Child actor Jon Paul Steuer who played Worf’s son, Alexander Rozhenko, on Star Trek: The Next Generation passed away this week at the age of 33.
A report from Oregon Newspaper Williamette Week stated Steuer passed away on New Years Day. A cause of death has not yet been released.
While Steuer’s claim to fame is his role as Worf’s son, his big break came in the Chucke Lorre show Grace Under Fire in the 90s. Steuer had a starring role playing Qunetin Kelly in 73 episodes. He also starred as Johnny Vennaro in Little Giants.
After he turned 12 and finished his stint with Grace Under Fire, John Paul Steuer decided to leave the world of acting.
He explained his decision to The AV Club:
I had never really gotten into acting for the stardom or the fame or the attention. I did it because I liked acting. That show brought a lot of press and attention around me and my personal life. I was right on the cusp of puberty, going through that awkward stage. To be put under a microscope like that is kind of a bizarre addition to your life that obviously not a lot of other people can relate to.
In 2003, he moved to Denver and formed the power-pop band, Soda Pop Kids.
By 2005, the band relocated to Portland and Steuer was going by his stage name, Jonny P. Jewels. Soda Pop Kids broke up in 2009, but Steuer continued to perform most recently with the punk band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. He also would DJ around Portland most frequently at Star Bar.
In 2015, he opened his own vegan restaurant called Harvest at the Bindery. Unfortunately, due to Steuer’s death the restaurant will permanently close.
Steuer was a well known staple in the Portland, Oregon area due to his musical passion and restaurant business.