Scifi Battlestar Galactica

BSG TOS (1978)

Lorne Greene (Cmdr. Adama)

Actor Name: Lorne Greene

Character Name: Commander Adama

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Adama is the commander of the battlestar Galactica, one of twelve ships guarding the Colonies as the story begins. He realizes that the truce under which the Cylons are approaching is a ruse—but by then the Cylons have launched their devastating attack on the human worlds. It is too late. Once the massacre is over, Adama is the only battlestar commander left. His youngest son, Zac, is the first warrior casualty that alerts the fleet to the menace. His wife dies during the attack on Caprica.

Adama’s vision and eloquence persuade the refugees to leave their home planets. With allies such as his surviving children, Apollo and Athena, he leads the last battlestar and the remnants of the human race toward the planet Earth—and, he hopes, salvation.

Actor Bio: Lorne Greene’s long list of credits includes television series, movies and Shakespearean productions. He was born on February 12, 1915 in Canada, and began acting while at Queen’s University there. His distinctive voice helped him become a top newscaster, but he left the country in the early 1950s to pursue a film career in Hollywood. Other than Battlestar Galactica, he is best known for playing the patriarch in the long-running Western series Bonanza. Greene’s many guest-star stints include roles in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, the miniseries Roots, The Electric Company and The Love Boat. He was also much in demand for hosting and narration jobs, including productions of The Nutcracker and the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade (which he co-hosted for almost a decade in the ‘60s and early ‘70s).

IMDB Link: Lorne Greene

 

Richard Hatch (Capt. Apollo)

Actor Name: Richard Hatch

Character Name: Captain Apollo

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Captain Apollo is the son of Commander Adama and brother to Athena. Like everyone from the Colonies, he suffered great losses during the Cylon attack—but his duty and dedication to the fleet give him a sense of purpose. Early on he loses his brother Zac during a patrol. Then he meets and becomes sealed to the newswoman Serina, but their time together is short. After she dies, he is left to care for her son, Boxey, as a single parent.

Serina’s death leaves a hole in Apollo’s life that he fills with one-way missions and pilot banter. When Commander Cain’s daughter Sheba joins the crew, he feels attracted to her but won’t admit it to himself—until she makes the first move.

Actor Bio: Richard Hatch was born in Santa Monica, California, and was studying piano at the age of eight. After attending Harbor College in San Pedro, California, he joined a Los Angeles repertory company that took him to New York City in 1967. After acting in plays, he was cast in the soap opera All My Children. Since then he has racked up an impressive list of credits, including movies and guest shots on Murder, She Wrote, Hotel and Hawaii Five-O. Hatch played sidekick Dan Robbins on the last season of The Streets of San Francisco, but is best known for his turn as Apollo in Battlestar Galactica. Hatch is divorced with one son.

IMDB Link: Richard Hatch

Official Website: Richard Hatch - official site

 

Dirk Benedict (Lt. Starbuck)

Actor Name: Dirk Benedict

Character Name: Lt. Starbuck

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: As a child, Starbuck was found with other orphaned children after a Cylon attack on a Caprican agro colony. Legendary among the warriors for his womanizing ways, flying prowess and smart mouth, Starbuck is often seen smoking a fumarello and utilizing his skill at the game of pyramid. Although Starbuck’s rule is never to volunteer for anything, he still somehow manages to get all the dangerous missions, thanks to his best friend Apollo.

It is Starbuck’s patrol that Zac takes when Zac and Apollo run into Cylons on the eve of armistice. Many vipers are left behind when the Galactica pulls out of the battle to protect the Colonies, leaving him angry until he realizes what has happened. As it becomes clear how decimated the ranks have become, he trains female pilots to take the places of lost warriors. He is also selected to test-fly an experimental recon viper. He has a knack for getting himself involved in local adventures on planets the fleet passes; on one planet he becomes the sheriff, and after being shot down onto another he rallies a young family to rescue their father. One night on the Rising Star, he saves a man from Borellian Nomen that turns out to be his long-lost father. Later on he is also accused of murdering a rival triad player—but Apollo’s investigation exonerates him.

Starbuck’s relationships with women are short until he helps to rescue Cassiopeia, one of the refugees from the Colonies. This begins a classic love triangle between Starbuck, Apollo’s sister Athena, and Cassie. He even encounters an old flame, Aurora, who was involved in a mutiny plot. As time goes on, however, he and Cassie become more serious.

According to the final episode of Galactica 1980, Starbuck is marooned (possibly for good) later on after a Cylon ambush strands him on a small planet. It is then revealed in a dream that Doctor Zee is his offspring.

Actor Bio: Dirk Benedict was born Dirk Niewohner in White Suphur Springs, Montana on March 1, 1945. There, he spent his childhood participating in outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing and football. At college in Walla Walla, Washington studying composition, he accepted a dare to try out for Showboat—and won the lead. This gave him a taste for acting, and he spent the next few years working on musical productions. After graduation he trained under John Fernald, previously of London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and then did repertory theater in Seattle and Ann Arbor, Michigan (roles included King Lear and Star-Spangled Girl. He also created a Dixieland jazz band during this time.

While working on his first movie, Georgia, Georgia, in Sweden, he discovered the benefits of being on a macrobiotic diet, and changed his lifestyle as a result. Benedict also worked on Broadway productions such as Butterflies Are Free and Abelard and Heloise. Eventually he made the switch to television, in roles on Chopper One and Hawaii Five-O. In the early ‘70s Benedict was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Refusing treatment from doctors, he cured himself by following the tenets of his macrobiotic diet. By the time he was cast on Battlestar Galactica, he was cancer-free. He is also known for playing the ladies’ man/con man Templeton Peck on The A-Team, which aired from 1983-1988. Benedict is a writer as well; he wrote several motion pictures, two memoirs (including Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy) and has worked on many scripts.

He married actress Toni Hudson, whom he met during her guest star stint on The A-Team. They had two children, George and Roland, before Hudson left him. As an avid pilot, he has also spent many hours in the air.

IMDB Link: Dirk Benedict

Official Website: Dirk Benedict Central

Herb Jefferson Jr. (Lt. Boomer)

Actor Name: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Character Name: Lt. Boomer

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Lt. Boomer is a loyal friend and skilled warrior, second only to the team of Apollo and Starbuck on the Galactica. His background includes a tour of duty at Ice Station Thola and the riding of hovermobiles in his youth. He speaks fluent Gemonese and is an expert on electronics and communications.

After the fleet’s departure from the Colonies, Boomer is awarded a Gold Cluster for helping to clear a minefield in the Straits of Madagon-a political ruse by Sire Uri to grease the way to disarmament and permanent settlement on the planet Carillon. He is the first to notice their Ovion hosts’ deception, and the fact of Adama’s replacing warriors with civilians at the awards ceremony to counteract any plot. Boomer also contracts a virus that affects all the warriors, then spearheads the return of the Blue Squadron. He also supported Apollo and Starbuck in missions on Equellus, Antilla, Gamoray and Arcta, the attempt to trade Siress Belloby’s unmarked energizer for seed and the defense of Starbuck in a murder trial.

Boomer helped civilians escape during the fire that raged through the Galactica, and was one of the warriors to disappear into the strange Ship of Lights. Tired of losing to Starbuck and Apollo in Triad, he becomes a pawn for Count Iblis during his stay in the fleet. His duties also included transporting Eastern Alliance prisoners. As a flight leader, he led the Viper attack (with Sheba) on the lone base star the fleet encountered-after trying to help Apollo clear up the signal on a long-range transmission that led the fleet to the base star’s location.

Actor Bio: Herbert Jefferson Jr, credited also just as Herb, was born in Sandersville, Georgia on Sept, 28, 1946, is a prolific performer with a long list of television credits. In 1969 he graduated with honors from New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts; his career began the following year with an appearance in the TV series “The Immortal.” Over the next 26 years he would appear as a guest star in over 30 television shows. The shows included the pilot of Knight Rider, Sister, Sister, Hill Street Blues, Dukes of Hazzard, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Mission: Impossible. He also worked in several movies, including Outbreak and the TV film Apollo 13.

IMDB Link: Herb Jefferson Jr.

Terry Carter (Col. Tigh)

Actor Name: Terry Carter

Character Name: Col. Tigh

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Colonel Tigh is Commander Adama’s trusted second-in-command and staunch ally. He and Adama flew together in their younger days. Although he is a strict taskmaster, Tigh often shows a sense of humor, and he’s more of a religious skeptic than Adama. He often commands the Galactica in Adama’s absence, including an incident when Adama is on Kobol and Cylon Raiders attack while Galactica’s pilots are ill and another when Adama is critically wounded in a Cylon attack on Galactica. Tigh sometimes takes on the role of humanitarian; once he convinced Adama to search for the lost Apollo when the commander is reluctant.

His duties have included advising Adama on strategy, inspecting Agro ships and informing the warriors of emergency meetings. He also took over command of the Pegasus when Adama relieved Cain of duty. He doesn’t take it personally when Cain has his command returned to him and the entire crew cheers-he knows better than to fight a living legend. During the fire that spread throughout Galactica after a Cylon attack, it was Tigh who put mushies near the air ducts to lure Muffit.

Tigh was responsible for presenting Commander Kronus with an award, but Kronus later berates Tigh for drinking at the celebration because he is going on duty later. He accepts the criticism and leaves early to man his post. Still, he’s not always the good soldier-he is an occasional conspirator in certain plans put into effect by the warriors and Adama to circumvent the dictates of the Council of Twelve. He also has a role in the decision to attack the lone base star the fleet encounters at the edge of the galaxy. In that battle, he has the task of briefing the warriors.

Actor Bio: Terry Carter is the professional name of John E. DeCoste, born in Brooklyn, New York on December 16, 1928. In the 1950s, while studying law at St. John’s University Law School in New York, he met the well-known theatre actors Howard Da Silva and Morris Carnovsky. They convinced him to consider the pursuit of a career as an actor. Terry’s acting career started in 1952 with a leading role in Edward Chodorov’s Decision, at the Greenwich Mews Theatre in Greenwich Village. Terry landed his first Broadway role in 1954, as the male lead opposite Eartha Kitt, in the play Mrs. Patterson. In 1956, Terry Carter was one of the first black actors on equal-footing as a regular on a TV sitcom series, portraying “Private Sugarman” on Phil Silvers’ Sgt. Bilko (aka You’ll Never get Rich aka The Phil Silvers Show). He landed the title role in Richard Adler’s ground-breaking Broadway musical Kwamina in 1961, set in an African nation on the brink of achieving independence.

In 1965, walking up Broadway one day, Terry ran into a producer friend who suggested that he do a screen test for the position of TV newscaster. He landed the job: Terry Carter became world’s first black TV anchor newscaster, for WBZ-TV Eyewitness News in Boston, the Westinghouse flagship station, for the next 3 years.

Terry went on to co-star as “Sgt. Joe Broadhurst”, Weaver’s sidekick on McCloud from 1970 until 1977 and even made a reprise as “Lieutenant Broadhurst” in 1989’s CBS telefilm The Return of Sam McCloud. When McCloud ended, creator Glen Larson and producer Leslie Stevens approached Terry for the part of Lt. Boomer on a new sci-fi made-for-TV movie called Battlestar Galactica: Saga of a Star World. Terry broke his ankle in a roller skating accident and the part was re-cast. Later Terry was casted for another part, that of Colonel Tigh, the right hand of Commander Adama. The show was cancelled afer one season but Terry made a reprise, now as President Tigh, in the Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer from 1999, Richard Hatch’ attempt to revive the series.

Terry formed the Council for Positive Images, Inc. (CPI), a non-profit organization of which he is still president, in 1979, dedicated to enhancing intercultural and interethnic understanding through audiovisual communication. In 1985, Terry received a Los Angeles Emmy Award for K*I*D*S, a TV miniseries he created, produced and directed. In 1988, Terry produced and directed the award-winning, Emmy-nominated TV musical documentary A Duke Named Ellington about the life and work of pianist, composer, bandleader and jazz legend Duke Ellington. In 1992, Terry started research and development on what is to become a 90-minute documentary for PBS about African-American anthropologist, dancer, and choreographer Katherine Dunham. In 2001, Terry was commissioned by the Library of Congress to create the Katherine Dunham Technique, a dance technique presentation.

Presently residing in Scandinavia while maintaining a base in New York City, Terry Carter continues to pursue his producing and acting careers on both continents.

IMDB Link: Terry Carter

 

Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia)

Actress Name: Laurette Spang

Character Name: Cassiopeia

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Apollo and Starbuck first meet Cassiopeia (or “Cassie” to most) as they survey the freighter Gemini for wounded passengers. Cassiopeia’s arm is broken, so she is taken aboard the Galactica and treated there. She forges what might be at first an opportunistic relationship with Starbuck, engaging him in a bit of a love triangle (since he is already seeing Athena at the time). As time progresses, Starbuck and Cassie become more exclusive. Cassiopeia’s designation is that of a socialator (a call girl, perhaps an escort or a prostitute) and is morally condemned by many of her fellow Gemonese. However, in the Fleet, she leaves the trade and becomes a skilled medical corpsman.

Once the Pegasus has discovered the Colonial Fleet, it is learned that Cassie is the former lover of the legendary Cmdr. Cain. Because of this relationship, there is much tension, even some animosity, between her and Cain’s daughter Sheba. However, during a mission over Gamoray, Sheba has the chance to see Cassie’s newfound changes in career and in priorities, and her respect for Cassie increases hundredfold. Among these changes that we see in her is her steady and faithful commitment to her relationship with Starbuck. Even Starbuck admitted off the record that he once thought of getting sealed (i.e. married) to her.

Actress Bio: Laurette Spang was born on May 16, 1951 in Buffalo, New York. Her father was a chemist. She was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the second of three children. Among her earliest of hobbies was to write letters to actors, most notably of the British gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and the western series Bonanza (which starred, as we all know, Lorne Greene, her eventual Commander on the original Battlestar Galactica series). She credits meeting one of her early heroes, actress Kathryn Leigh Scott from Dark Shadows with inspiring her at a face to face meeting they had when Spang was a child. She was spotted by a talent scout in 1972, and soon was appearing in popular shows of the day such as Emergency, Adam-12 (which starred Kent McCord, better known as Capt. Troy in Galactica 1980), Happy Days, Charlie’s Angels and others. She also filmed four TV movies during this time period. Soon after she left the contract system, she landed the role of “Cassiopeia” in the original Battlestar Galactica. In 1980, she married John McCook, better known for his part as “Eric Forrester” in The Bold and the Beautiful.

Laurette Spang-McCook would appear in one episode of Magnum, P.I., and after that, disappear from acting to raise her family. She did surface once to host a 2002 episode of the Sciography documentary (the episode was about the original Battlestar Galactica).

IMDb Link: Laurette Spang

 

Anne Lockhart (Lt. Sheba)

Actor Name: Anne Lockhart

Character Name: Lt. Sheba

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Lt. Sheba is the only daughter of the legendary Commander Cain, whose ship the Pegasus was lost yahrens ago when it battled Cylons at the Molecay settlement. When pilots from the Battlestar Galactica encounter the Pegasus again, it is Sheba and her wingman Lt. Bojay who escort Apollo and Starbuck to a ship-and a hero-they believed long gone. New hope spreads throughout the fleet with the news that Cain has returned from the dead. But Cain is not built to be the shepherd of refugees on the run, and his actions put the fleet in jeopardy when three base stars, led by Baltar, find the Galactica. Adama relieves Cain of command, but Sheba is willing to lead a mutiny to put her father back in charge.

Sheba initially has a chip on her shoulder when it comes to Cassiopeia, who entered Cain’s life just after the death of Sheba’s mother. Sheba disobeys her father’s orders in order to accompany Starbuck and Apollo on a strike mission to Gomoray, but begins to change her mind about Cassie when Cassie1 4tends to an injured Bojay. Back defending the fleet against the Cylons, she is shot down and moved with the injured to the Galactica. Cain’s ship disappears again, leaving her and many of the Pegasus’ fighters behind. But Adama, like others, is convinced that Cain just headed off into deep space again, and tells Sheba to consider her part of his family.

She is soon integrated with the warriors on the Galactica. Her missions have included spraying boroton into the Galactica’s bays during the fire that erupted on the ship, shuttling prisoners (such as Baltar) and fighting off suicide attacker Cylons. She is the first to volunteer for duty when Bojay’s ship disappears into the Ship of Lights, and is also one of the first affected when Count Iblis is discovered and brought aboard. He takes her under his protection and control, but Apollo intervenes by trying to show her the truth about Iblis. In the ensuing conflict, she, Starbuck and Apollo are taken aboard the Ship of Lights and return to the Galactica with the coordinates of Earth.

Starbuck, Cassiopeia, Apollo and Sheba start to spend more time together, at triad games and other social events, and one evening they visit an old celestial chamber that Apollo has restored to working order. Sheba is the first to notice a transmission coming in. While investigating the transmission’s origin the Galactica encounters a lone base star. After Apollo and Starbuck volunteer for a mission to go into the belly of the base star and knock out its weapons, Sheba asks to come along. Apollo refuses, saying that they need her and Boomer to lead the attack against the base star. Sheba then confesses her love for Apollo.

Actress Bio: Anne Lockhart comes from a family that has deep roots in the entertainment industry. Her mother, June Lockhart, is well known for her roles in Lassie and Lost in Space. Born September 6, 1953 in Brentwood, California, she has a long list of credits that includes television, movies, Shakespeare and sound work. Her voice can be heard on many animated movies, including Chicken Little and The Little Mermaid, as well as in feature films such as Wedding Crashers and TV shows such as Law & Order. Her career began at the age of four when she starred in a short subject film, T is for Tumbleweed, which was nominated for an Academy Award. She also starred in episodes of Lassie with her mother, and began working in feature films in 1972 with Jory. Glen Larson was a fan of hers, casting her in several of his productions, including Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and B.J. and the Bear. He offered her an initial role on Battlestar Galactica, which she turned down-so he wrote her Sheba. In the 1990s she helped start the Santa Susana Repertory Theatre Company and has acted in the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival since 2003.

IMDB Link: Anne Lockhart

Noah Hathaway (Boxey)

Actor Name: Noah Hathaway

Character Name: Boxey

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Serina’s only son, six-year-old Boxey lost his daggit in the Cylon attack on Caprica. He and his mother were quartered on the Galactica, but Boxey fell into depression at the loss of his little dog-like creature. Serina sought help for him from a handsome pilot named Apollo, and it was Apollo who arranged for a droid daggit, Muffit II, to be given to Boxey. Apollo marries Serina, and when Serina dies, becomes Boxey’s only parent.

Early on, Boxey and Muffit accompanied Apollo and Serina onto the planet Carillon. When Muffit ran off, Boxey followed him and was caught by the Ovions. This led to the discovery of a huge tylium mine and sources of food for the entire fleet. The Ovions, however, turned out to be kidnapping humans for food. Boxey was also trapped in the Rejuvenation Center with Boomer and Athena during the fire that spread through the Galactica. Because he trained Muffit to sniff out mushies, the bridge officers on the ship were able to lead Muffit to them and get oxygen masks to the trapped people.

Boxey expresses interest in becoming a pilot when he’s older, and spends time with his aunt Athena and his grandfather Adama when Apollo is out on patrol. He often worries that his father won’t come home from a mission.

Actor Bio: Noah Hathaway was born November 13, 1971 and started acting in commercials at the age of three under guidance of his father Robert who was an actor and a music editor. He was six years old when tapped to star on Battlestar Galactica as Boxey, the stepson of leading man Apollo (Richard Hatch) after the death of his mother Serina (Jane Seymour). Noah was nominated for the 1st Young Artists Awards for his role in the series.

In 1984 Noah starred in the movie The NeverEnding Story, directed by Hollywood-director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot, Air Force One, Troy). Based on the much heralded book by German writer Michael Ende, Noah was cast to play the leading role of young hero Atreju, who is given the task to save the world of Fantasia. The movie never lost its appeal to both young and old viewers and remains a cult-favourite. It was at that time a big-budget production, yet it was filmed at the Bavaria Studios in Munich, Germany. For this movie, Noah did many of the stunts himself, one of them accidentally almost cost him his life! He was nominated for the 6th Young Artists Awards for his role in this movie and won the award for Best Younger Actor in the 12th Annual Saturn Awards in 1984. He starred as Harry Potter jr. (not the well known wizard) in 1986’s Troll. This movie also starred Anne Lockhart, who was his co-star in Battlestar Galactica, as she played the role of Lt. Sheba. He also starred in a number of movies and TV shows through 1986, including Family Ties, Mork & Mindy and Laverne & Shirley.

During his teens he taught dance, specifically advanced jazz and street dance, until an injury sidelined him at age 18. Prior to moving back to LA in 1998, he lived in New York for two and a half years. In his spare time, he tried to get out to the track at Willow Springs, California, to race in Super Sport motorcycle racing. He has tended bar at several LA clubs and sometimes worked in real estate, which he studied in college, as a mortgage loan officer. He holds black belts in Tang Su Do and Shotokan, and has learned American Kempo from Dr Jerry Erickson, and he also helps him teach a close-quarter combat-training course for flight attendants and pilots for the airlines.

His next on-screen project was the film project To Die, To Sleep in 1994. He also worked as a Production Coordinator on several movies during this period in his life.

Noah nowadays mainly keeps himself busy with designing (and riding) customized motorcycles (aka choppers), something that has been a passion ever since his childhood. He’s still learning and taking courses (in for example welding) to perfect his skills. His dream is setting up a shop one day in which he can sell and work on his self built choppers.

Recently he took up acting classes again. Although his back still aches, he feels fit enough to start. He’s coached by the highly praised Ivana Chubbuck, who has launched some of the most successful careers in Hollywood, like Halle Berry and tries to get himself in gear.

IMDB Link: Noah Hathaway

John Colicos (Baltar)

Actor Name: John Colicos

Character Name: Count Baltar

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Baltar first appears to us as an unwitting ambassador between the Cylon Empire and the Twelve Colonies of Man. However, it is later learned that Baltar brokered a deal with the Cylons that would bring destruction to all of the Colonies except his own, which would be subjugated under his rule. The Cylons themselves would then betray the Betrayer, instead destroying all twelve Colonies. Baltar’s fate then depends on which version of the story you’re told. In the theatrical release of Battlestar Galactica (1978), Baltar is beheaded outright early in the story. In the television rendition, Baltar is removed for later public execution.

In time, Baltar is spared by a new, more “charitable” Imperious Leader who instead assigns a baseship to Baltar. Baltar then uses this baseship to attempt to destroy the Colonial remnants. He was unsuccessful in heading them off at the planet Kobol. He tried herding them towards a giant pulsar weapon maintained on an ice planet. The Colonials instead destroyed the gun. He almost succeeded destroying the Galactica near the planet Gamoray, but fortunately the “lost” battlestar, Pegasus, was in the neighborhood and saved the day. Baltar eventually surrendered himself to Adama under a flag of truce when the flying orbs from the Ship of Lights harassed his baseship. Baltar was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life aboard the prison barge. There, he unsuccessfully planned an escape with several other convicts, including Borellians, and Eastern Alliance officers. Adama eventually released Baltar to an uninhabited planet (with short-range communication) in exchange for information concerning an upcoming attack on a Cylon baseship that was being planned. Baltar’s information was honest this time, and the attack was a success.

Actor Bio: John Colicos was born on December 10, 1928 in Toronto, Canada. He became a stage actor in Canada, in 1946, eventually performing in hundreds of plays across three different continents before going into television and cinema. In 1952, he performed in a Canadian radio broadcast of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, with one of his closest friends, actor Lorne Greene. He was married to Mona McHenry in 1956, and divorced in 1981. Early in his TV career, in the late 50’s, he played in many teleplays based on classic literature, including Oliver Twist, Wuthering Heights, Treasure Island, and The Count of Monte Cristo on the Dupont Show of the Month. In the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, Colicos did quite a bit of sci-fi and crime drama work, including episodes of Mannix, Mission Impossible, The Defenders, and of course, Star Trek.

In the late ‘70’s this trend continued with Colicos performing in episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, The Changeling, and an obscure series that some of us may have heard of, called Battlestar Galactica. His career continued to flourish in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s with similar, even typecast roles as the maniacal megalomaniac or the secret agent villain sort. We see this character recur in the War of the Worlds TV series where he plays an alien unable to shapeshift like the rest of his species. He even reprised his role of “Kor” on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in a few episodes during the late ‘90’s.

John Colicos’ last documented roles would be again as Count Baltar in the rarely-seen trailer Battlestar Galactica, The Second Coming.

IMDB Link: John Colicos

 

Sarah Rush (Flight Cpl. Rigel)

Actress Name: Sarah Rush

Character Name: Flight Cpl. Rigel

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Flight Corporal Rigel is the soft-spoken straight-laced bridge officer most closely resembling an LSO. There is not much character development of her beyond her steadfast and confident guidance of launch activities aboard the Galactica. She also coordinates ground and targeting information to and from Viper pilots. She supported her colleagues wherever she could, even in demonstration of morale. She was vital support, both tactical and moral, in the all-female asteroid expedition that gathered samples to determine the disease which struck down most of the Galactica’s strike wing.

Actress Bio: Sarah Rush was born on September 20, 1955. Battlestar Galactica was among her first regular TV series. Occasional appearances from that time period included Quincy, M.E., Happy Days, The Incredible Hulk, Monty, and others. Appearances became rarer after this period; Rush would play a guest role on a series once every few years, plus an occasional movie (The Nude Bomb, Joni, Talking to Strangers). She disappeared almost completely from television from 1986-96. She went through a divorce and a number of family illnesses during this period, which helped explain the slowdown in her career. In 1998, she had a guest spot on Everybody Loves Raymond. In 2000, she appeared on an episode of Chicken Soup for the Soul. And in 2002, she appeared on an episode of Friends. She has done a TV interview on a talk show since (in 1996). In 1999, she married Fred Bova. Her acting career would soon pick up speed as she won roles in Fangs, Max Keeble’s Big Movie, and Catch Me If You Can. She narrated a document in 2005 called The Bitumous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania.

IMDB Link: Sarah Rush

Tony Swartz (Flight Sgt. Jolly)

Actor Name: Tony Swartz

Character Name: Flight Sgt. Jolly

Episode Appearances: Main Cast

Character Bio: Jolly was the Colonial Warrior, and close friend of Boomer, Starbuck, and Apollo. He was almost constantly the butt of fat jokes. He often cracked jokes about himself in the same vein. Despite this, he was a well-valued crew member, and participated in many important missions for the Galactica. Jolly is often one those tasked with leading Viper squadrons when Starbuck and Apollo are indisposed.

Actor Bio: Tony Swartz was born on September 24, 1943 in Iowa. He was married to Helen Blume. They have one child, Kathryn.

His acting career seems to run from about 1975 to 1992. Most of his credits were TV guest appearances, except for his main cast role in the original Battlestar Galactica. Other appearances include parts on The Invisible Man, Dynasty, Kojak, Serpico, The Golden Girls and others. TV movies include Maneaters are Loose!, Crash Landing: Rescue of Flight 232, Convicted, No Man’s Land, and others.

IMDB Link: Tony Swartz

Felix Silla (Lucifer)

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Actor Name: Felix Silla

Character Name: Lucifer (suit)

Episode Appearences: Main Cast

Character Bio: Lucifer is an IL-series Cylon attached to Baltar by the Imperious Leader. Though he first sees the human Baltar as an asset he is unable to understand or anticipate Baltar’s orders. Lucifer is eager to learn the human way of thinking even though it’s completely different to his. Lucifer has a firm grasp on tactics and strategic insight. Tired of Baltar’s games he takes command of the Basestar when Baltar travels to the surface of Kobol to visit the tomb of the Ninth Lord. The full strike he launches frees Adama, Apollo and Serina but traps and nearly kills Baltar.

Lucifer distrust IL-series Cylon Specter, who runs an Cylon garrison on the marsh-like planet of Antilla. This lower grade model tries to get in favor of Baltar and uses dishonesty and deceptiveness to reach his goal. Lucifer attempts to undermine Specter’s efforts and even portrays some form of jealousy.

Actor Bio: Felix Silla was born on January 11, 1937 in a small village outside Rome, Italy. Silla trained as a circus performer, came to the United States in 1955, and toured with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Show. His multiple talents -as a bareback rider, trapeze artist and tumbler- brought him to Hollywood where he became a stuntman, starting with the Gig Young-Shirley Jones vehicle, A Ticklish Affair. His best-known roles are the maniacal, miniature Hitler, named “Litvak”, who menaces George Segal in The Black Bird and “Cousin Itt on the long-running TV series, The Addams Family. He played a child gorilla in the original Planet of the Apes movie and an Ewok in Return of the Jedi.

He has doubled -often for children- in such hits as The Towering Inferno, The Hindenberg, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (where he stunt doubled for Short Round) and Battlestar Galactica (where he stunt doubled for “Boxy”, actor Noah Hathaway). On Battlestar Galactica he also acted in the suits of both “Lucifer” (voiced by Jonathan Harris) and “Specter” (voiced by Murray Matheson). After Battlestar Galactica he acted in the suit of “Twiki” (voiced by Mel Blanc) in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

Between movies, he frequently appears in Las Vegas and Reno night clubs with his own musical combo, “The Original Harmonica Band.” Silla and wife Susan -a “little person,” like himself- have been married since 1965 and have two children, Bonnie and Michael.

IMDB Link: Felix Silla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resistance against Toaster needs cubits