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Bruce Hyde of original 'Star Trek' fame, dies at 74

By Wade Sheridan
Bruce Hyde as Lt. Kevin Riley in the debut season of 'Star Trek' in 1966. Hyde died at the age of 74 after losing his battle with throat cancer. Photo courtesy of CBS/Youtube.
Bruce Hyde as Lt. Kevin Riley in the debut season of 'Star Trek' in 1966. Hyde died at the age of 74 after losing his battle with throat cancer. Photo courtesy of CBS/Youtube.

ST. CLOUD, Minn., Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Bruce Hyde, the actor best known for playing the role of Lt. Kevin Riley on the original Star Trek series has died at the age of 74.

Hyde lost his battle with throat cancer on Oct. 13, his wife Susan Saetre, confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.

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Hyde appeared as Riley in the debut season of Star Trek in 1966 leaving a lasting impression on fans after starring in two episodes "The Naked Time" and "The Conscience of the King."

"I'm honored to have my little toe in pop culture history," Hyde said to StarTrek.com last year about his enduring connection to the show.

Join us in remembering Bruce Hyde who portrayed the role of Lieutenant Kevin Riley in Star Trek: The Original Series - bit.ly/rememberingbruce

Posted by Star Trek on Sunday, October 18, 2015

The official Star Trek Facebook page paid homage to the actor on Sunday posting a photo of Hyde donning the iconic Star Fleet uniform.

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Hyde's other television credits include Dr. Kildare, That Girl and The Beverly Hillbillies before he stepped away from performing and became a professor at St. Cloud State University in Minn., where he taught classes in the Theater & Film Department and the Communication Studies Department.

"There were so many layers to him," Saetre said of her husband. "He was an actor, a singer, a musician, a writer, an artist. He had so many different complexities to him, but I think the thing that best fit him was being a teacher. He was able to blend all of those in his teaching."

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