An actress of a beloved character in the Star Trek universe has died. Barbara March (also known by her married name Barbara Scarfe), who fans will remember as Lursa Duras, passed away on Sunday at the age of 65. March's cause of death was tied to cancer, which her husband Alan Scarfe described as a "cruel battle."
Alan Scarfe announced the news on his wife's passing via social media to spread the news to friends and fans alike. Scarfe eulogized his wife in a Facebook status update, and talked about her career that extended beyond the world of Star Trek many are so familiar with.
As previously mentioned, Barbara March was most known to Star Trek fans as one-half of the antagonistic Duras sisters, Lursa Duras. The Klingon sisters were a part of the House Duras, and attempted to seize control of the Klingon Empire a handful of times throughout the Star Trek lore. More often than not their plans were intertwined with the devious Romulans, and Starfleet was often there to thwart any plan they set in motion to cause chaos and conquer.
After appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the Duras sisters' reign of terror came to an end in Star Trek Generations. The two engaged in battle with the Enterprise, and though things got dicey for the Starfleet ship, some quick thinking by Data (who will appear in Star Trek: Picard) led to a maneuver that destroyed the sisters' ship and killed them both. Though Barbara March would never appear in a Star Trek series again following that, she did reprise the role of Duras for the computer game Star Trek: The Next Generation: Klingon Honor Guard.
Though the characters were ultimately killed off in the movie, Barbara March and co-star Gwynyth Walsh's appearance in Star Trek Generations may be a testament to how popular these rarely seen characters were. March told Star Trek Generations magazine (via StarTrek.com) she believed the portrayal of two powerful female Klingons may have impacted their popularity. As she said, there just weren't many female characters on television portrayed to be as powerful as the Duras sisters.
Barbara March is survived by her husband actor Alan Scarfe (who was a guest star on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager), and their children Jon and Tosia. Outside the world of Star Trek, March had guest star appearances on shows like L.A. Law, Night Heat, and Total Security. She also had a few appearances in film, as well as the aforementioned theater career and playright credits referenced in her husband's Facebook post.
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CinemaBlend would like to extend its condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Barbara March, and wish them the best during this difficult time.
