Q&A with Star Trek Star Bruce Horak

Actor and artist Bruce Horak, who is currently playing Hemmer in Star Trek, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (Rb) at just one-years-old. Bruce has just 9% vision but has made a name for himself as an incredible artist and actor. Here, Bruce discusses his experience with Rb and his achievements.

Can you tell us about your journey with retinoblastoma?

I was diagnosed when I was just over a year old. My doctor had seen RB before and was quick to diagnose and to recommend removal of both eyes. It was at this time that my father, Carl was informed that he’d not only had RB himself, but that he’d passed it along to me.

Carl had lost one of his eyes to RB when he was a child, but was never told the real reason why. Back in his day the word “Cancer” was only ever whispered, and his parents always told him that he’d just been sick and that was why he’d lost his eye.

When I was diagnosed, the doctor looked back into his history and discovered the truth, and also informed him about how the disease works, passed along through the genes. This devastated my father, who became depressed and almost took his own life. It was through the support of his family and friends that he found the strength not only to carry on but to fight for my vision. He and my mother insisted that the doctors find some way to save some of my eyesight.

My right eye had to be removed as the cancer had progressed. My left eye only had three small tumours on it, so I was flown to Toronto to have radiation treatment done. The treatment left me with heavy scarring on the retina, but enough was clear for me to see through. A cataract developed and I had surgery for that before I started school.

Bruce Horak, Headshot. Photo by Trish Lindstom

How did it affect you and your family growing up?

My father and I had a very strong bond as a result of the treatments. We both had artificial eyes so we’d go together once a year to have them polished, and that was a pretty special time.

I’m the youngest of four boys and my older brothers certainly looked out for me. They also challenged me to keep up and “didn’t let me get away with anything”. They taught me to ride a bike and to play soccer. I was a goalie – the perfect position for someone with 9% vision. I only had to follow the ball and get in the way.

AssassinatingThomson

What inspired you to get into the arts? And what inspires your art?

My family are all involved in the arts in some was so it was pretty much inevitable. I got bit by the entertainment bug early on – making my fellow classmates laugh, etc.

My art is inspired by Perspective. I love seeing the world in a new way. Putting myself in someone else’s shoes, getting my audience to see the world differently, these are acts of compassion and exercises in empathy, which I feel the world needs more of.

Photo by Terry Manzo

Can you tell us about how you overcome potential obstacles, so that you can perform and create art?

I rarely anticipate what will be an obstacle until I encounter it. I try to be open to possibilities and shift my perspective. Often, it seems like there’s only two solutions but I believe that there is more than one option. I look to mentors and colleagues to find other ways through when possible. Reaching out for help requires courage and humility, and I think that’s a pretty good lesson.

Tangled Gallery Installation, Toronto (3)Michelle Peek Photography courtesy of Bodies in Translation/ Activist Art, Technology & Access to Life, Re•Vision/ The Centre for Art & Social Justice at the University of Guelph.

What have been your career highlights to date?

There are just too many highlights to count. Just generally, being able to make my living as a creative is a highlight.

Portraits by Bruce Horak in a gallery. Tangled Gallery Installation, Toronto. Michelle Peek Photography courtesy of Bodies in Translation/ Activist Art, Technology & Access to Life, Re•Vision/ The Centre for Art & Social Justice at the University of Guelph.

Tangled Gallery Installation, Toronto. Michelle Peek Photography courtesy of Bodies in Translation/ Activist Art, Technology & Access to Life, Re•Vision/ The Centre for Art & Social Justice at the University of Guelph.

You are in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, can you tell us a bit about that?

Being in Star Trek was a dream of mine since I was very young. The producers were looking for a bllind/low vision actor to play a blind alien, so I put my name in the hat for that. I was cast in late 2020 and shot the first season in early 2021. I went from doing street shows and low-budget indie theatre to doing a major series. I experienced a bit of whiplash there. Suddenly, there were a lot of people who were around to help and to make it as easy for me as possible. It was quite a trip.

I had to keep it a secret for a long time, and when it finally came out the flood of support was immense. The Trek family is incredibly welcoming and I’ve been inundated with kind words and messages of love. It’s really wonderful.

Tangled Gallery Installation, Toronto (1)Michelle Peek Photography courtesy of Bodies in Translation/ Activist Art, Technology & Access to Life, Re•Vision/ The Centre for Art & Social Justice at the University of Guelph.

What advice would you give to others who are going through retinoblastoma or living with sight loss?

If I could go back to my younger self I would quote my Improv Teacher, Keith Johnstone:

Stay Positive

Say “yes”

Inspire your partners

Fail Forward

Tangled Gallery Installation, TorontoMichelle Peek Photography courtesy of Bodies in Translation/ Activist Art, Technology & Access to Life, Re•Vision/ The Centre for Art & Social Justice at the University of Guelph.

What do you have in store for the future?

I’m continuing to paint portraits and am working towards my 1000th one. I’ve moved my practice online and sitting with folks from all over the world. I book those through my website, www.brucehorak.com

I’m continuing to tour my solo show, “Assassinating Thomson” in which I paint a portrait of the entire audience while I tell the story of becoming a visually impaired visual artist. It will run July 26-31 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and will be touring Manitoba in February 2023.

I’m going to be in Calgary, Alberta doing “Goblin: Macbeth” with Spontaneous Theatre and the Shakespeare Company September/October 2022.

I’ll be making appearances at Star Trek and Fan Conventions around the world.

I’ll continue to find ways to make my way in the world as a creative.

To learn more about Bruce Horak – visit his website.

Actor and artist Bruce Horak, who is currently playing Hemmer in Star Trek, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (Rb) at just one-years-old. Bruce has just 9% vision but has made a name for himself as an incredible artist and actor. Here, Bruce discusses his experience with Rb and his achievements.

Latest posts

Categories