RIP Aron Eisenberg — 'Star Trek' Actor Dead At 50
He played the character Nog for all seven seasons.
facebook Television has always had a way of transforming our lives. We end up connecting with the characters we see on screen, even if they live in different parts of the world... or in space! One program, in particular, is Star Trek. Not only has it given people a place to find others with the same interests, but it’s allowed nerds to embrace their inner, well... nerd.
Star Trek has had many spin-offs over the years since the original series premiered in 1966. It made William Shatner into a cultural icon and associated Spock with Leonard Nimoy for his entire acting career. But one spin-off, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, has lost one of their own this week.
How did Aron Eisenberg die? On September 21, the actor, who played Nog on the series, was rushed to the hospital. His wife, Malíssa Longo, whom he eloped with in December 2018, announced on Facebook that Eisenberg had passed away. He was 50 years old.
She wrote:
“It is with extreme regret and sadness to announce that my love and best friend, Aron Eisenberg, passed away earlier today. He was an intelligent, humble, funny, emphatic soul. He sought to live his life with integrity and truth.
He was so driven to put the best he had into whatever work was put before him. He lived his life with such vigor and passion. He was like a breath of fresh air, because I knew I would always hear the truth from him. Even if I didn’t want to hear it and even if the truth was inconvenient.
He made me (and still makes me) want to be the best human I can possibly be, because he always strove to be the best human he could be. His resilience and willingness to learn was and is an inspiration.
We didn’t officially announce that we had eloped on December 28th, 2018. We were hoping to have a big shindig in celebration of our nuptials, but had to wait to save up the money. While our marriage, on paper, was a short one. Our hearts had been married for far longer. I will be forever thankful for the time we had to love each other. Five years felt like a lifetime, in the best possible ways.
There will never be another light like Aron’s. The beauty that he was and the legacy he leaves behind is beyond words. I love him dearly and will miss him eternally.”
Though his official cause of death has not been released, Eisenberg had been suffering from health issues in the past. When he was born, he only had one partially functioning kidney, and stood at five feet tall because it had stunted his growth.
He received his first kidney transplant at 17 years old, but was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2015. He underwent another successful kidney transplant after being on the waiting list for four months.
Aside from his role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for all seven seasons as the character Nog, Eiseberg appeared on Star Trek: Voyager, Renegades, The Wonder Years, The Liars’ Club, Beverly Hills Brats, Playroom, The Horror Show, Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, Tales from the Crypt, General Hospital, The Secret World of Alex Mack, Brotherly Love, Streets, and the TV movie Amityville: The Evil Escapes.
But Eisenberg was also a photographer and opened his own gallery. In addition, he performed on stage in productions of "The Indian Wants the Bronx," "On Borrowed Time," and "Minor Demons," and directed "The Business of Murder."
He’s survived by Longo, as well as his two sons. We send our thoughts to his family and friends, as well as his Star Trek fans.
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.