Summary
- Dr. Hugh Culber brought LGBTQ+ representation to Star Trek, becoming a father figure to queer teens.
- Culber's resilience and compassion make him a standout character, embodying non-toxic masculinity.
- Wilson Cruz's portrayal of Culber made a memorable impact, bringing depth and diversity to Star Trek.
On Star Trek: Discovery, Wilson Cruz plays Dr. Hugh Culber, one of the USS Discovery's medical doctors. Unlike earlier Star Trek series, which often focused on a single character as the series' Chief Medical Officer, Star Trek: Discovery season 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. As Star Trek: Discovery went 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 being one of Star Trek's first gay series regulars, coupled with husband Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). As a franchise committed to diversity from the start, it's surprising that Star Trek took so long to achieve LGBTQ+ representation, but Star Trek: Discovery makes up for the dearth of LGBTQ+ characters in Star Trek history. Culber and Stamets become de facto parents to Star 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.
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 the USS Discovery crew. Culber puts others' needs before his own and relentlessly pursues solutions — even at the cost of Hugh's potential burnout. Star Trek: Discovery season 3's jump to the 32nd century takes its toll on the mental health of Discovery's crew, so Culber 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 before Star Trek: Discovery included Angel in West Coast and Broadway productions of RENT, Dennis Vasquez on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, and Rickie Vasquez in the 1990s cult classic teen drama My 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 docuseries Visible: Out On Television, exemplifying how Cruz has been an outspoken force for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in media and 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
In Star Trek: Discovery season 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" trope of needlessly killing off LGBTQ+ characters. Fortunately, Star Trek: Discovery season 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's Discovery season 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 in Star Trek: Discovery season 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 unlikely friendship between Dr. Culber and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala). With his spiritual arc, Culber brought a rarely-seen perspective to Star Trek that was cut short when Star Trek: Discovery was canceled.
Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber Can Return To Star Trek
Cruz Is Open To Returning In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Although Star Trek: Discovery has ended its run with 5 seasons, Wilson Cruz's Dr. Hugh Culber can return in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The new Star Trek series is set in the 32nd century, with Discovery characters 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 in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy but has yet to receive a call.
Near the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 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 as Star Trek: Voyager's holographic Doctor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Culber's experiment might become a plot point for these two Star Trek doctors. Wilson Cruz is open to the possibility of Dr. Hugh Culber making an appearance in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy but has yet to receive a call.
Star Trek: Discovery season 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 in Star Trek: Discovery. Adding in the ability to be a spiritual guide for others in future Star Trek appearances would truly round out Dr. Culber's character.
