Worf

Lore & Background

Worf was orphaned as a child as a result of the Khitomer Massacre, and raised by humans Helena and Sergey Rozhenko. He experiences conflicts between his upbringing and his desire to honor his biological heritage. He has two brothers: Kurn, his long-lost Klingon brother introduced in 'Sins of the Father', and Nikolai Rozhenko, the biological son of his adoptive parents. Worf has a son named Alexander with a half-human half-Klingon woman named K'Ehleyr.

After K'Ehleyr is killed in 'Reunion', Worf becomes a single parent. On DS9, Worf marries the Trill symbiont Jadzia Dax. The House of Mogh was a family of high social and political rank, and was for a time represented on the Klingon High Council. In 'Sins of the Father', Worf accepts a ritual discommendation from the Klingon High Council to avoid throwing the Empire into civil war.

In 'Redemption, Part I', Worf resigns from Starfleet to fight for Gowron during the Klingon Civil War; after Gowron wins, Worf's honor is restored and Kurn is given a seat on the High Council. Worf then regains his Starfleet commission in 'Redemption, Part II'.

Reader's Guide

Worf made his debut in 1987 in 'Encounter at Farpoint', and last appeared in character in 2023 in Picard season 3. Dorn as Worf made 283 on-screen appearances, the most of any actor in the Star Trek franchise. Initially, Worf was not intended to be a regular character; a cast portrait released in June 1987 to promote the upcoming series did not include Worf. Several 'tall, slim, black actors' auditioned for Worf before Michael Dorn came along.

In 2364, Worf was assigned to the USS Enterprise-D as relief flight control and tactical officer with the rank of lieutenant junior grade. The next year, he was made Acting Chief of Security following the death of Tasha Yar. In 2366, he was promoted to Lieutenant. In 'The Bonding', Worf adopts an orphan boy into the House of Mogh through the rite of R'uustai.

In 'Reunion', Worf fights and kills Duras with a bat'leth in a duel. In 'Redemption, Part I', Worf resigns from Starfleet to fight for Gowron and serves on his brother's ship. In 'Redemption, Part II', Worf regains his Starfleet commission. On DS9, Worf misses the Enterprise-D 'family' that he had, often bemoaning the cut-rate work ethic and unfriendliness on the wayward outpost.

Did You Know?

• Michael Dorn also portrayed Colonel Worf in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, intended to be Worf's grandfather and namesake.
• Worf's adoptive parents are Helena and Sergey Rozhenko, who raised him on a farm colony on the planet Gault.
• Worf became the first Klingon officer in Starfleet after graduating from Starfleet Academy in 2361.