Unlike nearly every other iteration of Star Trek, Deep Space Nine’s stories revolved around a large extended cast being thrown into the mix thanks to it’s more static core setting, Beyond it’s core regular cast members, the show made time for evolving young prospects like Nog, old soldiers like Martok to take the fight to the Dominion, and even followed the rise of Damar from political puppet to revolutionary.
One of the most iconic in extending the cast was the iconic character actor Wallace Shawn. Making his first appearance in season one’s The Nagus, Shawn’s part was that of the head of the Ferengi power structure and would help to explore and expand Quark’s culture and family. But even layered in complex heavy make up, he’d still be instantly recognisable with his distinct voice and comedic timing.
Having had a solid career with dozens of roles to keep him busy since his on screen debut in 1979, Shawn is perhaps best known by a whole generation as Vizzini in the Princess Bride which, oddly enough, resulted in him being part of two meme’s from that film for the next generation! He’d also had prominent role in 90’s comedies such as Clueless and Vegas vacation, appeared on numerous TV shows from Ally McBeale to Taxi, and lent his distinct voice to animation, particularly within the Toy Story films as Rex.
But he was far from just a comedy star. With more serious films under his belt, such as My Dinner With Andre and Vanya on 42nd Street, Shawn is also an accomplished theatre actor and writer. Originally hoping to become a diplomat, Shawn would first graduate from Harvard after studying history before leaving for the UK to continue his education studying politics and philosophy in Oxford.
While his plans to become a diplomat fell to a passion for theatre, Shawn’s studies and political leanings would find their way into his works with a heavy focus on socialism and fighting against inequality. Quite the polar opposite of the character he brought to life on Deep Space Nine….
Zek was the Grand Nagus of the Ferengi. In a culture that was built around commerce, he was the embodiment of greed, ambition and an unrelenting devotion to earning profit. First appearing as a sinister parody of corporate greed, Shawn would return for a further six episodes expanding on the character and how it influenced the corporate culture of the Ferengi. Over time Zek became a little softer round the edges, in large part due to Quarks family. Particularly his mother who it turned out had been having an affair with the Nagus and influencing his decisions behind the scenes as he deteriorated with age.
The Ferengi became one of Star Trek’s most fascinating alien cultures, evolving from relatively straightforward comic antagonists into a society with its own politics, traditions and social conflicts. Wallace Shawn played an important part in that evolution. His Grand Nagus Zek helped demonstrate that even the most profit-obsessed Ferengi could be complicated, vulnerable and occasionally capable of surprising change.
More than three decades since first bringing Zek to screen, Wallace Shawn’s character remains a fan favourite, while he’s has enjoyed an extraordinary career across film, television and theatre, his contribution to Star Trek deserves a special place in the franchise’s history.
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Them From That Thing: Wallace Shawn
Unlike nearly every other iteration of Star Trek, Deep Space Nine's stories revolved around a large extended cast being thrown into the mix thanks to it's more static core setting, Beyond it's core regular cast members, the show made time for evolving young prospects like Nog, old soldiers like Martok to take the fight to the Dominion, and even followed the rise of Damar from political puppet to revolutionary. One of the most iconic in extending the cast was the iconic character actor Wallace Shawn. Making his first appearance in season one's The Nagus, Shawn's part was that of the head of the Ferengi power structure and would help to explore and expand Quark's culture and family. But even layered in complex heavy make up, he'd still be instantly recognisable with his distinct voice and comedic timing. Having had a […]
“So, this is goodbye.” Walter Koenig. 1936-2026
The Star Trek community has lost one of its most cherished members as original series actor, Walter Koenig, has died at the age of 90. He passed away on 25 October 2026 at his home in North Hollywood, surrounded by his daughter and niece. For generations of Star Trek fans, Koenig was far more than the young navigator who served under Captain Kirk. Joining Star Trek at the beginning of its second season, Koenig stepped aboard the Enterprise as Ensign Pavel Chekov, a young Russian officer at a time when the United States and the Soviet Union remained locked in the tensions of the Cold War. His presence aboard an American-led fictional starship was a small but meaningful expression of Star Trek's enduring belief that humanity could overcome its divisions and work together towards a better future. Appearing in […]
[Q2&A] The Quadrants of Command
Quadrant 2 is free for anyone in the UK, EU (and more!) to join. With a solid base in the UK, we have members from around a dozen other countries including units in France and Japan. One query we often get in our inbox is why don't we include the countries that have produced Star Trek – the United States and Canada? The answer is simple. We don't host those members. Quadrant 1 does. Starfleet Command Quadrant 2. It's quite the mouthful. If you're a curious fan wandering by wondering why we opted for a club name that had that many syllable, it comes down to our history and how SFC formed and evolved over the years. Originating in 1974, Starfleet Command began in the United States, an idea by fans that quickly gained the support of creator Gene Roddenberry […]
[Retro Review] Dagger Of The Mind
Dropping by a penal colony focused on rehabilitating the criminally insane, the Enterprise beams down some much needed supplies while one of the inmates sneaks on board to beg for asylum. But it's no regular stowaway. Dr Simon Van Gelder used to be part of the staff before he began to lose his mind and he's not just afraid of having dodgy meals and no windows, but reveals to Kirk that the facility runs through torture and abuse. Van Gelder arrived broken. His memories scattered, and any glimpse of those memories would trigger a painful and violent reaction. The colony's lead scientist and essentially warden, Dr Tristan Adams, waves it off claiming Van Gelder's techniques were tested on himself and that the rest of his story was delusional ramblings. Not entirely convinced, and given a heavy nudge by McCoy, Kirk […]
[Treknology] Shields Up! Red Alert!
Different writers, directors and plot points paint Starfleet as multiple and occasionally conflicting things. Both a military and exploratory force, there's many layers to the fleet and how it operates. Handling everything from border defence to mapping unknown territories, even the most mundane mission in peace time can be a risky one. Especially as not every new person you meet will want a cup of tea and a chat, and accidentally dropping into someone's back garden doesn't always go down well.So when the shooting starts, you have to be ready to defend yourself, and in a world of weaponry that could burn an entire planet into ashes, sticking some armour on your hull just isn't going to cut it. One of the most vital systems always ready on stand by, deflector shields help to keep a ship and it's crew […]
Behind the Viewscreen: Gene L Coon
As it's creator, the name Gene Roddenberry is part of the Star Trek legend. But when it came to shaping what the show was, and forming it's foundations, there was another Gene behind the scenes who help build on and refine the shows concepts into the world we know today. Originally brought into the fold in August 1966, Coon was hired to handle day to day production and script revisions during the shows first season, with his first credit appearing on the first seasons eighth episode, Miri. Beyond that day to day production, as well as his creative relationship with Roddenberry, Coon's efforts would help shape the shows identity, helping to form it's unique blend of science fiction, drama and political commentary and in shaping the shows moral compass that would be a keystone of the Star Trek experience. Giving […]
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Behind the Viewscreen: Gene L Coon
As it's creator, the name Gene Roddenberry is part of the Star Trek legend. But when it came to shaping what the show was, and forming it's foundations, there was another Gene behind the scenes who help build on and refine the shows concepts into the world we know today. Originally brought into the fold in August 1966, Coon was hired to handle day to day production and script revisions during the shows first season, with his first credit appearing on the first seasons eighth episode, Miri. Beyond that day to day production, as well as his creative relationship with Roddenberry, Coon's efforts would help shape the shows identity, helping to form it's unique blend of science fiction, drama and political commentary and in shaping the shows moral compass that would be a keystone of the Star Trek experience. Giving […]
Them From That Thing: Sally Kellerman
Building an eclectic career with over sixty years in film, television, music and theatre, Sally Kellerman is fondly remembered by a whole generation as the original Hotlips Houlihan in the film adaption of MASH. Her part in the world of Star Trek helped introduce the world to the little sci fi show that began it's own franchise of entertainment. Starting her acting career in the late 50's after turning down a contract with Verve Records, Kellerman was a familiar face on television by the time Star Trek came around. With appearances on Bonanza, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and the Twilight Zone among others, Kellerman was able to gain a wide range of experience that helped establish an adaptability that would carry her career forward in playing anything from a glamorous and sophisticated character, to intense and eccentric parts. Kellerman’s appearance […]
Behind the Viewscreen: Jerry Goldsmith
Across a long career writing music for some of Hollywoods most celebrated films, Jerry Goldsmith's mark can be heard in a huge range of genre's from The Omen, to LA Confidential, from Patton to Planet of the Apes. But even when it comes to his science fiction scores including Alien and Total Recall, none have left as iconic a mark as his contributions to Star Trek. During the reinvention of Star Trek for cinema, director Robert Wise knew the challenge. Turn a small sci fi show into a cinematic epic. The success of that has often came up for debate, but no matter the opinion on the Motion Picture, the one celebrated element was the music Goldsmith delivered and the new template he build for the sound of Star Trek. Blending classic orchestra with electronic synthesizers and complex rhythmic patterns, […]
Inside Trek/Outside Trek: Colm Meaney
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That Guy From That Thing: Harris Yulin
Among the many acclaimed guest appearances from all corners of the Star Trek Universe, there are only a small few who gave as deep a performance as Harris Yulin in his sole appearance in the franchise. Taking the spotlight as Aamin Marritza in Deep Space Nine's first season episode Duet, a Cardassian civilian who arrives at Deep Space Nine and raises a massive red flag for Kira when she learns he has a condition that links him to a brutal mining camp that many Bajorans suffered through during the occupation. Yulin is an actor who you may not recognise by name, but you always recognise. Having made his name in the New York theatre scene in the 60's, he quickly established himself as a serious dramatic talent with an incredible command of language, subtly and presence before he'd ever step […]
[Inside Trek] Behind the Viewscreen: Robert H Justman
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