James Doohan, a World War II veteran, used his real-life courage and military background to craft a standout acting career, most famously as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott on Star Trek. As the ship’s skilled chief engineer, Doohan’s portrayal of Scotty inspired many fans, with some even choosing careers in engineering because of his character. His influence also extended beyond Earth, inspiring at least one astronaut who later walked on the moon.
Although Doohan wasn’t actually Scottish, he mastered the accent that became a key part of Scotty’s charm and persona. His role as Scotty, combined with his military service, solidified his status as a respected figure in both the military and entertainment worlds, cementing his place in pop culture and history.
James Doohan’s entry into the Canadian Army
James Montgomery “Jimmy” Doohan was born on March 3, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Irish immigrant parents. His father, William Doohan, was a pharmacist and is said to have developed a type of high-octane aviation fuel in 1923, though this claim has never been officially confirmed. Still, Doohan was raised in a household that valued science, innovation, and curiosity—principles that would later echo through his most iconic role.
After the family relocated to Ontario, Doohan attended Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, where he excelled in subjects like mathematics and science. In 1938, he joined the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and eventually enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery, specifically the 14th (Midland) Field Battery of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.
Thanks to his leadership skills and aptitude, Doohan was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 22nd Field Battery, 13th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He later received advanced training in England, preparing him for the difficult and dangerous missions he would face during World War II.
Preparing to land at Juno Beach
On June 6, 1944—D-Day—British, American, and Canadian forces each had their own landing zones along the Normandy coastline. The Canadians were assigned Juno Beach, a stretch between Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.
James Doohan’s unit faced serious resistance as they advanced west of Caen. There, they encountered two battalions from the German 716th Infantry Division, along with well-defended positions held by the 21st Panzer Division. On top of that, the shoreline was heavily mined with anti-tank explosives, making the assault even more dangerous.
The night before the landing, Allied planes bombed German defensive positions to soften them up for the morning attack. But poor weather and limited visibility reduced the impact of the airstrikes, leaving many of the German fortifications at Juno Beach still intact when the Canadians came ashore.
James Doohan took out two German snipers on D-Day
It got worse. Rough weather and high waves delayed the landings until well after the sun had risen on June 6, 1944. Out at sea, James Doohan felt queasy, but it wasn’t because of what lay ahead. He later told the Associated Press, “We were more afraid of drowning than [we were of] the Germans.”
Once the risk of drowning was behind them, what lay ahead for the Canadians proved to be much worse. The first group reached Juno Beach at 7:35 AM and were quickly cut down.
Fortunately for them, the light cruiser HMS Ajax (22) had bombarded Juno Beach earlier, doing more damage to the coastal defenses than the aircraft had. After two hours, the Canadians had swept aside most of the Germans along their stretch of the beach. Doohan led his men across the sands and got lucky, as none of the anti-tank mines went off, as the men weren’t heavy enough to activate them.
As they made their way to higher ground, Doohan shot two German snipers – his first kills of the war. By noon, they’d secured their positions. However, they now had a new problem. The beach was so thick with Canadians that the later arrivals couldn’t advance. As darkness fell, there was a risk they’d mistake comrades for the enemy and end up shooting at each other.
This was exactly what happened, not only at Juno Beach, but at the other landing beaches.
James Doohan suffered six bullet wounds
Around 11:20 PM, James Doohan finished his smoke break and gave a reassuring pat to the cigarette case tucked in his shirt pocket—a gift from his brother that he considered a lucky charm. That charm proved to be crucial moments later when, as he returned to his command post, he was suddenly hit by a barrage of bullets from a Bren light machine gun. Four rounds struck his leg, a fifth hit his chest, and the sixth severed his right middle finger.
The shooter wasn’t a German sniper, but an overzealous Canadian sentry. Thankfully, the cigarette case absorbed the potentially fatal shot aimed at Doohan’s chest. Reflecting on the incident later, the actor jokingly said it was the one time his smoking habit had actually saved his life.
‘Craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force’
After recovering from his injuries, James Doohan learned to fly a Taylorcraft Auster Mark IV for the No. 666 Squadron RAF. By this point, he was an officer in the Royal Canadian Artillery, supporting the 1st Army Group Royal Artillery at RAF Andover, Hampshire.
In early 1945, Doohan flew his aircraft between two telegraph poles, just to prove it could be done. He got in trouble for that, and everyone called him the “craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force.”
James Doohan goes from the Canadian Army to outer space
After the Second World War, James Doohan returned to Canada. Upon hearing a radio drama, he believed he could do a better job than the voice actors featured and switched his focus of study from technical schooling to drama. His first job was with CBC radio. He ultimately went on to do 4,000 shows on radio and 450 on television, earning a reputation as the most versatile voice actor in the business.
In 1965, Doohan was assured of a place in film history when he landed – and helped develop – the role of Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek. In addition to playing the role of chief engineer for the starship Enterprise, Doohan also helped create the Klingon and Vulcan languages for the show.
Doohan became so iconic that fans credited him with their interest in engineering, astronomy and other technical fields. Among these was the engineer-turned-astronaut Neil Armstrong, who personally thanked Doohan in 2004.
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Doohan died in 2005. To honor him, a Falcon 9 launch vehicle took some of his ashes into space. Two years later, the Scottish town of Linlithgow claimed him as one of their own with a predictive commemorative plaque. “Predictive” because it claims he will be born there on 2222.