I just noticed while skimming the TV Guide listings today that on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the character of Gowron (leader of the Klingon High Council) is played by a man named Robert O'Reilly. Now, obviously, actors often change their names, and even if he is an O'Reilly by birth, he's not likely to be an immediate family member. Still, I figure it can't hurt to ask: Is our favorite geeky publishing company tied by blood to our favorite geeky sci-fi show?
Cheers,
Kyle Bieneman
No, there's no relationship. I also get asked a lot about Bill O'Reilly, the host of the TV talk show "The O'Reilly Factor." I don't know Bill, and I don't share his politics either.
The one TV O'Reilly I feel at least a bit of a spiritual relationship to is Walter "Radar" O'Reilly of "M*A*S*H", the mild-mannered character (played by actor Gary Burghoff) who kept the camp running, and who could get you whatever you needed, even if it meant going through unauthorized channels. I like to think we have a bit of the same spirit.
Apparently, there's also an O'Reilly Auto Parts that's a big company down in the South. I recently saw a poster bearing the name in a newspaper photo of a big auto race. I'm not related to them either.
I am related to James and Sean O'Reilly of Travelers' Tales, and have even worked on some books with them. They are my two older brothers.
I also get a lot of email from our customers who are named O'Reilly, wondering if perhaps our families are related. It's always possible (after all, we're all part of one big family in the broadest sense), but if you're looking for a more direct relationship, it's not likely. My family came over from Ireland when I was a few months old, and I know all of my direct relatives back for several generations. Sorry. But it's a great name anyway, even if our old coat of arms is a little bloody-minded.
Tim
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