On Oscar night 2008, while many watched various red carpet shows before the big event and NASCAR fans wondered if the rain would ever end at Fontana, a group of fans met online in the Chat room of Roddenberry.com for a chat with Robert O'Reilly, better known to Star Trek fans as Gowron on both Star Trek the Next Generation and Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Below is the transcript from the chat:

RODDENBERRY: WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PROP TO USE ON SET?
Bob O'Reilly: Use the dagger. Loved it. it was a lot of fun. My character was based off that weapon. I also enjoyed the Bat'leth in DS9. but originally it was the dagger

RODDENBERRY: HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE COSTUME FOR GOWRON?
Bob O'Reilly: Very difficult to get in and out over a long period of time. It was very hot. I would lose about 8 lbs a day! I would train constantly...It was bad when the air conditioning broke during a taping, it was like a roasting pan. and outside it was about 100 degrees.

RODDENBERRY: DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT?
Bob O'Reilly: Not right now, I'm settling in with the family and doing some writing here and there.

RODDENBERRY: HOW DID YOU HEAR FO THE ROLE GOWRON?
Bob O'Reilly: Well I was an original fan. I used to watch all the roles in the 60's and if you asked me what role I wanted to play, I would say Klingon! My agent asked me one day that I'd be casting for a Kling-something. I said Klingon?! It was a very important role for me. Usually when you want something bad enough you tend to over act. I wanted it. and fortunately when you overact as a Klingon...it works!

RODDENBERRY: YOU'VE ACTED IN MOVIES, TV AND STAGE. DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE ON ONE OVER THE OTHER, OR DOES EACH HAVE IT'S UNIQUE CHARM?
Bob O'Reilly: I like each one for different reasons. All the way through my career I've had great roles, Klingons, a lot of westerns and brilliantly written parts like Gowron. TV has been great to me. Stage is always great. I've had great roles with that as well. I guess I would say TV and stage mainly cause of the roles I've had.

RODDENBERRY: WILL YOU BE ATTENDING ANY CONVENTIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE? AND WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN COMING TO DENVER FOR STARFEST?
Bob O'Reilly: Oh yeah! I'd be very interested There's a con in England in the spring and fall I'll be attending as well.

RODDENBERRY: BOB, DO YOU FIND IT IRONIC THAT THE KLINGONS ARE KNOWN AS THE BROODING STOIC RACE WITHIN STAR TREK BUT THAT MOST KLINGON GROUPS HAVE SOCIAL SERVICE IN THE CLUBS?
Bob O'Reilly: I don't find Klingons stoic at all. They party hardy. I wouldn't say they're stoic. I think that may stem from some Klingons, but generally speaking Klingons are fighters and partiers. When they don't fight, perhaps. That may be the case of few Klingons.

RODDENBERRY: HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN RAY BRADBURY?
Bob O'Reilly: Ray, I've known since about 1979. I've done a few plays, one being a musical. That's actually around 2000. He's a wonderful guy and sort of like an American hero in literature.

RODDENBERRY: WILL YOU MAKE IT OUT TO DRAGON CON?
Bob O'Reilly: It's a long trip for me. Eventually sure. Right now...if they get in touch with me then I would certainly consider it

RODDENBERRY: DO YOU EVER GET TO THE KLINGON FAN SITES?
Bob O'Reilly: Funny thing is I'm actually not that computer literate. I'm very connected to my family and use the computer for general things.

RODDENBERRY: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING PART OF THOSE WHO WILL CONTINUE GENE RODDENBERRY'S UNIVERSE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT UNIVERSE REPRESENTS TO PEOPLE TODAY?
Bob O'Reilly: He is the creator, and like Bradbury, I'm lucky to be a part of it. We're not the creators. We're the interpretive artists. The creators will always be the writers in literature. You may not think of ST as literature, but it is. TOS has held up an enormous amount of time. Last night I watched it for a little while at midnight. When something lasts that long, it usually lasts forever. It's great writing. I'm lucky to be part of something that has lasted that amount of time. I'm sure DS9 and TNG will last that long as well, and possibly make come backs when other generations become fans as well.

RODDENBERRY: HOW WOULD A KLINGON GET ACCEPTED TO JOIN THE HOUSE OF GOWRON?
Bob O'Reilly: It's too painful to think of for a HUUMMMAAANN. I hear the house of Martok is easier to get into. It's not as much pain.

RODDENBERRY: YOU REALIZE YOU WILL BE 90 AND STILL GOWRON TO A LOT OF PEOPLE?
Bob O'Reilly: Yes, that was made very apparent to me when I first got the role. It was communicated that the role is a life thing. I laughed it off at first not understanding. But I came to realize the longevity of the role.

RODDENBERRY: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM YOUR APPEARANCE IN STAR TREK?
Bob O'Reilly: When I got the robe. In terms of the storyline, you get robed instead of crowned. And working with Patrick Stewart was an absolute treat. He's such a pro. And the cast was absolutely hilarious and great to work with. It was a dream come true for any actor to work with that kind of stuff. I would go to one specific thing. Because I was a Klingon and working with Patrick, we were able to create actual rituals. Patrick was very supportive and it was a great time creating the rituals that would be aired.

RODDENBERRY: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PEOPLE WHO WEAR FULL KLINGON COSTUMES AND COME UP TO YOU FOR AN AUTOGRAPH?
Bob O'Reilly: Fantastic! Great! I love it! I have photos from cons and seen some unbelievable wardrobes from conventions, being surrounded by hundreds of Klingons. A lot of people are friends through the years now. John Palladin and many others throughout the country. Sometimes I can't always due to life, but there's a lot of charity work by people who dress up. What a bunch of wonderful softies.

The next special feature to Roddenberry.com will be an exclusive Fan Q & A session with host Marc Wade (former director of production with STARTREK.COM). The online show will allow fans to submit questions they would like answered by the upcoming guest. It’s a great opportunity for fans to connect to these guests through Marc.

The online show launches Wednesday, March 26, 2008, and will feature an exclusive interview with David Reddick. David is well known for his absolutely delightful cartoons, especially “Gene’s Journal” and “Rod & Barry,” featured weekly on Roddenberry.com; and “The Trek Life,” which was featured on StarTrek.com.  He is available to talk about his recent work and anything else fans want to know. Questions can be submitted to chat@roddenberry.com.