Deep Space Nine featured a wide range of unforgettable characters.
I remember the skepticism some Star Trek fans expressed when Paramount announced Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the franchise’s newest series. “A Star Trek series set on a space station?” they asked. “What will the new mission statement be—‘to boldly stay put where no one has stayed put before?’’
That tag line might actually have served Deep Space Nine well. The series creators wanted, in part, to “stay put” at a single strange new world, rather than always warping to a new one week after week.
But what then-skeptical fans may also have forgotten was the success of Star Trek depends in no small part on the richness and robustness of its characters. Deep Space Nine may not have gone as many places as the original series or The Next Generation did, but it had no shortage of compelling characters.
The series includes so many well-developed characters, brought to life by so many talented actors, choosing the best is almost an impossible task. But here’s my ranking—as of now—of the 30 most memorable characters from Deep Space Nine.
30. Advocate Ch’Pok
Though he appeared only once, Ch’Pok—played by prolific actor Ron Canada, who has a penchant for playing “tough but sympathetic authority figures”—is one of the more memorable Klingons we’ve seen in any Star Trek series. His dogged pursuit of Worf, whom he believes wrongly destroyed a civilian transport, shows him to be a fierce and adamant, if opinionated, advocate of justice.
29. Arne Darvin
Charlie Brill was able to reprise his role as the Klingon spy surgically altered to look human nearly 30 years after playing him first in “The Trouble with Tribbles.” Darvin was a one-note character in his original appearance. Here, Brill had the chance to add more depth to Darvin. The character’s decades of resentment and desire for revenge led him to a desperate act of time travel—and made him the catalyst for one of Deep Space Nine’s most popular episodes.
28. Odo
René Auberjonois got to play several versions of Odo during the run of Deep Space Nine, thanks to various science fictional twist and turns. One of the most intriguing was the future Odo on Gaia, living among the Defiant crew’s descendants. The Gaian Odo sacrifices eight thousand people’s lives to save Kira’s life—a shocking act of love that further forces the issue of “our” Odo’s feelings for Kira to the fore.
27. Tim Watters
Played by Paul Popowich, Tim Watters is the cadet who leads Starfleet Academy’s elite Red Squadron on a series of increasingly dangerous missions against the Dominion. Watters speaks of pride and courage, but appears driven by war fever, and is fueling himself with chemical stimulants. He is an unforgettably tragic figure, all the more so because he was so young. As Nog says of him, “He may have been a hero. He may even have been a great man. But in the end, he was a bad captain.”
26. Dr. Mora
James Sloyan guest starred as Dr. Mora Pol, the Bajoran scientist who taught Odo, in two Deep Space Nine episodes. In both “The Alternate” and “The Begotten,” Mora and Odo clash over the former’s past treatment of the latter, but ultimately find some measure of reconciliation. Sloyan’s sympathetic and complex portrayal of Mora helps bring immeasurable depth to Odo’s backstory.
25. Michael Eddington
Deep Space Nine wasn’t afraid to challenge the ideals of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, not only from without but also from within. Michael Eddington, played in nine episodes by Ken Marshall, was one of the biggest internal challenges. A security officer who ultimately became a Maquis leader, Eddington forced Sisko—and viewers—to confront questions about conflicts of loyalty and freedom that don’t always have easy answers.
24. Tora Ziyal
Tora Ziyal is the only character on this list played by three actors: Cyia Batten (“Indiscretion,” “Return to Grace”), Tracy Middendorf (“For the Cause”), and Melanie Smith (in Ziyal’s last six appearances). Ziyal was the daughter of Gul Dukat by a Bajoran woman during the Cardassian occupation. Although Dukat eventually acknowledged her and although she forced a true though not always smooth friendship with Major Kira, Ziyal perished when Damar decided she deserved execution as a traitor to Cardassia. Ziyal’s death pushed Dukat into madness, ensuring this character cast a long shadow long after she was written out of the series.
23. Ishka (Moogie)
Two actors portrayed Quark and Rom’s mother Ishka, whom they affectionately called “Moogie.” Andrea Martin originated the role in “Family Business,” while Cecily Adams played her in her remaining four appearances. An unapologetic advocate for women’s rights and economic freedom in patriarchal Ferengi society, Ishka eventually became romantically involved with Grand Nagus Zek, and influenced him to institute reforms on Ferenginar—much to Quark’s dismay. Still, the affection between them remained.
22. Damar
In 23 Deep Space Nine episodes, Casey Biggs played Damar, the one-time right-hand man of Gul Dukat who eventually rose to become Legate of Cardassia during the planet’s alliance with the Dominion. Biggs’s earliest performances as Damar give little hint of the tragic figure Damar ultimately becomes, especially when Damar kills Ziyal in “Sacrifice of Angels.” But viewers follow Damar’s descent into alcohol-fueled depression as he realizes he is nothing but a puppet of the Founders, and ultimately cheer for him as he leads a self-sacrificial attack against them near the Dominion War’s end.
21. The Female Changeling
Salome Jens played the nameless Female Changeling in 14 episodes of Deep Space Nine. A shrewd military strategist, this Founder also became Odo’s primary connection to the rest of his people. Although she took him to the Great Link to be judged for having killed a fellow Changeling, Odo ultimately cures her of the disease afflicting the Changelings, which leads to the end of the Dominion War.
20. General Martok
Worf isn’t on my list of most memorable Deep Space Nine characters—I remember him first and foremost from The Next Generation. But General Martok is, and his relationship to Worf is a major reason why. Brilliantly brought to life by J.G. Hertzler, Martok is arguably the most enjoyable Klingon we’ve seen in the franchise. He’s a cunning warrior, but also loads of fun, and his adoption of Worf into his house is one of the most moving events in Worf’s story across the franchise. It’s entirely appropriate Martok becomes Chancellor at the series’ end. Who wouldn’t want to follow him to glory?
19. Weyoun
Jeffrey Combs has been an amazing gift to Star Trek. Other fans may remember him more for his amusing performances as Liquidator Brunt of the Ferengi Commerce Authority, but I remember him most as Weyoun, the Vorta we meet again—and again, and again—in 24 episodes of Deep Space Nine. With an infuriatingly irresistible blend of charm and menace, Combs made all the Weyoun clones some of the funniest and most fascinating of Star Trek villains.
18. Captain Kassidy Yates
Penny Johnson (now credited as Penny Johnson Jerald on The Orville) played freighter captain and, ultimately, Benjamin Sikso’s wife Kassidy Yates in 15 episodes. Her tough, independent-minded character gave us a rare glimpse into civilian, commercial space travel in the Star Trek universe. She also became a friend to Jake, and the mother of a child, still unborn in the series finale, to Ben Sisko. I hope we’ll get to see Kassidy and her child in some future Star Trek production.
17. Luther Sloan
Section 31 is one of the worst ideas Rick Berman-era Star Trek left us with, and I don’t understand why the franchise, from Star Trek Into Darkness through Discovery and even a supposed spinoff series, insists upon revisiting it. Maybe it’s due in large part to William Sadler’s creepy and compelling turns as Luther Sloan, Section 31 operative, in three episodes of Deep Space Nine. Sadler plays the part to paranoid perfection, leaving not only Dr. Bashir but all of us to wonder how much of what we’ve believed about the Federation turns out to be true.
16. Vic Fontaine
One-time teen idol and crooner James Darren enjoyed a resurgence of interest late in his career thanks not only to his regular role on William Shatner’s cop series T.J. Hooker but also his seven appearances in the last two seasons of Deep Space Nine. Darren put his pipes to good use as holographic singer and Vegas nightclub owner Vic Fontaine. He advised Odo on Odo’s courtship of Kira in “His Way.” He helped Nog re-engage with the real world in “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” And he serenaded the station crew during their last time all together in the series finale. Truly, as Dr. Bashir promised, no ordinary hologram!
15. Ezri Dax
Had Nicole de Boer joined Deep Space Nine earlier than its last season, Ezri Dax would no doubt rank higher on my list of the show’s memorable characters than she does. As things stand, de Boer still managed to create an appealing and engaging character in a short amount of time. Ezri quickly became a welcome member of the DS9 family—the same “old man” we and Sisko had come to know, but different.
14. Benny Russell
Captain Sisko’s alter ego—or is that the other way around?—1950s pulp sci-fi author Benny Russell appeared in two episodes. He is at the center of “Far Beyond the Stars,” which is not only one of the finest Star Trek episodes ever produced but one of the most moving hours of television I’ve seen. He reappeared briefly in “Shadows and Symbols.” Avery Brooks delivered a searing, standout performance, boldly challenging Benny’s colleagues and viewers at home to confront the racism and prejudice that still threatens to keep us all, decades later, from making our present more like the Star Trek future.
13. Rom
By turns hilarious and heartwarming, Max Grodénchik’s development of Rom is one of the most outstanding character achievements in a series that is full of them. He started the series as Quark’s “idiot brother,” and ended it as the Grand Nagus. We’re so fortunate Grodénchik showed the Deep Space Nine writers what he was capable of this character, so we always have Rom’s incredible, inspiring journey.
12. Nog
Deep Space Nine viewers watched Nog grow up both along with and apart from Jake Sisko. Though the late Aron Eisenberg was in his thirties during the show’s run, he convincingly played a young boy growing to become a fine young man, learning to balance Starfleet’s values and traditions with those of his own Ferengi heritage. Star Trek: Discovery’s introduction of Eisenberg-class starships, including the USS Nog, is a fitting tribute to not only a wonderful character but also the talented man who played him.
11. Miles O’Brien
Colm Meaney has been a part of Star Trek since the pilot episode of The Next Generation. But the decision to transfer Chief Miles O’Brien to Deep Space Nine was an inspired one, allowing the character to grow in ways the already crowded ensemble of TNG simply couldn’t. Not only did “torture O’Brien” episodes like “Hard Time” come to be a seasonal tradition eagerly anticipated by the creative team and fans alike, O’Brien’s relationship with Dr. Bashir became one of Star Trek’s richest and most realistic depictions of friendship.
10. Gul Dukat
Suave or sinister? Composed or crazed? Marc Alaimo masterfully turned in a wide range of performances as Gul Dukat during his 33 Deep Space Nine episodes. His compelling work elevates many of those episodes, such as “Waltz,” to must-see, essential episode status. Alaimo’s portrayal of Dukat disguised as the Bajoran Anjohl in the series’ final narrative arc gave him the chance to reveal entirely new depths to which this villain would sink in his quest for power—not that we could feel all that sorry for Kai Winn at finding herself used by him. Along with Khan Noonien Singh, Gul Dukat must rank as one of the franchise’s greatest antagonists.
9. Kai Winn
As I wrote in this space last fall, it certainly seems like the late Louise Fletcher appeared as Winn Adami in more than 14 episodes. Her character represents religious leadership at its worst in any tradition: giving lip service to ideals like love and service while truly seeking only one’s own power. Fletcher beautifully played the moments that showed us at one time this woman truly believed in the Prophets. But she even more powerfully played Winn’s descent into her ultimate self-damnation.
8. Garak
Just a humble tailor? Not on your life! Andrew Robinson brought the former Obsidian Order operative to riveting life in each of the 37 Deep Space Nine episodes featuring him. Garak became such a popular character, the actor even wrote a Star Trek novel from Garak’s perspective. Used copies command surprisingly high prices on the secondary market. Garak’s affection for Ziyal was a touching story arc, and his conversations with Dr. Bashir were always a delight.
7. Julian Bashir
In season one, Siddig El Fadil began playing Julian Bashir as an overly enthusiastic, idealistic, and obnoxious physician making googly eyes at Jadzia Dax and condescendingly eager to practice medicine “on the frontier.” But by season seven, Alexander Siddig was playing Dr. Bashir as a man who’d learned world-shaking secrets about his past, and whose experiences on the station had made him not only more capable but also more compassionate.
6. Jake Sisko
Uninterested in following his father’s footsteps into Starfleet, Jake Sisko, played by Cirroc Lofton, started the series as a boy who got into trouble at Keiko O’Brien’s school. But as he grew, he pursued his dreams of becoming a writer—possession by alien intelligences and traumatic experiences on Dominion War battlefronts notwithstanding. We’ve haven’t seen another child in Star Trek make the transition to adulthood as fully and as convincingly sense, and Lofton deserves so much credit for making Jake Sisko a relatable character we feel is our friend.
5. Quark
Armin Shimerman was one of the first actors to play a Ferengi, in the TNG episode “The Last Outpost.” But on Deep Space Nine, Shimerman played the definitive Ferengi. Barkeeper Quark could easily have been a one-note character—the scheming con artist, always running afoul of the law. But while Quark and Constable Odo had their share of conflict, they also developed a respect for one another. Their unusual friendship was only one area in which Shimerman made Quark so much more than a caricature.
4. Kira Nerys
Originally, the Star Trek creative team wanted Michelle Forbes to reprise her role as Ro Laren on Deep Space Nine. Fortunately for us all, she was unavailable or uninterested, and the team created Kira Nerys, played so wonderfully by Nana Visitor. Full of fiery resistance to Starfleet’s authority, deep and abiding religious faith, passion for those she loves and deep compassion for those who suffer, and a sharp tongue when called for, Kira is a brilliant creation. She also helped pave the way for Star Trek’s future depictions of women in leadership, preceding Kathryn Janeway and Michael Burnham. Here’s hoping we get to learn about now-Colonel Kira’s further adventures in future Star Trek projects, too.
3. Odo
Superlatives fail to describe René Auberjonois’ artistry as Odo. As the Spock-like character of Deep Space Nine—the not-quite-human outsider who comments on and often even illustrates the human condition—Odo occupied a critical space in the Deep Space Nine format. Auberjonois played the constable’s gruff exterior and softer side equally well. While his makeup was no doubt miserable, he brought a clear joy to the role that shines through.
2. Jadzia Dax
Anyone who, like Dr. Bashir in the early seasons, made the mistake of thinking Jadzia Dax was simply another pretty face quickly got an education. Terry Farrell brought physical beauty to the part, but also and more importantly intelligence, humor, and authority. It does not take long at all to believe she is the “old man” Sisko trusts for sage counsel and warm friendship. Her departure before the series’ end is the only unfortunate aspect of Farrell’s performance, as Dax remains one of Star Trek’s all-time most enjoyable characters.
1. Benjamin Sisko
Avery Brooks was the first American actor and the first African American actor to head the cast of a Star Trek series. While Sisko came to the station with the rank of commander, in the third season he was given the captain’s rank he richly deserved. Depending on what a scene called for, Brooks played Sisko with quiet dignity, fierce moral vision, gentle affection, and wry humor. He was also unafraid to play Sisko with the moral ambiguity sometimes demanded, in such standout episodes as “In the Pale Moonlight.” From his explanation of linear time to the wormhole aliens (the Prophets) in “Emissary” to his transcendence of the same in “What You Leave Behind,” Avery Brooks was consistently compelling as Captain Benjamin Sisko.