Merritt Butrick
Actor · Died March 17, 1989, aged 29 · Gainesville, Florida, USA
Merritt Butrick was an American actor from Gainesville, Florida. He is primarily remembered for portraying Dr. David Marcus in the science fiction films "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982) and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984). His character was depicted as a son of the Starfleet officer James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk (played by William Shatner) and the leading scientist Dr. Carol Marcus (played by Bibi Besch). Butrick also portrayed the one-shot character of Captain T'Jon in a 1988 episode of the science fiction series "Star Trek: The Next Generation". His character was depicted as a ship's commanding officer who had been tasked with transporting medication, but had become addicted to the drug felicium. Butrick received his high school education at the Tamalpais High School, located in Mill Valley, California. The city is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Butrick graduated from high school in 1977, and subsequently attended the California Institute of the Arts with the intent of becoming an actor. He dropped out, as his instructors thought that he did not have the necessary skills to become an actor. He subsequently found steady work as an actor throughout the 1980s. In his television debut, Butrick portrayed a recurring rapist in two episodes of the police procedural "Hill Street Blues". His first major role in television was portraying the supporting character Johnny Slash in the sitcom "Square Pegs" (1982-1983). His character was depicted as a geeky high school student. Johnny demonstrated eccentric behavior, but insisted that he was not on drugs. He hung out with the social misfit Patty Greene (played by Sarah Jessica Parker), and was hinted to be attracted to her. The series was praised for its realism, but it was canceled prematurely. The production company received several complains concerning drug and alcohol abuse by teenage members of the cast, and decided to pull the plug to avoid further controversy. Butrick's other films included the telekinesis-themed comedy "Zapped! (1982)", the corporate corruption-themed black comedy "Head Office" (1985), the dysfunctional family-themed drama "Shy People" (1987), the vampire-themed horror film "Fright Night Part 2" (1988), and the ghost-themed horror film "Death Spa" (1989). He received praise in 1988 for his portrayal of a ditzy male prostitute in the stage play "Kingfish". In March 1989, Butrick died at the age of 29. His death was caused by toxoplasmosis, complicated by an AIDS infection. Two panels were dedicated to him as part of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, both referencing his role as David Marcus. A few of his former co-stars have recorded anecdotes about his life and career in DVD featurettes, though Butrick had few confidants.
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Biography from IMDb.
- September 3, 1959
- March 17, 1989 (aged 29)
- Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Actor
- 20 on MovieCove · 25 credits in all
Known for
What are Merritt Butrick's films like?
Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 11
Light 5 · Serious 5 · Dark 3
A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1
Gentle 0 · Charged 9 · Intense 4
Steady 5 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1
Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0
A split, not a type: Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 2
Easy watch 4 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 3
Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Roles they play
- Allyas Mike in Shy People (1987)
- Shadowas David Avery in Death Spa (1988)
- Shapeshifteras Rick in From the Dead of Night (1989)
Moods and endings
- Happy3
- Bittersweet9
- Ambiguous1
- Cyclical1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Merritt Butrick's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 20 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).
Subscription and free streaming for Merritt Butrick's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
25 credits, 20 with a MovieCove page.
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Chain Letter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
From the Dead of Night(1989)
Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
Death Spa(1988)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films
Fright Night Part 2(1988)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Shy People(1987)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
Jake and the Fatman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Beauty and the Beast(1987)
Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows
Wired to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
When the Bough Breaks(1986)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films
Stagecoach(1986)
Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
Blood & Orchids (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)
Promises to Keep(1985)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Head Office(1985)
Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
Sweet Revenge(1984)
Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
When Your Lover Leaves(1983)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Square Pegs(1982)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
Zapped!(1982)
Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Splendor in the Grass(1981)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Hill Street Blues(1981)
Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
CHiPs(1977)
Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows
Career shape
Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 24 titles from 1977 to 1989; peak year 1988.
Biggest box office
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Highest rated
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Film career
Peak 1988 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.
- 1982Screen debut· Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.
How do Merritt Butrick's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up5
- 50th to 74th5
- 25th to 49th5
- Below 25th5
Shape of the crowd
7 of their 20 titles are Mixed.
- Universally Loved5
- Divisive1
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser5
- Broadly Agreed1
- Mixed7
Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Is Merritt Butrick's work okay for kids?
Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.
Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.
Who does Merritt Butrick work with?
People who share at least 2 of Merritt Butrick's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Phil Penningroth shares the most, 2.
Writers
- Phil PenningrothShared titles: When the Bough Breaks (1986), Promises to Keep (1985)See all 2 shared titles with Phil Penningroth
- Gene RoddenberryShared titles: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)See all 2 shared titles with Gene Roddenberry
- Harve BennettShared titles: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)See all 2 shared titles with Harve Bennett
Actors
- Ernie SabellaShared titles: You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016), Fright Night Part 2 (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Ernie Sabella
- Russell ClarkShared titles: You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016), Fright Night Part 2 (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Russell Clark
- Traci LindShared titles: You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016), Fright Night Part 2 (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Traci Lind
- Richard MasurShared titles: When the Bough Breaks (1986), Head Office (1985)See all 2 shared titles with Richard Masur
Composers and editors
- Gil MelléShared titles: From the Dead of Night (1989), Sweet Revenge (1984)See all 2 shared titles with Gil Mellé
- Robert F. ShugrueShared titles: Promises to Keep (1985), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)See all 2 shared titles with Robert F. Shugrue
- James HornerShared titles: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)See all 2 shared titles with James Horner
Producers
- Robert A. PapazianShared titles: Promises to Keep (1985), Sweet Revenge (1984)See all 2 shared titles with Robert A. Papazian
- Stephanie AustinShared titles: Promises to Keep (1985), Sweet Revenge (1984)See all 2 shared titles with Stephanie Austin
Mixed roles
- Tom HollandShared titles: You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016), Fright Night Part 2 (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Tom Holland
- Leonard NimoyShared titles: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)See all 2 shared titles with Leonard Nimoy
