actor in the Theatre East production of "Manhattan Express" in 1987, and a 1995 Dramalogue Award for his portrayal of "Sam Byck" in the Los Angeles Repertory production of "Assassins."

Update: A memorial service will be held Sunday, February 26, at 3 p.m. at Temple Beth Hillel, 12326 Riverside Drive in Los Angeles.