List of Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series) and Galactica 1980 characters

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Promotional photo of the cast of Battlestar Galactica (1978). From left to right: Tony Swartz as Jolly, Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer, Anne Lockhart as Sheba, Lorne Greene as Adama, Maren Jensen as Athena, Richard Hatch as Apollo, Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck. Battlestar Galactica (1978) cast.jpg
Promotional photo of the cast of Battlestar Galactica (1978). From left to right: Tony Swartz as Jolly, Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer, Anne Lockhart as Sheba, Lorne Greene as Adama, Maren Jensen as Athena, Richard Hatch as Apollo, Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck.

Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series created by Glen A. Larson that aired on the ABC network from September 17, 1978, to April 29, 1979. It stars an ensemble cast led by Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Lorne Greene. [1] [2] Canceled after 24 episodes, the series was revived as Galactica 1980 , which aired for 10 episodes from January 27 to May 4, 1980, and featured only Greene and Herbert Jefferson Jr. from the original series cast. [3] [4]

Contents

Battlestar Galactica follows a group of human survivors fleeing the destruction of their homeworlds aboard the titular spacecraft, searching for a new home while being pursued by the Cylons, a fearsome society of robots intent on exterminating all humans. In Galactica 1980, set 30 years later, the fleet finds contemporary Earth with the Cylons still in pursuit.

The Battlestar Galactica franchise was rebooted on the Sci-Fi Channel with a 2003 miniseries and a 2004–2009 series, using new incarnations of some characters from the original series and inventing others. [5]

Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979)

Main

Captain Apollo

Captain Apollo, portrayed by Richard Hatch, [6] [7] is a Viper starfighter pilot on the Battlestar Galactica, the son of Commander Adama and brother of Lieutenant Athena. The leader of Blue Squadron, Apollo is typically partnered with his best friend, Lieutenant Starbuck. Early in the series, Apollo marries reporter-turned-Viper pilot Serina, but she is killed by Cylons, and Apollo adopts her young son, Boxey.

Lee Adama (call sign "Apollo"), portrayed by Jamie Bamber, is a reimagined version of Captain Apollo in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [8] Hatch played a different recurring character, Tom Zarek, in the reboot series. [8]

Lieutenant Starbuck

Lieutenant Starbuck, portrayed by Dirk Benedict, [6] [7] is Apollo's charismatic best friend, a skilled Viper pilot known for gambling and womanizing. Over the course of the series, he develops a romantic relationship with Cassiopeia. In "The Man with Nine Lives", Starbuck comes to believe that con man Chameleon, who needs the pilot's help to evade revenge-seeking Borellians, may be his father.

TV Guide ranked Starbuck # 21 on its "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends of All Time" list. [9]

Kara Thrace (call sign "Starbuck"), portrayed by Katee Sackhoff, is a gender-swapped version of Lieutenant Starbuck in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10] [11]

Commander Adama

Commander Adama, portrayed by Lorne Greene, [6] [7] is the commander of the Battlestar Galactica and the refugee human fleet, and the father of Apollo and Athena. A religious man, he is also the spiritual leader of the surviving colonists, and leads the quest for the fabled planet Earth. Adama is suspicious of the offer of armistice by the Cylons, a fearsome society of robots with whom the Twelve Colonies have been at war for a thousand years. He is the only battlestar commander to keep his ship on battle-stations drill, and as a result, the Galactica is the only battlestar to survive the Cylon sneak attack. Both his wife, Ila, and youngest son, Zac, are killed in the attack.

William Adama, portrayed by Edward James Olmos, is a reimagined version of Commander Adama in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10] [11]

Lord Baltar

Lord Baltar, [lower-alpha 1] portrayed by John Colicos, [6] is a member of the Council of Twelve, a quorum of representatives from the Twelve Colonies. Humanity has been at war against the Cylons for a thousand years, and Baltar comes to the council with an offer of peace from the Cylons. In truth, he has promised to aid them in destroying most of the human race in exchange for them sparing his own colony, plotting to rule as dictator with the Cylons as his enforcers. The Cylons, however, are intent on exterminating all humans. They fail to honor their arrangement, and decimate all twelve colonies. A protesting Baltar is sentenced to death, but is granted a reprieve by the Cylon Imperious Leader, who realizes Baltar will be useful in helping the Cylons find and destroy the fleeing human fleet of survivors.

Gaius Baltar, portrayed by James Callis, is a reimagined version of Lord Baltar in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10]

Lieutenant Athena

Lieutenant Athena, portrayed by Maren Jensen, [6] is a starfighter pilot and communications specialist who serves in the Core Command bridge crew of the Galactica, and Commander Adama's daughter.

Sharon Agathon (call sign "Athena"), portrayed by Grace Park, is a copy of the Number Eight Cylon model in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10] [11]

Boxey

Boxey, portrayed by Noah Hathaway, [6] [7] is Serina's young son. [lower-alpha 2] After Boxey's pet daggit, Muffit, is killed in the attack on Caprica, Apollo arranges for a robot daggit, Muffit II, to be given to the boy.

Lieutenant Boomer

Lieutenant Boomer, portrayed by Herbert Jefferson Jr., [6] is a starfighter pilot.

Sharon Valerii (call sign "Boomer"), is a gender and race swapped version portrayed by Grace Park, is a copy of the Number Eight Cylon model in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10] [11]

Flight Sergeant Jolly

Flight Sergeant Jolly, portrayed by Tony Swartz, [6] is a starfighter pilot.

Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia, portrayed by Laurette Spang, [6] is a Medtech and love interest of Starbuck. [lower-alpha 3]

Colonel Tigh

Colonel Tigh, portrayed by Terry Carter, [6] is Commander Adama's second-in-command on the Galactica.

Saul Tigh, portrayed by Michael Hogan, is a reimagined race swapped version of Colonel Tigh in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series. [10]

Lieutenant Sheba

Lieutenant Sheba, portrayed by Anne Lockhart, is introduced in "The Living Legend" as a starfighter pilot and the leader of the Silver Spar Viper squadron from the Battlestar Pegasus. [6] She is the daughter of Commander Cain (Lloyd Bridges) of the Pegasus, and is left behind on the Galactica when Cain and the Pegasus go to battle and subsequently disappear. Initially a foil for Apollo, she ultimately professes her love for him in the series finale, "The Hand of God".

Recurring

Serina

Serina, portrayed by Jane Seymour, [6] [7] is a reporter-turned-Viper pilot, and Boxey's mother. She marries Apollo, but is subsequently killed by Cylons in "Lost Planet of the Gods".

Others

Guest

Macnee also narrated the opening of several episodes, [6] and voiced the Cylons' Imperious Leader. [2] [13] Jonathan Harris voiced Lucifer, an IL-Series Cylon, in nine episodes. [2] [14]

Galactica 1980

Main

Captain Troy

Captain Troy, portrayed by Kent McCord, [3] is an adult Boxey, now a Viper starfighter pilot.

Lieutenant Dillon

Lieutant Dillon, portrayed by Barry Van Dyke, [3] is a Viper starfighter pilot.

Jamie Hamilton

Jamie Hamilton, portrayed by Robyn Douglass, [3] is an on-camera reporter for United Broadcasting Company's news program on contemporary Earth.

Commander Adama

Commander Adama, portrayed by Lorne Greene from the original series, [3] is the commander of the Battlestar Galactica and the human fleet

Recurring

Colonel Boomer

Colonel Boomer, portrayed by Herbert Jefferson Jr. from the original series, [3] is a former Viper starfighter pilot who now serves as Adama's second-in-command.

Dr. Zee

Dr. Zee, portrayed by Robbie Rist in the first three episodes and by James Patrick Stuart thereafter, [3] is a superintelligent child who serves as a scientific advisor to Adama and the Council of Twelve. The episode "The Return of Starbuck" reveals that he had been sent to the Galactica by a stranded Starbuck, at the request of Zee's mysterious mother Angela.

Mr. Brooks

Mr. Brooks, portrayed by Fred Holliday, [3] is the station manager, and Jamie Hamilton's superior, at United Broadcasting Company's television studios.

Guest

Notes

  1. Baltar is called "Count Baltar" in the pilot episode only.
  2. An adult Boxey appears as Captain Troy in Galactica 1980 , portrayed by Kent McCord.
  3. Cassiopeia is presented as a courtesan in the series pilot.

Related Research Articles

<i>Galactica 1980</i> American sci-fi TV series (1980)

Galactica 1980 is an American science fiction television series and a spin-off from the original Battlestar Galactica television series. It was first broadcast on ABC in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980, lasting for 10 episodes.

Number Six (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) Fictional character in Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Number Six is a family of fictional characters from the reimagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. The character is portrayed by Canadian actress and model Tricia Helfer. Of the twelve known Cylon models, she is the sixth of the "Significant Seven". Like the others of the "Significant Seven", there are several versions of her, including Caprica-Six, Shelly Godfrey, Gina Inviere, Natalie Faust, Lida, and Sonja. She is the only model that does not use one particular human alias for all copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kara Thrace</span> Character in Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Kara Thrace is a fictional character in the reimagined 2004 Battlestar Galactica series. Played by Katee Sackhoff, she is a revised version of Lieutenant Starbuck from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series. She is one of the main characters on the show.

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<i>Battlestar Galactica</i> (2004 TV series) 2004 American science fiction television series

Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore and executive produced by Moore and David Eick as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson. The pilot for the series first aired as a three-hour miniseries in December 2003 on the Sci-Fi Channel, which was then followed by four regular seasons, ending its run on March 20, 2009. The cast includes Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, Tricia Helfer, and Grace Park.

"The Hand of God" is the tenth episode of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It shares its title with the last episode of the original series.

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"Fragged" is the third episode of the second season of the Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on July 29, 2005. It is the first episode in which Starbuck does not appear.

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"Resistance" is the fourth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on August 5, 2005.

"Flight of the Phoenix" is the ninth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on September 16, 2005.

Pegasus (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 10th episode of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Pegasus" is the tenth episode of the second season of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. It aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on September 23, 2005. Following "Pegasus", the series went on hiatus until January 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resurrection Ship</span> 11th and 12th episodes of the 2nd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Resurrection Ship" is a two-part episode of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. Part 1 aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on January 6, 2006, and Part 2 aired on January 13, 2006. It was the first episode broadcast after a hiatus following the broadcast of the previous episode, "Pegasus", on September 23, 2005.

"Lay Down Your Burdens" is the two-part second-season finale of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. Part 1 aired originally on the Sci Fi Channel on March 3, 2006; Part 2 aired on March 10, 2006, as a 90-minute special.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saga of a Star World</span> 1st and 3rd episodes of the 1st season of Battlestar Galactica

"Saga of a Star World" is the pilot for the American science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica which was produced in 1978 by Glen A. Larson. A re-edit of the episode was released theatrically as Battlestar Galactica in Canada before the television series aired in the United States, in order to help recoup its high production costs. Later, the standalone film edit was also released in the United States.

Exodus (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 3rd and 4th episodes of the 3rd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Exodus" are the third and fourth episodes of the third season from the science fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica. The episodes originally aired on the Sci Fi Channel on October 16 and 23, 2006.

"Torn" is the sixth episode of the third season from the science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. The episode introduced the fictional concept of the "hybrid in the Battlestar Galactica" fictional universe - a semi-organic computer which operates the Basestar. The episode disclosed in the story that some Cylon believed hybrid to be speaking for the one true god in the show.

The music of the 2004 TV series Battlestar Galactica is a body of work largely credited to the composers Bear McCreary and Richard Gibbs. The music of Battlestar Galactica displays a variety of ethnic influences and generally does not conform to the "orchestral" style of many science fiction scores.

Crossroads (<i>Battlestar Galactica</i>) 19th and 20th episodes of the 3rd season of Battlestar Galactica

"Crossroads" are the nineteenth and twentieth episodes of the third season and season finale from the science fiction television series, Battlestar Galactica. Neither episode begins with a survivor count.

"He That Believeth in Me" is the first episode in the fourth season of the reimagined science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. The episode aired on SCI FI and Space in the United States and Canada respectively on April 4, 2008, and aired on Sky1 in the United Kingdom on April 15, along with the following episode "Six of One". The episode's title is a reference to the Book of John, chapter 11:25-26 in the New Testament of the Bible, which quotes; "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live..." The episode was generally well received and also won an Emmy Award.

References

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