Can You Recall These Starship Troopers Characters? See Where They Are Now

Casper Van Dien Now

It might not be a stretch saying that Van Dien peaked in his Starship Troopers role. It’s certainly what the majority of movie lovers will remember him as. Sadly, Van Dien’s hopes and dreams for a fabulous film career did not pan out. He did have a role in Tarzan and the Lost City, but as the name suggests, the film did not do very well. Then there was his decision to reprise his role as Rico in the third Starship Troopers film, which was a completely abysmal work. He also appeared in the second season of Mortal Kombat: Legacy as the cocky Johnny Cage.

Casper Van Dien Now

Brenda Strong – Captain Deladier

Much of the action and drama of Starship Troopers took place in space, where humanity’s titanic spaceships waged interstellar war with the superbugs among the stars. Brenda Strong then played Captain Deladier, a captain of one of the ships, where she guides fellow main characters Carmen Ibanez and Zander Barcalow in their spacefaring battles against the “Arachnids”. Strong did a fantastic job of playing a strong, intelligent, and unwavering female officer, even if she did meet a tragically brutal end as her ship was blown apart.

Brenda Strong Captain Deladier

Brenda Strong Now

Brenda Strong would happily continue with a stellar acting career, with her next biggest role after Starship Troopers being in the long-running television series, Desperate Housewives. Strong was so convincing in her part as Mary Alice Young that she was nominated for two Emmys. Other television shows featuring Strong include Supergirl and Fear the Walking Dead. Some of her less iconic works include a yoga therapy film series where she helps women and couples to conceive.

Brenda Strong Now

Pilot Cadet Stack Lumbrezer

While Amy Smart might not have enjoyed the biggest role in the action sci-fi masterpiece, her performance was certainly memorable. Smart played Stack Lumbrezer, a pilot cadet and a friend to Denise Richards’ character, Carmen Ibanez, with who she also shares a spaceship bridge. Smart played the dedicated and industrious Pilot Cadet Stack Lumbrezer convincingly and showed some serious girl power during her astral fight for survival. Smart’s character did so well in her duties that she was made lieutenant and was made a pilot of her own ship.

Pilot Cadet Stack Lumbrezer

Amy Smart – Now

While audiences were impressed with Smart’s performance in Starship Troopers, her acting career went on a lull until 2001, when she landed a leading role in the hilarious rom-com Road Trip. The early 2000s were a great time for Smart where she enjoyed various female lead roles in films like Rat Race, The Butterfly Effect, Starsky & Hutch, and Crank. Smart also appeared in a few indie films like the silly Macbeth adaptation, Scotland, PA. We haven’t seen much of Smart in the movies lately, however.

Amy Smart Now

Katrina McIntire – Blake Lindsley

Not everyone that signed up for the Federal Service, the fascism-inspired military group seen in Starship Troopers was a blood-thirsty killer. Some characters, like Katrina McIntire (played by Blake Lindsley), simply wanted to be awarded the privilege of a birth certificate so that they could become mothers. Sadly, that maternal nature did not translate into battle well when McIntire ran away from a warrior bug in terror and was subsequently munched by it. Still, Lindsley did a great job in her performance.

Katrina McIntire Blake Lindsley

Blake Lindsley Now

While Lindsley might not be as high profile an actress as her Starship Troopers costars, that doesn’t mean that she did not enjoy a full acting career. She appeared in some small roles in other notable films, like Inside Me, Coastlines, and David Lynch’s mind-bending Mulholland Drive. Lindsley also lent her voice acting skills to Star Trek: Klingon Academy, a video game based on the legendary sci-fi franchise. He acting career came to an end when she tied the knot with Stephen Nemeth in 2010.

Blake Lindsley Now

Carl Jenkins – Neil Patrick Harris

While there were quite a few less recognized actors in the Starship Troopers cast, Neil Patrick Harris was quite the recognizable star by the time he filled the boots of Carl Jenkins. You probably remember him from Doogie Howser, where he played the titular and lovable character. In Starship Troopers, he played an initially jovial and easygoing youth with psychic powers who later becomes a severe and powerful member of the Military Intelligence. At the end of the film, Jenkins uses his psychic powers to find the Brain Bug’s location.

Carl Jenkins Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris Now

Neil Patrick Harris went on to enjoy one of the most fruitful and acclaimed careers out of all his fellow Starship Troopers co-stars, particularly thanks to his talents as a comedic actor. His next major role after the bug-killing sci-fi romp was a very different one in the 2000s sitcom How I Met Your Mother as Barney Stinson. Here he played a womanizing and brash businessman that was one of the five central characters in the hit series. Harris is probably most famous for his quotable part in the long-running sitcom.

Neil Patrick Harris Now

Ace Levy – Jake Busey

Jake Busey was born to Hollywood royalty as the son of Academy Award-nominated actor Gary Busey. This almost automatically sealed his place as an actor and he made his first appearance in Straight Time as a young man, all the way back in 1978. His character of Ace Levy in Starship Troopers was largely one of comic relief, being the sassy and easygoing member of hero Johnny Rico’s unit. That doesn’t mean that Ace could not hold his own in a fight, however.

Ace Levy Jake Busey

Jake Busey Now

Busey had a very busy acting career during the 80s and 90s, becoming a legend of the late 20th century. Things calmed down slightly for Busey in the 2000s, although he did make several appearances in major television shows like Dusk till Dawn: The Series where he played Aiden Tanner. One of his last major roles was in 2018’s horror sci-fi film The Predator. Busey also enjoys making cameos now and then, as he did in Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things.

Jake Busey Now

Djana’D – Tami-Adrian George

Starship Troopers is filled with many shocking and disturbing moments, but the bloody scene involving actress Tami-Adrian George’s character Djana’D is one of the hardest-hitting. The politically ambitious recruit at the Mobile Industry bootcamp’s career ended suddenly and violently when she accidentally shot a teammate during a training drill. George delivered a convincingly guilt-filled if not short performance as the disgraced Djana’D. Ironically, Tami-Adrian George’s acting career would be as short as her character’s military one.

Djana D Tami Adrian George

Tami-Adrian George Now

While Tami-Adrian George delivered a commendable performance in Starship Troopers, she would soon exit Hollywood not long after said role. Since her part as Djana’D, George has made only a couple more appearances. She was in Michelle’s High School Reunion, which performed well in the box office, as well as Romy. George’s acting departure surprised many critics, who saw her as a talented actress that seemed to be on the verge of a great career. In another ironic twist, George ended up marrying Eric Bruskotter, who played the character that Djana’D accidentally killed in Starship Troopers!

Tami Adrian George Now

Sergeant Zim – Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown is the kind of gruff and macho actor who always excels in roles as military commanders, bad guys, or big leaders. He is tall and broad, has an intense face, and has a very deep voice – perfect for his part as the drill sergeant role in Starship Troopers’ bootcamp part as Commander Zim. While Zim wasn’t the most lovable character early on in the film, in the end, he proved to be one of the biggest heroes in the blockbuster when he captured the king bug.

Sergeant Zim Clancy Brown

Clancy Brown Now

After his memorably brutal role as Commander Zim in the sci-fi epic, Clancy Brown continued to maintain his brilliant career. He even managed to widen his repertoire by breaking out of his typical roles as a scary big guy. You might not know this, but he voiced Mr. Krabs in SpongeBob SquarePants! He also joined the DC Animated Universe voice cast as Lex Luthor. Brown has a fantastic attitude to his job, enjoying every role that he takes, big or small.

Clancy Brown Now

Dizzy Flores – Dina Meyer

Isabella “Dizzy” Flores was one of the tragic love interests of hero Johnny Rico and we must commend the beautiful Dina Meyer for her emotional performance. Dizzy Flores joined Rico’s unit seemingly to keep up with the love of her life, who she eventually manages to romance. In of the most heartbreaking turns in the film, however, Dizzy is fatally wounded by a bug after a triumphant battle scene for the human soldiers. Meyer left such an impact on Starship Troopers fans that they hoped she would return to the franchise.

Dizzy Flores Dina Meyer

Dina Meyer Now

While Dizzy might have worshipped Rico, the characters’ players had quite a different dynamic. While Van Dien’s career fizzled out, Meyer went on to have a splendid one. It seems that Hollywood recognized the fiery redhead as a horror superstar, seeing as she has been cast in spooky films like The Evil Within and the Saw films. Meyer has also made quite a few big television appearances, like Friends, Castle, and CSI. Meyer has not decreased the tempo and is still working very hard in the industry to this day.

Dina Meyer Now

Corporal Birdie – Ungela Brockman

Ungela Brockman plays Corporal Birdie in Starship Troopers, who is a no-nonsense and brave soldier whose hardcore approach to soldiering whose gory time in the film was unforgettable. The corporal has a very high opinion of Lieutenant Rasczak, the commanding officer of her and Rico’s unit, as the grizzled lieutenant once saved her life. Incredibly, Corporal Birdie has her life saved a second time by Lieutenant Rasczak when she is hit by an enormous jet of flame spewed by a Tanker Bug.

Corporal Birdie Ungela Brockman

Ungela Brockman Now

Like co-star Tami-Adrian George, Ungela Brockman’s film career fizzled out following her performance in Starship Troopers. Prior to her memorable role as the unkillable corporal in Verhoeven’s sci-fi cult classic, Brockman starred as Angie in Showgirls, a 1995 film that flopped. Beyond Showgirls and Starship Troopers, Brockman starred in the comedy movie Mystery Man. Corporal Birdie would be Brockman’s last role and the final nail in her acting career’s coffin. Let’s hope that she found success and happiness in another industry.

Ungela Brockman Now

Sergeant Sugar Watkins – Seth Gilliam

Seth Gilliam played the violent but ultimately noble Sergeant Sugar Watkins, a bloodthirsty fighter who enters the film halfway through its action. Like Corporal Birdie, Sergeant Sugar almost worships the legendary Lieutenant Rasczak. In the film’s climax, Sergeant Sugar gives his life to stop the pursuing bugs so that Rico and the team can make a speedy getaway. Watkins’ character went from an initially disturbingly brutal character in his introduction to a commendably selfless one in his conclusion.

Sergeant Sugar Watkins Seth Gilliam

Seth Gilliam Now

When Seth Gilliam stormed onto the screen in his late Starship Troopers debut, few members of the larger audience recognized him. Before the sci-fi epic, Gilliam had made a total of five small appearances in five respective short films. Thankfully, Gilliam made a good impression with his part as Sergeant Sugar as he became a successful television actor in later years. He was in Teen Wolf, Law & Order, Bull, and The Good Wife. He was also in the sensationally popular crime drama, Breaking Bad.

Seth Gilliam Now

Zander Barcalow – Patrick Muldoon

Rico doesn’t just have giant killer bugs to contend with in Starship Troopers, as his high school sweetheart, Carmen, later meets the dashing Zander Barcalow played by Patrick Muldoon. Barcalow and Carmen end up sharing a spaceship in the film and becoming dangerously close. The two hunks then find themselves competing for Carmen’s affection and, although Barcalow wasn’t a bad guy, we couldn’t help but feel relieved when he met his grizzly end with the Brain Bug’s horrifying brain-sucking attack.

Zander Barcalow Patrick Muldoon

Patrick Muldoon Now

Given his suave personality, perfect handsomeness, and steely charm, Muldoon carved himself a respectable leading man position in Hollywood. Not that Starship Troopers was one of his first big roles, however, as he had previously been in major television series like Days of Our Lives and Melrose Place. Muldoon was also a surprisingly talented musician, and he has a band called The Sleeping Masses. Later, he featured in movies like Project Viper and Ice Spiders.

Patrick Muldoon Now

Jean Rasczak – Michael Ironside

Every war film needs an inspiring and aged commander and that is exactly what actor Michael Ironside brought to life with his character Lieutenant Jean Rasczak. Throughout the film, the philosophy professor and lieutenant acts as a mentor to Rico, both in the classroom and on the battlefield. Ironside played an inspiring and commanding character in Starship Troopers, which made his eventual (and terrible) death all the more haunting. The rest of the soldiers then find a way to survive the alien planet without his leadership.

Jean Rasczak Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside Now

Michael Ironside was a well-respected and prolific actor long before his role in Starship Troopers, being much older than most of his youthful co-stars. His acting skills are incredibly varied, being able to play both unflinching heroes and evil villains alike. Some of his best films include Top Gun, X-Men: First Class, and Total Recall. He has also featured in television shows like ER, Sea Quest, and The Flash. Ironside has, for a long time, been one of the best actors of his generation.

Michael Ironside Now

General Owen – Marshall Bell

At one stage in the Starship Troopers’ cast’s adventure on the bug planet, Rico’s unit enters a small fortress called “Whiskey Outpost”. There they find the ravaged stronghold completely cleared of human life save for the quivering General Owen played by Marshall Bell. This character provided some much-needed comic relief in a film as heavy going like this one, with his death being one of the more hilarious ones. Bell played the cowardly yet condescending general brilliantly.

General Owen Marshall Bell

Marshall Bell Now

As you can imagine from his hysterical performance in Starship Troopers, coupled with his anxious-looking appearance, Marshall Bell is often cast as a neurotic and theatrical character. He had previously been seen in The Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Following his role in the alien bug-killing classic, Bell went on to appear in The Bling Ring, The Congressmen, and The Final Season. More recently, he starred in Love Is Love Is Love, a romantic comedy.

Marshall Bell Now

Breckinridge – Eric Bruskotter

Eric Bruskotter brought the sweet but ill-fated character of Breckinridge to life. This was a normal man that decided to sign up with the Mobile Infantry, a decision that would later cost him his life. Bruskotter successfully conveyed that Breckinridge was not the smartest character, who decided that he couldn’t wait to leave a training drill using live ammunition before removing his helmet. As previously mentioned, Djana’D then mistakenly shoots at Breckinridge, killing him instantly.

Breckinridge Eric Bruskotter

Eric Bruskotter Now

Like many of his co-stars, Bruskotter was a big actor in the 90s, particularly in the television series world. He appeared in Beverly Hills, 90210. As for his other movie roles, Starship Troopers seemed to be the peak of his career, seeing as he only appeared in five other films after this one, none of them being particularly riveting. When his film career ended, Bruskotter took to volunteering at the Best Friends Animal Society. He is also married. Good for him!

Eric Bruskotter Now

Kitten Smith – Matt Levin

It is incredible how many well-developed characters were crammed into the Mobile Infantry that made up the bug fighting force in Starship Troopers. Kitten Smith, played by Matt Levin, is another Camp Currie recruit who finds out that fighting aliens is no laughing matter the hard way. Levin’s character does not exactly possess the soul of a warrior, instead of being more of an intellectual, and Levin managed to flesh out this complex character’s qualities well.

Kitten Smith Matt Levin

Matt Levin Now

Levin was well acquainted with television prior to his casting in the violent sci-fi film. He then went on to star in some lesser-known movies like Blossom and Family Ties. His more successful and acknowledged work includes his voice acting work in acclaimed kids’ animation shows like Scooby-Doo and Rugrats. Levin is also a successful producer, having made movies such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Fatherhood, and Brockmire. You might not see him in the spotlight much, but Levin has worked on almost fifty projects since 1985!

Matt Levin Now

Shujimi – Anthony Ruivivar

Among the Starship Troopers infantry cast is a side character called Shujimi, played by Anthony Ruivivar. This an intellectual and intelligent individual who would rather be studying at Harvard than risking his life at the deadly claws of terrifying alien bugs. Sadly, Shujimi could not afford the cost of such a high standard of education. The bright wannabe student then enlisted with the Mobile Infantry to save up for the tuition fees. Tragically, Shuijimi would never walk through Harvard’s hallowed doors, as he died in battle on the alien planet Klendathu.

Shujimi Anthony Ruivivar

Anthony Ruivivar Now

Did you know that Ruivivar was born in Hawaii? After his explosive performance in Starship Troopers, it wouldn’t be until 1999 that his next role would come. He then joined the cast of Third Watch as a paramedic. The medically-focused show turned out to be a highly happy time for the Hawaiian actor, as he met Yvonne Jung on set and later married her. They now have two kids together. Ruivivar has often played cops in television series like Criminal Minds, CSI, Numb3rs, and Quantico.

Anthony Ruivivar Now

The Commanding Officer – Dean Norris

Who better than Dean Norris to play the role of a stern and macho commander? Norris played the nameless “Commanding Officer” role, where he excelled as a merciless and shameless leader. Of course, Norris was no stranger to this kind of role, having played police officers and military characters before. His most memorable scene was certainly the one where he slapped Rico repeatedly. Ordering thousands of young soldiers to their horrifying deaths is one thing, but don’t you dare slap Rico!

The Commanding Officer Dean Norris

Dean Norris Now

After Starship Troopers, Norris continued to enjoy a successful career where he was continually cast as policemen. It’s almost like the man was a cop at one stage. He’s been spotted in films like Terminator 2, Total Recall, and Lethal Weapon 2. Of course, Norris is most celebrated for his part as Hank Schrader, the DEA agent in the monumentally popular crime drama series, Breaking Bad. He was one of the standout characters according to audiences, and he became something of a meme. Norris’s other television roles included CSI and The Big Bang Theory.

Dean Norris Now

The Recruiting Sergeant – Robert David Hall

Robert David Hall provided one of the many darkly humorous performances in the film as “The Recruiting Sergeant”. Before the soldiers of the Starship Troopers cast could even step foot into bootcamp, they had to go through Hall’s character, a strange and starry-eyed military official with a mechanical prosthetic arm and leg. He grimly (if not hilariously) shows what the young recruits are in for with his disturbing injuries. Hall said that he loved the humorous injection that he provided to this mostly rough cinematic experience.

The Recruiting Sergeant Robert David Hall

Robert David Hall Now

Once the filming of Starship Troopers was finished, Hall continued with his acting career, albeit with smaller roles. He was in movies such as The Negotiator and appeared in television series such as LA Law and The West Wing. Hall’s standout role is probably in The Roymann Closure. Other than that, he was also the narrator for North Mission Road, a documentary series. Interestingly, Hall is an amputee in real life too, and his talents extend beyond acting. He is also a fantastic musician that can play the mandolin, piano, and guitar. Check out his music!

Robert David Hall Now

The Biology Teacher – Rue McClanahan

Another nameless but nonetheless beloved character was “The Biology Teacher” played by a legendary actress called Rue McClanahan. Younger audience members might not recognize her, but McClanahan was a very famous starlet from the 70s onward. McClanahan’s scene introduced the gory nature of the movie and let audiences know what they were in for as her students, Rico being one of them, experimented on grizzle specimens. McClanahan’s role was more of a cameo than anything, but was certainly a treat for fans of old-school Hollywood.

The Biology Teacher Rue McClanahan

Rue McClanahan Now

Sadly, McClanahan passed away in 2010 at the ripe old age of 76 years old. While the world mourned her passing, we certainly have a lifetime of her fantastic performances to look back on and appreciate. She was an Emmy awarded actress who was the main character in the hit sitcom Golden Girls. McClanahan appeared in the show between 1985 and 1992, enjoying one of television’s most honored roles. McClanahan’s acting career took a bit of a dip after she was finished with Golden Girls, and she mainly appeared in smaller roles from that point onward. Still, she continued acting until just a year prior to her passing.

Rue McClanahan Now

Mr. Rico – Christopher Curry

Mr. Rico is the well-off and disapproving father of our hero, played by Christopher Curry. Mr. Rico was a very minor character in the film, with a very short screen time, but he helped to establish the contrast between normal, suburban civilian life and the alien horrors of the military universe. When Rico announces to his parents that he wants to join the Mobile Infantry, his father is immediately disapproving, knowing full well that his son could easily die painfully far, far away from Earth.

Mr Rico Christopher Curry

Christopher Curry Now

Curry is another legendary actor of old-school Hollywood, who today is well into his seventies. His last major role was in the 2016 film called Sully, and he has since failed to appear in any other big-screen movies. The meat of his work in the 2000s and onward has been as a television actor. He has featured in series such as BlackBoxTV, Glee, and Castle. While Curry might not be as active now as we was back in the day, we think that he’s earned his retirement, given his lengthy and successful career.

Christopher Curry Now

Mrs. Rico – Lenore Kasdorf

Seeing as we mentioned Mr. Rico, we may as well talk about his wife, Mrs. Rico, played by the beautiful Lenore Kasdorf. Mrs. Rico was also a tiny part of the grander scheme of the film, but she certainly made an impact on audiences as the loving and fearful mother desperate that her son should not sacrifice himself. Ironically, both Mr. and Mrs. Rico end up dying when a meteor sent by the Bugs strikes their city.

Mrs Rico Lenore Kasdorf

Lenore Kasdorf Now

Lenore Kasdorf did not have much of an acting career beyond her small role in Starship Troopers. She might have played the wealthy wife/mother well, but that seemed to be the last time that she was interested in such work. She did appear in the action thriller Cellular, in 2004, but it was only as a “ticket checker”, which is almost as insignificant as an extra. We, unfortunately, have little else to report on Kasdorf, but we hope that she has led a happy life.

Lenore Kasdorf Now

Carmen Ibanez – Denise Richards

Finally, the moment that many of our readers have been waiting for! The female lead in Starship Troopers is played by none other than the glamorous and angelically gorgeous Denise Richards. In the film, Richards plays a valorous and intelligent military pilot and the main love interest of Rico, called Carmen Ibanez. While Rico is busy shooting bugs on the ground, Ibanez is in space for much of the film, trying to survive the plasma bombings that the bugs shoot at humanity’s spaceship. At the end of the film, Ibanez crash lands on the alien planet and joins Rico to take down the alien overlord.

Carmen Ibanez Denise Richards

Denise Richards Now

As iconic as Starship Troopers is, Richards was not exactly praised for her performance by critics and audiences. Richards later played a Bond Girl in 1999’s James Bond flick The World Is Not Enough after her part in Starship Troopers, and she also enjoyed big roles in mostly comedic films like Love Actually, Undercover Brother, Scary Movie, and Madea’s Witness Protection. Today, Richards is happily married to Aaron Phypers. Well, that’s it for our sensational Starship Troopers cast. Now, let’s look at another legendary science-fiction franchise’s cast with Star Trek’s leading ladies!

Denise Richards Now

Are you an avid “Trekkie”? Have you managed to keep up with every series and film that has come out under the Star Trek intergalactic banner? Do you love the many wonderful female characters that have come out of the only sci-fi epic to rival Star Wars? Then this next list is for you! We are about to embark on a voyage through space and time, where we will detail some of the noblest, most heroic, and intelligent women to grace the Starship Enterprise. Beam me up, hottie!

B’Elanna Torres – Roxann Dawson

The Star Trek universe is filled with many creative and incredible species, with B’Elanna Torres being a mixed-race engineer that is half-Klingon, half-human, and is played by Roxann Dawson. Torres made an appearance in all the seven seasons in Star Trek: Voyager’s duration. When the show was canceled, the middle-aged Dawson continued acting in series such as The Closer, Without a Trace, and The Division while in her sixties. She is also a published writer.

B Elanna Torres Roxann Dawson

Dr. Beverly Crusher – Gates McFadden

The wise and wonderful Dr. Beverly Crusher is another fantastic female character in the Star Trek universe, played by the ethereal Gates McFadden. She enjoyed a further four features in the franchise, making McFadden a very active woman. Other than Star Trek, McFadden has also been in other successful television shows such as Scary Endings, NCIS, and Family Guy. McFadden is also a leading lecturer, who has lectured at the University of Pittsburgh, Hamburg’s Stella Academy, and Harvard.

Dr Beverly Crusher Gates McFadden

Ensign Clancy – Anne Ramsay

While Ensign Clancy might only have enjoyed two episodes in total screen time, Anne Ramsay made sure that these were incredibly memorable appearances. Ensign Clancy was in the episodes “The Emissary” and “Elementary”. Later in life, Ramsay would star in Mad About You as Lisa Stemple. She was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Today, Ramsay is somewhat active in the industry, although it seems like she’s gearing up for retirement.

Ensign Clancy Anne Ramsay