Merritt Butrick was born on September 3, 1959, in Gainesville, Florida, and grew up as an only child. He attended Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California, graduating in 1977, and later studied acting at the California Institute of the Arts, though he did not complete his degree.

     Butrick gained recognition in 1982 when he was cast as David Marcus, the son of James T. Kirk and Dr. Carol Marcus, in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. He reprised the role in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), where his character was tragically killed by Klingons.

      Beyond Star Trek, Butrick starred in the teen sitcom Square Pegs (1982–1983) as Johnny Slash, a quirky high school student. He also appeared in films such as Zapped! (1982), Shy People (1987), and Fright Night Part 2 (1988). In television, he had guest roles in Hill Street Blues, CHiPs, and Murder, She Wrote.

     Butrick returned to Star Trek in 1988, playing T’Jon, the captain of a cargo vessel, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Symbiosis. His performance in this episode marked one of his last performances. The episode shortly after his death.

     Butrick passed away on March 17, 1989, at the age of 29, due to complications from AIDS-related toxoplasmosis. He was honored with panels in the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and his Star Trek III co-star Robin Curtis praised him in the film’s DVD commentary.