Star Trek: The Paradise Syndrome

Episode: "The Paradise Syndrome"
Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Season 3, Episode 3
Original Air Date: October 4, 1968

via Memory Alpha

The landing party of Kirk, Spock and McCoy arrives on a planet remarkably similar to earth in terrain.  They soon discover inhabitants resembling a Native American tribe.  While investigating a mysterious pylon reminiscent of "Land of the Lost," the Captain falls through a trap door and hits his head, inducing amnesia.  Spock and Bones return to the ship in order to attend to the original mission, diverting an asteroid from colliding with the planet. 

Side discussion: How does this asteroid diversion effort jive with the Prime Directive?  Doesn't that qualify as intervention, even if the intention is good?

When he returns to the surface, he encounters two native women who take him for a god.  This divine status is enhanced when he administers CPR to a dying boy.  Kirk becomes tribal medicine man, inspiring understandable hostility from his predecessor.  To make matters worse, Kirk stole his girlfriend, too!

The narrative treatment of natives is definitely patronizing, a shame as it detracts from the more interesting aspects of the story.  Kirk spends two months on the planet, during which time he marries and impregnates his wife.  Apparently not interested in the new potential tangent, the writers did the convenient thing and (SPOILERS) killed her off at the end of the episode.

*****

via Memory Alpha

Richard Hale played the role of Goro, the tribal chief.  Hale was born November 16, 1892 in Rogersville, Tennessee.  An opera baritone by training, he went to Columbia on a music scholarship before pursuing a career on stage. 

He hit the screen later in life, notable films including Friendly Persuasion, Julius Caesar and To Kill a Mockingbird.  Among many television gigs, he made four appearances on Perry Mason.  Hale died in 1981 of cardiovascular disease.