James Doohan, a decorated World War II veteran, brought a sense of authenticity and toughness to his acting, most prominently through his role as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott on Star Trek. As the reliable chief engineer aboard the starship Enterprise, his character resonated deeply with audiences, inspiring a fascination with engineering and even motivating future astronauts—some of whom later walked on the moon.
Though Doohan was not Scottish, he perfected the accent that became integral to Scotty’s charm, giving the character a distinctive warmth and appeal. His blend of real-life military experience and memorable on-screen presence earned him lasting admiration, establishing him as a beloved figure among both entertainment fans and the veteran community.
James Doohan’s entry into the Canadian Army
James Montgomery “Jimmy” Doohan was born on March 3, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, to Irish immigrant parents. His father, William, worked as a pharmacist and was rumored—though never confirmed—to have developed a type of high-performance aviation fuel in 1923. Raised in a home that fostered curiosity, scientific thinking, and innovation, Jimmy absorbed values that would later shape his portrayal of Scotty.
After relocating to Ontario, he attended Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, where he excelled in math and science. In 1938, he joined the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, marking the start of his path toward military service. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery with the 14th (Midland) Field Battery of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.
Recognized for his leadership and technical skills, Doohan was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 22nd Field Battery of the 13th Field Artillery Regiment, attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. He then underwent rigorous advanced training in England, preparing him for the challenging and perilous operations 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, where a radio drama sparked his interest in voice acting. Believing he could do better than the voice actors he heard, he shifted his focus from technical studies to drama. His career began at CBC radio, and he eventually became known as one of the most versatile voice actors, with an impressive resume of 4,000 radio shows and 450 television appearances.
In 1965, Doohan secured his place in film history with the role of Montgomery “Scotty” Scott in Star Trek. Not only did he portray the chief engineer of the starship Enterprise, but he also helped create the Klingon and Vulcan languages for the series.
Doohan’s influence extended far beyond acting, as many fans credited him with sparking their interest in fields like engineering, astronomy, and other technical disciplines. One of the most notable examples came in 2004, when astronaut Neil Armstrong, an engineer himself, personally thanked Doohan for his role in inspiring him.
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James Doohan passed away in 2005, but his legacy continued to soar. In tribute, some of his ashes were taken into space aboard a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. In 2007, the town of Linlithgow in Scotland, where Doohan’s family originated, honored him with a unique commemorative plaque. The plaque was described as “predictive” because it humorously claimed that he would be born in the town in 2222.