Lieutenant Commander Tuvok (Tim Russ) (placeholder)

Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, played by Tim Russ, is a character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He is the first black Vulcan character seen on a Star Trek series.

On Voyager, Tuvok serves as the ship’s chief of security and tactical officer.
Tuvok was born in the mid-23rd century on Vulcanis, a lunar colony belonging to the Vulcan people.

Tuvok attended Starfleet Academy in San Francisco. Upon graduation, he was commissioned an Ensign at age 29, serving as Junior Science Officer on the USS Excelsior, under Captain Hikaru Sulu (seen in the episode “Flashback”). Tuvok distinguished himself during the Khitomer Incident.

During his early service with Starfleet, Tuvok became increasingly uncomfortable associating with non-Vulcans, and he resigned his Starfleet commission in order to undergo the Kolinahr on Vulcan, a process which allowed him to purge his emotions. After six years of Kolinahr, Tuvok began experiencing pon farr, which led to his marriage to T’Pel.

Eighty years later, after much self-examination, Tuvok rejoined Starfleet as a training instructor at Starfleet Academy. After a few years teaching cadets, Tuvok was briefly assigned to the USS Billings under Captain Kathryn Janeway, until both Janeway and Tuvok were assigned to the USS Wyoming and then the Intrepid-class starship USS Voyager, as Security & Tactical Officer.

In 2371, Tuvok is assigned to infiltrate the Maquis organization aboard Chakotay’s Maquis vessel. During the mission, Tuvok’s identity is uncovered by a Maquis intelligence agent, who uses Tuvok as a laboratory specimen for mind-control experiments. While Tuvok is conscious throughout the experiments, the agent wipes his memory when he has finished, ensuring that Tuvok is unable to remember any details. Following the ordeal, Tuvok is released back amongst the Maquis. During an incident invloving the Maquis ship and the USS Voyager, both vessels are unwillingly transported to the Delta Quadrant by the enigmatic Caretaker. When the Maquis ship is destroyed by crashing into a Kazon ship to save USS Voyager , Tuvok is transported off the ship with a handful of other survivors, and resumes his duties as Security & Tactical Officer.

At that time, Voyager also picks up two Delta Quadrant natives, Neelix, a Talaxian, and his girlfriend Kes, from Ocampa. Tuvok recognizes Kes’ psionic abilities and helps her develop them. Tuvok learns to tolerate Neelix’s overly friendly and emotional behavior. Later, a transporter accident fuses Tuvok and Neelix together into a new humanoid appropriately named “Tuvix”. They are eventually restored to their individual forms under the orders of Captain Janeway, using a procedure devised by the EMH and chief engineer B’Elanna Torres. Tuvok still has issues with Neelix after the experience and many of them are raised again in the episode “Riddles”. The two eventually become friends, though it is more apparent from Neelix’s end.

At the opening of the 4th season episode “Revulsion”, relatively dated 2374, Tuvok is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

It is learned during the final episode of the series that Tuvok suffers from a degenerative neurological disease, which can only be cured by undergoing a “mind-meld” with a family member. In 2377, he is still well enough to perform his duties. But, sadly, in his elderly years, the disease finally ravages Tuvok’s mind. However, in order to save Tuvok from this inevitable future, Captain Janeway’s future-self changes history, by finding a way to return the Voyager crew to the Alpha Quadrant back in 2378, the time before his disease worsens. Upon returning to the Alpha Quadrant Tuvok is joined by his eldest son Sek on Voyager. There Sek performs the fal-tor-voh with his father and stops the progression of the disease. Thus an alternate future is created.