What Are They Doing Now? — Cirroc Lofton

Written by: Samuel K. Sloan (Farpoint Media Exec. News Dir.)

Young Jake Sisko is all grown up and has left the Deep Space Nine station.

Growing up as a child actor is hard enough, but when you add to that the pressure of being in a series about Star Trek that is watched by millions of fans worldwide ready to take each nuance apart with a fine-tooth comb, then life gets all that much more surreal, especially if you’re a very young teen at the time.

Such was the case with actor Cirroc Lofton, who at the age of 9 began his acting career in commercials and educational films. Then in 1993 the young star’s life changed forever when he was offered a pivotal role in “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” He would play the young son of station commander Benjamin Sisko and it became a landmark performance showing a positive image of a father and son relationship for all fathers and sons to follow. Lofton was 15 when the series started and he stayed with it, growing up before our very eyes until the show ended 7 years later, and Jake (as well as Cirroc) was a fine young adult.

Cirroc managed to escape many of the pitfalls that a lot of child stars seem to fall into. He remained busy, pursuing his acting, writing and desire to one day direct. He has made guest appearances on such shows as “Soul Food,” “7th Heaven,” “Invasion” and “CSI: Miami,” but his Showtime series (now cancelled) “The Hoop Life,” a story about professional basketball players and their lives on and off the court, allowed Cirroc to once and for all shed the Jake Sisko skin. It’s not that he didn’t and doesn’t appreciate and love the character, but like all good actors, he wanted to move on and be seen for more than just a kid growing up on a space station.

Cirroc still manages to make the sci-fi and Star Trek convention circuit but 2007 has been an especially busy year for the young man who celebrates his 29th birthday today (August 7).

Cirroc has finished filming the big screen comedy “I’m Through With White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks)” with “Star Trek: Enterprise” alum Anthony Montgomery in the title role. Cirroc is currently filming “Ball Don’t Lie” with “Lost” star Harold Perrineau and Rosanna Arquette. He hasn’t given up entirely on Star Trek, however. You can see him in the highly anticipated independent production from the mind-meld of actor/director Tim Russ, “Star Trek: Of Gods and Men” due out sometime in the near future online.