Johnny Slash

[Schmoopie]

I really liked Merritt as Johnny; definitely one of my favorite characters! Like others have said, it's really sad that he's gone. I think he was kinda cute!

Thanks for posting the picture of him from Star Trek. I was wondering what kind of involvement he had in it, because IMDB didn't elaborate.

Andrea

[Chocolate Moose]

right, i liked him too .....

[Ypper Skipper]

Yep, "Johnny Slash" rocked, with his ever present Walkman (the ipod of my childhood). Merritt Butrick R.I.P.

[AB]

I didn't know he had passed away. R.I.P.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I really liked Merritt as Johnny; definitely one of my favorite characters! Like others have said, it's really sad that he's gone. I think he was kinda cute!

Thanks for posting the picture of him from Star Trek. I was wondering what kind of involvement he had in it, because IMDB didn't elaborate.

Andrea

You're very welcome.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by AB

I didn't know he had passed away. R.I.P.

Sadly he's been gone for 20 years now.

[DJM77]

Originally Posted by Shine

Also in 1982, he co-starred in Wiz Kids with Scott Baio and Willie Aames.

I'm pretty sure the movie that you're thinking of is called Zapped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BjvdWBf0G4

There was a tv series called Whiz Kids but it didn't have anything to do with Merrit Butrick, Scott Baio or Willie Aames. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFuW2NZFMb4=related

[MasterEdward]

In the Next Generation episode Symbiosis (one of the worst TNG episodes ever, thankfully there weren't too many bad ones!) it's pretty obvious he's sick, he doesn't look that good at all. I think that was one of his last (if not the last) acting jobs he did before he died.

Ed.

[Riley Martin]

Originally Posted by Shine

You're welcome. I think that he could have been a really sucsessful character actor. The characters of David Marcus and Johnny Slash were so totally different, it really showed how much range and talent that Merritt had. He was also only 30 years old when he passed away. Much too young an age to die.

He was about 6 months shy of turning 30 when he passed.

[TMC]

On the commentary interviews, Steven Peterman talks about how he was a troubled person. He gets upset saying he wishes he had offered more help to Merritt, who he thought clearly needed it.

[TMC]

He was Captain Kirk's son and an 80s icon, but behind the fame lay a devastating secret. Discover the heartbreaking true story of Merritt Butrick, a brilliant talent consumed by Hollywood's darkest decade.

Explore the tragic story of Merritt Butrick, a Star Trek son whose life spiraled. This documentary details his early career success and the devastating impact of undiagnosed mental illness and the AIDS crisis on their life and career. Witness the pressures of Hollywood fame and the struggles of a talented individual navigating a challenging era.