James G. Becker

James G. Becker (15 March 1966 - 5 December 2014; age 48) was a former background actor who appeared as the Starfleet officer known behind the scenes as Ensign Youngblood throughout the first three seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also worked as a stand-in on the series. Hailing from a small farming community in Oswego, Illinois, Becker was on the road to becoming a farmer like his father, majoring in Agricultural Economics at the University of Illinois. After two years, however, he decided that, while he enjoyed farming, it was not something he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He returned home to Oswego and, with his parents' blessing, took a construction job while saving money and contemplating what to do with his life. Fascinated with television (which did include the original Star Trek series), he ultimately decided to move to Los Angeles and try his luck in Hollywood. Once in Los Angeles, Becker began taking acting classes. About six months later, a friend int