James Doohan brought a rare sense of grit and realism to his acting, shaped by his own decorated service in World War II. That authenticity shone brightest in his role as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott on Star Trek, where his portrayal of the Enterprise’s steadfast chief engineer resonated deeply with audiences. Scotty’s ingenuity and reliability helped ignite an interest in engineering and science, inspiring generations of fans—including future astronauts who would one day venture into space themselves.
Despite being Canadian rather than Scottish, Doohan perfected the accent that became inseparable from the character, giving Scotty warmth, humor, and accessibility. Blending firsthand military experience with an unforgettable on-screen presence, Doohan earned lasting admiration, cementing his legacy as a beloved figure among science fiction fans and veterans alike.
James Doohan’s entry into the Canadian Army
James Montgomery “Jimmy” Doohan was born on March 3, 1920, in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of Irish immigrants. His father, William, worked as a pharmacist and was the subject of an unconfirmed rumor that he helped develop a high-performance aviation fuel in the early 1920s. Raised in a home that valued curiosity, problem-solving, and technical experimentation, Doohan was immersed early in the kind of inventive mindset that would later shape his famous portrayal of Scotty.
After relocating with his family to Ontario, Doohan attended Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, where he showed strong aptitude in mathematics and the sciences. His interest in military service took root in 1938 when he joined the 102nd Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps. Not long afterward, he formally enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery, serving with the 14th (Midland) Field Battery of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.
Doohan’s natural leadership and technical skill quickly set him apart. He was commissioned as a lieutenant and assigned to the 22nd Field Battery of the 13th Field Artillery Regiment, which was attached to the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. Following this promotion, he underwent rigorous advanced training in England, preparing him for the demanding and dangerous combat operations that awaited him during the Second World War.
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.