Kodos the Executioner

Kodos the Executioner is a villain from the Star Trek episode "The Conscience of the King". Governor Kodos was the ruler of the human colony on planet Tarsus IV circa 2246, until an exotic type of fungus ruined the colony's food supply. In order to save half of the 8,000 colonists, Kodos executed the other half, so that the remaining food would be enough. A believer of eugenics, he personally chose which ones would live and which ones would die. His executions were later proved unnecessary, since the rescue ships arrived earlier than expected, and Kodos (presumed dead at that point) became a historical villain.

It was later discovered that he was still alive, living as an itinerant actor under the name Anton Karidian. Captain Kirk investigated Karidian when he was performing aboard the USS Enterprise in 2266. Kirk was almost killed by Kodos' daughter Lenore, who was trying to prevent her father's arresting. Kodos, apparently regretting his earlier actions and shocked that his daughter was a murderer, saved Kirk's life by stepping in front of him and ended up killed by the phaser shot.

Trivia

 * The characters Kang and Kodos on The Simpsons were named after Kodos the Executioner and Kang the Klingon, both villains from Star Trek.