Summary
OnStar Trek: Discovery, Wilson Cruz plays Dr. Hugh Culber, one of the USS Discovery’s medical doctors. Unlike earlierStar Trekseries, which often focused on a single character as the series' Chief Medical Officer,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 1 gave equal weight to both Dr. Hugh Culber and Dr. Tracy Pollard (Raven Dauda). At any given moment, either Dr. Culber or Dr. Pollard might be in attendance in Discovery’s sick bay. AsStar Trek: Discoverywent on,Hugh Culber became a standout character,exemplifying physical resilience, emotional wisdom, and ongoing curiosity, with a poignant character arc resolving science and spirituality.
Dr. Hugh Culber is also notable for beingone ofStar Trek’s first gay series regulars, coupled with husbandCommander Paul Stamets(Anthony Rapp). As a franchise committed to diversity from the start, it’s surprising thatStar Trektook so long to achieve LGBTQ+ representation, butStar Trek: Discoverymakes up for the dearth ofLGBTQ+ characters inStar Trekhistory. Culber and Stamets become de facto parents toStar Trek: Discovery’s queer teenagers, Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), and Gray Tal (Ian Alexander). Best of all, Stamets and Culber are real and relatable in their relationship.
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Star Trek: Discovery’s Dr. Hugh Culber Explained
Wilson Cruz Plays Hugh Culber As Discovery’s Emotional Center
Far from being just a physician, Dr. Hugh Culber is a compassionate healer, loving father, and the emotional heart of theUSS Discovery crew. Culber puts others' needs before his own and relentlessly pursues solutions — even at the cost of Hugh’s potential burnout.Star Trek: Discoveryseason 3’s jump to the 32nd century takes its toll on the mental health of Discovery’s crew, soCulber takes on additional work as the ship’s counselor. Culber is a shining example of non-toxic masculinity who is caring, optimistic, and responsible, valued for these qualities as well as his medical and psychological expertise.
A first-generation Puerto Rican-American, Wilson Cruz’s high-profile roles beforeStar Trek: Discoveryincluded Angel in West Coast and Broadway productions ofRENT, Dennis Vasquez on Netflix’s13 Reasons Why, and Rickie Vasquez in the 1990s cult classic teen dramaMy So-Called Life.Cruz’s portrayal of Rickie marked the first time an openly gay actor played a gay character on television. Recently, Cruz was an executive producer of Apple TV+’s docuseriesVisible: Out On Television,exemplifying howCruz has been an outspoken force for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in mediaand earned recognition from GLAAD and other organizations supporting LGBTQ+ and Latino excellence.
Dr. Hugh Culber’s Star Trek: Discovery Death & Resurrection Explained
Coming Back To Life Changed Culber For The Better
InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 1, episode 10, “Despite Yourself”, Dr. Hugh Culber was murdered by Lt. Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif) after Culber discovered Tyler was really a Klingon sleeper agent.Culber’s death sparked backlash, with fans citing the"bury your gays"tropeof needlessly killing off LGBTQ+ characters. Fortunately,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 5, “Saints of Imperfection”, saw Culber’s resurrection, since Paul Stamets' connection to the mycelial network had preserved the memory of Hugh. An organic cocoon connected to the mycelial network brought Dr. Culber back to life with a brand-new body.
Culber’sDiscoveryseason 2 resurrection is possible thanks to the jahSepp, sentient organisms native to the mycelial plane, who took the form of Ensign Sylvia Tilly’s (Mary Wiseman) old friend May Ahearn (Bahia Watson).
The experience of dying and coming back to life had a profound effect on Dr. Culber’s outlook on life. Culber debated leaving the Discovery for the USS Enterprise, starting life over without Stamets, but Hugh eventually came back to Paul. After embodying the dead Trill host Jinaal inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, episode 3, “Jinaal”,Hugh Culber began to question the role of spirituality within science.
Hugh’s search for ways to balance faith in the unseen with his scientific background created the unlikelyfriendship between Dr. Culber and Cleveland Booker(David Ajala). With his spiritual arc, Culber brought a rarely-seen perspective toStar Trekthat was cut short whenStar Trek: Discoverywas canceled.
Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber Can Return To Star Trek
Cruz Is Open To Returning In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
AlthoughStar Trek: Discoveryhas ended its run with 5 seasons,Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber can return inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.ThenewStar Trekseriesis set in the 32nd century, withDiscoverycharacters Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) already slated to return.
Wilson Cruz is open to the possibility of Dr. Hugh Culber making an appearance inStar Trek: Starfleet Academybut has yet to receive a call.
Near the end ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, Dr. Culber began to experiment with holographic advisors, with his own guide taking the form of Hugh’s deceased abuela. With Robert Picardo returning asStar Trek: Voyager’s holographic Doctor inStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, Culber’s experiment might become a plot point for these twoStar Trekdoctors. Wilson Cruz is open to the possibility of Dr. Hugh Culber making an appearance inStar Trek: Starfleet Academybut has yet to receive a call.
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 5 set up a Dr. Culber arc that’s still incomplete, with Culber’s spiritual journey and the ramifications that Hugh’s newfound faith might have on his medical practice. Culber already leaned towards a more holistic approach to medicine by incorporating patients' mental health with his services as a physician inStar Trek: Discovery. Adding in the ability to be a spiritual guide for others in futureStar Trekappearances would truly round out Dr. Culber’s character.
