Brent Jay Spiner (/ˈspaɪnər/; born February 2, 1949) is an American actor, comedian, and singer best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. In 1997, he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact, and was nominated in the same category for portraying Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day, a role he reprised in Independence Day: Resurgence. He has also enjoyed a career in the theatre and as a musician.\n', '

Brent Jay Spiner was born on February 2, 1949, in Houston, Texas, to Sylvia and Jack Spiner, a Jewish family who owned a furniture store. After his father\'s death, Spiner was adopted by Sylvia\'s second husband, Sol Mintz, whose surname he used between 1955 and 1975. \n', '

He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas[citation needed] Spiner became active on the Bellaire speech team, winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation.[citation needed] He attended the University of Houston, where he performed in local theatre.\n', '

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