Dwight Schultz
An American actor whose intense, off-kilter energy made him unforgettable as a frantic pilot and a legion of animated voices.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American actor·Birthday: November 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Dwight Schultz built a career on captivating unpredictability. To a generation of television viewers, he is forever Lieutenant Barclay, the brilliant but socially anxious engineer on 'Star Trek: The Next Generation', a role he imbued with a rare, nervous vulnerability. Yet his breakthrough was of a completely different tenor: the wildly unhinged Captain H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdock on the 1980s action series 'The A-Team'. Schultz's ability to pivot from manic comedy to nuanced drama showcased his range, a versatility he later channeled into voice acting. For decades, he has been a dominant presence in animation and video games, lending his distinctive, often sinister cadence to countless characters, ensuring his voice is as recognizable as his face.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Dwight was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dwight Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Dwight's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic role of Captain H.M. 'Howling Mad' Murdock on the hit television series 'The A-Team'.
- Played the recurring and beloved character Lieutenant Reginald Barclay across multiple 'Star Trek' series and films.
- Established a major second career as a voice actor, performing in series like 'The Animatrix' and 'Ben 10'.
- Voiced the villainous Mysterio in the 1990s 'Spider-Man' animated series.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished stage actor, having performed in Shakespearean productions and on Broadway.
Schultz is a passionate advocate for historic preservation and owns a 19th-century home he restored.
He provided the voice for Professor Pyg in the 'Batman: Arkham' video game series.
“Barclay isn't just shy; he's a genius who talks to holograms.”
