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Beloved 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Actor René Auberjonois Dies at 79

Among space fans, Auberjonois is best remembered as the shapeshifting Odo aboard the "Star Trek" space station Deep Space 9.

René Auberjonois, who starred in " Star Trek: Deep Space Nine " as the shapeshifting Odo, died Sunday (Dec. 8) at age 79, a family member told The Guardian .

Auberjonois died in his Los Angeles home as a result of metastatic lung cancer, his son Rèmy-Luc Auberjonois told the publication. Auberjonois' death was confirmed by spokespeople on his official Twitter account .

Since the news broke, numerous "Star Trek" actors have paid tribute to Auberjonois on social media.

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"I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois," William Shatner, who played Capt. James T. Kirk in "Star Trek: The Original Series" and numerous movies, wrote on Twitter . "To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René."

"This is a terrible loss," George Takei, who played Sulu on "The Original Series" and in various movies, wrote on Twitter . "Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend."

Among " Star Trek " fans, Auberjonois is best remembered for playing the Changeling Odo, who served as chief of security aboard the Deep Space 9 space station. Odo's naturally gelatinous state allowed him to assume multiple sorts of shapes. In the series, he appeared most often as a humanoid to better interact with the other crew members on the station. Odo rested, in natural form, inside a bucket.

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According to "Star Trek" fan site Memory Alpha , Odo was known as a tough yet fair lawmaker who was even able to settle intercultural disputes during a nasty and lengthy war between the Bajorans and the Cardassians. That war formed much of the backdrop for the drama of "Deep Space Nine," which explored issues including life for refugees and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Deep Space Nine," or DS9, as fans call it, was the dark horse of the "Star Trek" franchise during the early years of its 1993 to 1999 run. The 176-episode series was mostly set on a space station, which didn't allow for the usual ship-to-ship fights and interplanetary visits that "Star Trek" fans had previously enjoyed. DS9 also showed a more pessimistic side to the Trek universe than previous series, which leaned heavily toward optimism in the spirit of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry (who died in 1991).

DS9, however, quickly picked up its own set of fans, who, online and through fan conventions and gatherings, have followed Auberjonois and other DS9 actors for decades. Auberjonois was humble about his contribution to the series. "When I go to conventions, I don't talk in my Odo voice. I don't have makeup on," Auberjonois told The Birmingham (Ala.) News in 1996, according to The New York Times . "I'm just a guy with a receding hairline."

René Marie Murat Auberjonois was born on June 1, 1940 in Manhattan to an artistic family. The Auberjonois family migrated to Paris after the end of World War II, and it was there, at the tender age of 6, that René decided to become an actor.

"When his school put on a musical performance for the parents, little René was given the honor of conducting his classmates in a rendition of 'Do You Know the Muffin Man?'," Auberjonois' official website states. "When the performance was over, René took a bow, and, knowing that he was not the real conductor, imagined that he had been acting. He decided then and there that he wanted to be an actor."

The family soon moved to an artist's colony in upstate New York, where Auberjonois got his first theater job at age 16, apprenticing in a Connecticut theater, the website added. He later studied theater at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University), then acted with several theater companies. In 1969, he won a Tony for the role of assistant Sebastian Baye in the Broadway musical "Coco," which starred Katharine Hepburn.

Soon after, in 1970, Auberjonois played Father Mulcahy in the hit movie M*A*S*H*, which later became a popular television series about an unconventional medical unit during the Korean War. Auberjonois is best remembered in that movie for explaining why a deadbeat doctor, Hawkeye Pierce, made it to the senior levels of the U.S. Army. "He was drafted," Mulcahy says, a line that Auberjonois ad-libbed himself during rehearsal, The Guardian said.

Other prominent roles that Auberjonois is known for include the hypochondriac Endicott in the 1970s and 1980s sitcom "Benson" and Chef Louis — who crooned about his love of killing fish in the song "Les Poissons" — in the 1989 Disney film "The Little Mermaid."

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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

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Admin said: René Auberjonois, who starred in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as the shapeshifting Odo, died Sunday (Dec. 8) at age 79. Beloved 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Actor René Auberjonois Dies at 79 : Read more

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor René Auberjonois dies at 79

Fellow actors George Takei, William Shatner and more pay tribute online to the actor who played Changeling Odo.

Actor René Auberjonois played lawyer Paul Lewiston in the TV drama Boston Legal.

Prolific actor René Auberjonois , best known for his role as shape-shifter Changeling Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , has died at the age of 79.

The actor died Sunday at his home in Los Angeles of metastatic lung cancer, his son son Rèmy-Luc confirmed to the Associated Press.

Auberjonois also appeared as the character Paul Lewiston in 71 episodes of the TV drama Boston Legal . He is also known for his roles in Benson , The Practice (which earned him an Emmy nod), Stargate SG-1 , Warehouse 13 , Star Trek: Enterprise , Frasier , It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia , Murder, She Wrote , and The Jeffersons , to name a few.

Auberjonois has starred in numerous films such as director Robert Altman's M.A.S.H. in which he played Father Mulcahy. He appeared in other Altman movies such as McCabe and Mrs. Miller , Brewster McCloud , and Images. Auberjonois also appeared in the 1976 King Kong movie, The Patriot, Batman Forever , and Eyes of Laura Mars .

René Auberjonois as Odo with the rest of the cast of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

He is also known for his voice acting roles including 1989's The Little Mermaid , were he plays Chef Louis and sings the song "Les Poissons."

Auberjonois' character Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was often treated as an outside by other characters, which in turn made Odo rather gruff and persnickety at time. His character was hilariously sarcastic, but he also could show a certain sensitivity that only outsiders can fully understand. He was one of my favorite Star Trek characters.

His Deep Space Nine co-star Armin Shimerman who played Quark tweeted on Sunday a favorite memory of the actor.

"His last message to me was entitled 'Don't forget…'," Shimerman tweeted. "I know that I, Kitty and all that knew him will never forget. The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him."

It is with great heartache and loss I share with you the passing of dear,dear Rene Auberjonois.His last message to me was entitled "Don't forget..." I know that I,Kitty,and all that knew him will never forget.The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him. — Armin Shimerman (@ShimermanArmin) December 8, 2019

Star Trek actor George Takei also tweeted his condolences.

"This is a terrible loss," Takei tweeted. "Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend."

This is a terrible loss. Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend. https://t.co/IE2gtivRcg — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 8, 2019

His Boston Legal co-star and fellow Star Trek actor William Shatner also tweeted his thoughts about Auberjonois.

"I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor Rene Auberjonois," Shatner wrote. "To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René."

I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois . To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 8, 2019

Actor Edward James Olmos tweeted , "Rene Auberjonois a true gentleman and passionate artist passed onto the next understanding, and we will miss him so much. I was honored to have worked with him on Windows On The World, his second to last film. He delivered an amazing rendition of NY NY -- a brilliant artist."

Rene Auberjonois a true gentleman & passionate artist passed onto the next understanding & we will miss him so much. I was honored to have worked with him on Windows On The World, his second to last film. He delivered an amazing rendition of NY NY - a brilliant artist #sswa #RIP pic.twitter.com/KR5PKylNZe — Edward James Olmos (@edwardjolmos) December 8, 2019

Additional fellow actors, celebs and fans paid tribute to Auberjonois on social media.

We are deeply saddened to report the passing of René Auberjonois. #StarTrek #StarTrekFamily https://t.co/ySVTLSERIA — Star Trek (@StarTrek) December 8, 2019

😥 pic.twitter.com/jj07NmaqCO — Discovery Writers (@StarTrekRoom) December 9, 2019

Rene was another icon I was amazed to have had the honor to work with on #WAREHOUSE13 . An artist in every sense. Rest In Peace, sir. https://t.co/fvKV0pEUvB — Eddie McClintock (@EddieMcClintock) December 9, 2019

I am so sorry to hear that the wonderful René Auberjonois has passed away. I had the great honor to play his daughter on Boston Legal. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and his many fans. May he rest in peace. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/eRxwfmmkcy — Jayne Brook (@thejaynebrook) December 8, 2019

Rene Auberjonois describes life with Odo's makeup during this 1993 interview with Good Morning America. #StarTrek #ReneAuberjonois pic.twitter.com/icRqcXjsdG — TrekCore.com 🖖 (@TrekCore) December 8, 2019

RIP Rene Auberjonois, a man who loomed large in the TV & film landscape of my youth. I eventually got to meet him and felt so privileged to have done so. My thoughts are with his wonderful family. — Paul F. Tompkins (@PFTompkins) December 8, 2019

Rest in peace, René Auberjonois. You did many things but this was by far your biggest impact on me. pic.twitter.com/DtdcSgX7Nc — Benjamin Siemon (@BenjaminJS) December 8, 2019

Rene Auberjonois has left us. So sad. Such a lovely man. Had.the great pleasure of working with him on stage doing Bulgakov’s Heart of a Dog. And in Nicaragua in the height of the Contra-War, filming Walker. A gentleman and a scholar, chef and photographer. Miss him already. pic.twitter.com/5CLzNzBjt8 — Xander Berkeley (@xanderberkeley) December 8, 2019

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René Auberjonois, 'Star Trek' and 'Benson' actor, dies at 79

LOS ANGELES — René Auberjonois, best known for his roles in "Boston Legal," "Benson" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," died at his home in Los Angeles of metastatic lung cancer. He was 79.

His son, Remy-Luc Auberjonois, confirmed the news to The Associated Press.

Auberjonois was a prolific television actor, appearing as Paul Lewiston in 71 episodes of "Boston Legal" and as Clayton Runnymede Endicott III in ABC's long-running sitcom "Benson" — a role that earned him an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor in a comedy in 1984.

He played the shape-shifter Changeling Odo in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and carried that role into video games, voicing Odo in "Harbinger" and "The Fallen." His appearance as Judge Mantz in ABC's "The Practice" earned him another Emmy nod for guest actor in a drama in 2001.

His guest roles were numerous on classics like "Murder, She Wrote," "The Jeffersons," "The Outer Limits," "L.A. Law," "Stargate SG-1," "Frasier" and the more recent hit "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

His first film role came with "M*A*S*H," in which he played Father Mulcahy in the first of several collaborations with Robert Altman.

He would go on appear in Altman's revisionist Western classic "McCabe & Mrs. Miller," "Brewster McCloud," and "Images." Other film credits included Roy Bagley in 1976's "King Kong" and Reverend Oliver in "The Patriot," as well as parts in "Batman Forever," "Eyes of Laura Mars" and "Walker."

This is a terrible loss. Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend. https://t.co/IE2gtivRcg — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 8, 2019

Before his entry into Hollywood, Auberjonois worked in theater, winning a Tony for best lead actor in a musical for his role opposite Katharine Hepburn in "Coco." He received further Tony nominations for 1973's "The Good Doctor," 1984's "Big River" and 1989's "City of Angels."

Auberjonois was also known for his voice roles, particularly in 1989's Disney Renaissance hit, "The Little Mermaid," in which he voiced Chef Louis and sang the memorable "Les Poissons." Fans of "The Princess Diaries" would recognize him as the voice of Mia Thermopolis' father, Prince Philippe Renaldi, in an uncredited role.

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In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, the writer Judith Auberjonois; a daughter, Tessa Auberjonois; sisters Marie-Laure Degener and Anne Auberjonois; son-in-law Adrian Latourelle; daughter-in-law Kate Nowlin; and three grandchildren.

He was remembered on social media by his "Deep Space Nine" co-star Armin Shimerman, who played Quark.

It is with great heartache and loss I share with you the passing of dear,dear Rene Auberjonois.His last message to me was entitled "Don't forget..." I know that I,Kitty,and all that knew him will never forget.The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him. — Armin Shimerman (@ShimermanArmin) December 8, 2019

"His last message to me was entitled 'Don't forget...' I know that I, Killy and all that knew him will never forget. The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him."

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René Auberjonois, Odo From ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,’ Has Died At 79

| December 8, 2019 | By: TrekMovie Editors 77 comments so far

TrekMovie is deeply sad to report that actor René Auberjonois, who played Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for all seven seasons, has died of metastatic lung cancer at age 79. His son Rèmy-Luc confirmed the sad news, and said that René died at his home in Los Angeles.

Auburjonois had a long and amazing career even before taking on the unforgettable role of Odo on DS9. He began in in theater, landing his first Broadway role in 1968 and soon appearing in three plays simultaneously, alongside future DS9 co-star Frank Langella. He eventually became a director as well.

In the movies, he was Father Mulcahy in the original film version of MASH , as well as dozens of other films, including his first appearance in the Star Trek franchise as Colonel West in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , although the role was initially cut for the theatrical release. Kids of all ages will remember him as Louis the Chef in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

He appeared on dozens upon dozens of TV shows, and was a regular on three: In addition to playing Odo, he was Clayton Runnymede Endicott III in Benson and Paul Lewiston on Boston Legal. He provided voices for numerous animated characters in cartoons and video games, and guest-starred on Enterprise as Ezral in the episode “Oasis,” He was also a director.

Fans who were fortunate enough to meet him at Trek conventions helped him raise money for his favorite charity, Doctors Without Borders. He signed his autographs with a drawing of Odo’s bucket, and often posted the drawings along with happy fans holding them on social media.

We mourn the loss of this great actor and human being, who played Odo with such grace, depth, humor, and complexity as he fought for justice, struggled with his identity, discovered his origins, fell in love, and sacrificed for those he loved, trading verbal quips and insults with Quark at every step along the way. Our sincerest condolences to his friends and family. We are heartbroken.

It is with great heartache and loss I share with you the passing of dear,dear Rene Auberjonois.His last message to me was entitled "Don't forget…" I know that I,Kitty,and all that knew him will never forget.The world seems noticeably emptier now. I loved him. — Armin Shimerman (@ShimermanArmin) December 8, 2019

I love and respect Rene more than I can say right now. This beautiful soul. My heart. Oh pic.twitter.com/ohNOq0c0Si — Nana Visitor (@NanaVisitor) December 8, 2019

I cannot express how much you meant to me. I will truly miss you my dear colleague, mentor, father figure, friend. pic.twitter.com/zE9TeyOzf5 — Terry Farrell (@4TerryFarrell) December 9, 2019

pic.twitter.com/6ouQQNhx7z — Ira Steven Behr (@IraStevenBehr) December 8, 2019

When Rene was cast as Odo, he joked "I hope #DS9 will replace Benson on my tombstone." He will be remembered for both, for Boston Legal, for The Little Mermaid, & so much more. His portrayal of Odo, under all that latex, was subtle, emotional, & astounding. One of the greats. pic.twitter.com/Z6YzC5xgMh — Robert Hewitt Wolfe (@writergeekrhw) December 8, 2019

I feel truly fortunate to have worked with Rene and truly blessed for the time spent over the years with this lovely man & beautiful soul. My deepest condolences to his family Big hugs today to my #startrekfamily &to all who loved him R.I.P. @reneauberjonois We will miss you so pic.twitter.com/lbBc7f2AbV — Nicole deBoer (@Nikki_deboer) December 9, 2019

I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois . To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 8, 2019

This is a terrible loss. Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend. https://t.co/IE2gtivRcg — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 8, 2019

@reneauberjonois You were a spectacular artist from Altman film IMAGES to Star Trek:DS9 and the million performances in between. A devoted family man, a visual artist, and loving and loves le human being. Thanks for showing the world how to do it. #love #admiration — Gates McFadden (@gates_mcfadden) December 8, 2019

Goodbye, René. We love you. pic.twitter.com/kNuhk2nYW1 — Michael Okuda (@MikeOkuda) December 8, 2019

View this post on Instagram May ⁦Rene Auberjonois⁩ RIP he was one our finest actors and an even better man. I always looked up to him and I will continue to. A post shared by Jonathan Frakes (@jonathansfrakes) on Dec 9, 2019 at 11:08am PST

View this post on Instagram I am shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Rene Auberjonois, whom I first met on the set of MRS COLUMBO. I was 23 years old and vividly recall his great kindness, his terrific sense of fun, and thinking oh, how wonderful it would be to have this man as a friend! This miracle came to pass and it was much, much better than wonderful. How missed he will be! The singular and splendid Rene Auberjonois. Photo credit: @roddenberryofficial A post shared by Kate Mulgrew (@thekatemulgrew) on Dec 9, 2019 at 3:05pm PST

Rene Auberjonois 1940~2019. A beloved member of our Star Trek family, among so many other decorated achievements on stage and screen. But above all, one of the sweetest humans I have ever met. May he rest in God’s peace. #ReneAuberjonois #RIP pic.twitter.com/mK0aua9beV — Doug Jones (@actordougjones) December 8, 2019

So so sad to hear of the passing of René Auberjonois. Deep Space 9 was the show that started my love for Star Trek, and that's in no small part due to his wonderful performance as Odo. May he rest in peace. #DS9 #ReneAuberjonois — Erika Lippoldt (@gryphonmetal) December 8, 2019

René’s final tweet:

I think https://t.co/zQMbJn3RuH pic.twitter.com/A01pGMqhwN — Rene Auberjonois (@reneauberjonois) December 6, 2019

René Auberjonois – June 1, 1940 – December 8, 2019

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Very sad. Didn’t even know he was sick. Him and Aron in 3 months, the DS9 family must be in a lot of pain right now.

We also lost Robert Walker Jr. aka Charlie Evans in TOS’s Charlie X.

Marina Sirtis lost her husband yesterday as well. Such sad news…

RIP, Rene. Thank you for the great memories on DS9, Benson and Boston Legal. :(

He was also the only tolerable thing about Police Academy 5… and to call anything about that movie “tolerable” means a lot!

Rene has appeared in both Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and Deep Space Nine as Odo. He will be missed by Star Trek fans. RIP

Oh for cryin out loud. What’s going on these days? Aron Eisenberg, Dorothy Fontana and now René – what a terrible three months for Trek fandom and the TV world in general!

So many members of the Trek family are passing away. Time IS the fire in which we burn.

No, time is a companion that goes with us on our journey and tells us to cherish every moment… because they will never come again. So let us cherish the moments we had with René Auberjonois whenever he graced our movie or television screen.

So damn true

All the more reason to be grateful that the DS9 documentary was made and released.

Indeed. I am glad that he and Aron both got to see the documentary before they passed.

Devastating news. We’ve lost such a talented actor who played a character whom so many can relate to. He was great on DS9 and so many other series. Farewell Odo.

Very sad. RIP Odo.

My heart goes out to the DS9 family. Loosing two of their own in so short a time is tragic. RIP Rene you were awesome.

Terrific actor, with such a wide and impressive range. My goodness – to have conveyed even the most subtle of emotions under all of that makeup. Very upset to hear of his passing.

This sucks. Star Trek is my biggest love in this world. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is my favourite show. And Constable Odo my favourite character. He was distant, stern, sarcastic, dedicated to his job and an outsider. To those who didnt know him he was a cold character; but to those lucky few he allowed into his bubble he was warm, kind, caring and above all loyal.

The character of Odo made a massive impression on me as a young man who felt completely on the fringes of all society. I never fit it. I never felt like “one of the lads”. I was not smart enough to be a science nerd. I was too uncoordinated for sport. I was too shy for Drama etc But through Odo I saw that none of that mattered. The only thing I had to be in life was the best version of me that I could be. As he struggled to find “his place” in the universe, I too was struggling to find my place as well.

And I know it may seem stupid to give all this meaning to a character in a TV show but I honestly believe most of us have “that one show”, “that one movie”, “that one singer” or “that one character” who we see ourselves reflected in and connect too. And as a 14/15 yr old Star Trek fan that character just happened to be a misanthropic, sarcastic, cards close to his chest shapeshifter lol And it was Rene Auberjonois’ performance in every moment that captured that connection for me, and allowed me to see so much of myself in a character who couldn’t have been more different than I was and yet also very similar to who I was becoming.

So tonight I raise a glass to you fine sir and steal the following line from a fellow Odo admirer; “What’re you talking about? That man loves me! Couldn’t you see? It was written all over his back”.

You’re very eloquent in your praise and sorrow. I’m sure Mr. Auberjonois would appreciate that he was able to provide the hope and inspiration you needed in life through his work, even more than the praise. Pass that on in whatever way you can, as your way of repaying that debt which can never be repaid. Peace.

ShaunieB Same here… I went through the same thing and related to Odo immensly. I also had my Major Kira growing up, your In-the-Friend-Zone unreachable woman… and again, for Odo and for myself it turned out ok at the end. We both got them… :-) and I always get tears in my eyes when I watch “His Way”

With the Picard show coming up, I somehow had hopes they revisit the character I so looked up to.

RIP Rene, thank you for giving that wonderful character life, you’ll be missed.

What a great actor, and an even better person. He played Odo with unmatched skill and grace, creating one of the most compelling characters in all of Star Trek. This is a painful loss.

I applaud you, Mr. Auberjonois. Thank you for the wonder.

RIP. He was such a great actor.

RIP. Great, wonderful actor who was perfect for the role he played.

This marks a a truly historic moment for the Star Trek franchise. It’s the very first time a main actor from one of the “modern” Star Trek products dies (apart from Yelchin’s lethal accident and Eisenberg, who did NOT play a main character).

I guess, this shows how important it is we finally get PICARD as a revival for that era. It’s the final chance for this generation of Trek actors to reprise their beloved roles…

Sad for his family. I enjoyed watching DS9 quite a lot and no small part of that was his portrayal of Odo. RIP

So sad to hear another member of the Star Trek family has passed on. Rene did amazing work as Odo on DS9 and he obviously cherished being a member of the Trek alumni. I forgot all about his “Battling Bickersons” scene in M*A*S*H that made me laugh as a teenager and he definitely will be remembered by fans and myself as Odo, an outsider who battled to be accepted by his friends, co-workers and his home world and one who struggled with his feelings for Kira. R.I.P. Rene and don’t worry, Odo is who you will be remembered for by me and so many others, not for your role on Benson.

Wow this is devastating! To lose such a great actor and guy in general. And our second DS9 actor in the same freaking year along with Aaron Eisenberg. :(

I still remember seeing him at Star Trek convention back in 1996 (my very first Star Trek convention in fact) with other DS9 actors Nana Visitor, Armin Shimerman and Terry Farrel. He sung the song from The Little Mermaid he played in as his character on stage. The crowd went wild! And he was so funny and easy going, the complete opposite of Odo lol.

It’s been a rough few months for the Trek community. He will be missed greatly.

I am thankful that I got to meet him more than once at conventions. I loved that he had Odo’s bucket at his table when he came. I’m sad to learn of this and that he had lung cancer. My heart goes to his family and friends. Rene, rest in peace. You will always be remembered…

Even when he was in pap like the 76 KONG or a disco ep of CHARLIE’S ANGELS, he still never phoned it in. Definitely a class act. BOSTON LEGAL and DS9 were my faves of his, though he was very good in the Altmans as well.

Poor Marina’s husband just passed away in his sleep last night. Sad day for Trekdom. 🖖

Thanks for letting us know that Marina Sirtis is also bereaved.

Heavy hearts in Trekdom indeed.

I didn’t know about this. A sad day indeed. My condolences to Marina and family.

Citation, please?

Marina has tweeted about this being true. https://mobile.twitter.com/Marina_Sirtis

It’s on Marina’s Twitter page.

I saw that, yet that information is nowhere else. Hopefully this either gets confirmed or cleared up.

Phil, there’s no reason to believe that Marina’s verified official Twitter account has been hacked.

She said in the message that she was signing off for a bit, including Cameo. There’s been no further messages on her Twitter or other accounts which would be unlikely if it were hacked.

Newspaper death announcements in the US might be the only official place you might find a confirmation.

Sites like Startrek.com are usually pretty good about putting up life events of those close to the franchise. So far, nothing. Absent any other information, it’s just as likely that her account was compromised. I’d hope the mods here could comment on this, one way or the other. I’d not want to be spreading this kind of rumor, knowing the pain it could cause, if there were any reason at all to believe it was fake. If it’s not, then clearly condolences to the family are in order.

Marina tweeted it. It’s legit.

Phil, I don’t have a lot of confidence in the official Star Trek social media team this week.

While StarTrek.com has posted about Rene Auberjonois under news, they haven’t management to tweet their own news story on their Twitter account and it’s 3 days since his death.

CBSAA Twitter is carrying on tone-deafedly with promotional tweets and no mention of Rene.

There seems to be a 3 working day lag on tweeting. It all has the air of a gridlock in corporate approval processes. My guess is that it has do do with short run PR restrictions arising from the ViacomCBS merger.

In the meantime, it reflects poorly on ViacomCBS for Variety and new wire services to have a obituaries up for two days and no recognition from TPTB.

We can’t count on them to verify and get the word out.

Rene was also so very good & memorable as a camp friend of Faye Dunaway in the classic late 1970’s TV movie The Eyes of Laura Mars!

Just saw that movie for the first time this year. He’s so great in it.

So sad. The highlight of my day one afternoon in Los Angeles in 1994 was when the gas guy came to fix a leak and told me that the customer he just saw before me was Rene. He told me how nice and funny he was. The gas guy was a fellow Trek fan so we both geeked out about it. It’s an odd, tangential connection, I know, but it was my first brush with what would be many moments like that and later on the sets of the shows themselves. You always remember your first. Au revoir, René.

That is a lovely anecdote, Luke… thanks for sharing. :)

My love for you was the most a stranger could ever feel toward a stranger; strong, hardy, but faraway. Your love for us all made my love for you barely a drop in the river; passionate, proactive, and near and dear to our every heart.

Godspeed, Rene.

Founder, you honored us with your presence. Rejoin the great link and be at peace.

My first thought as well.

Damn. A looot of people are going to be feeling this one. Sad.

Sad to learn of this, but, all good things. . .

And, at least we still have his work. His contributions to DS9 were major, and, as noted above, he had a long career prior to DS9.

So sad to hear this.

One of my favourite moments was when he appeared on Family Guy as Odo ripping on Stewie’s cousin Quark Griffin…! There are too many DS9 and Boston Legal memories to mention.

This hurts like hell. Especially when you see how much he meant to those who knew him best.

This has been a hard three months for the Star Trek family. René was a funny guy, a terrific actor, and a wonderful human being. I already adored him for his beautifully iconic portrayal of Odo (not to mention his vast body of non-genre work), but when I found out several years ago that he was a longtime supporter of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) my admiration increased an order of magnitude.

The world has lost one of the good guys. My deepest sympathies and condolences to René’s family, friends, and his countless millions of fans.

This is so tragic and sudden, it feels like we just saw him in good health and full of life! This is another reminder to cherish the time we have with those we love, this year has been tough. This also marks the first time we’ve lost a member of the TNG/DS9/VOY/ENT era main cast, I’m grateful the DS9 doc was finished this year so we could look back one last time at the entire cast together. RIP Rene and Aron!

Most people (present company excluded) do not understand the challenge of taking on an untested character such as Odo, but René Auberjonois exceeded anyone’s expectations for the character. He follows a long line of Shakespearean Actors who have made their characters legendary in the world of ‘Trek. Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, etc. Star Trek is deeply layered with culture, and it’s because of truly stellar performers like René Auberjonois. His contributions to the world will forever be remembered. My heart goes out to his close friends and family. I am sorry for your loss.

So sad to hear this :(

RIP Constable.

So sad so many deaths this week just this morning Marina Sirtis announced her husband Michael passed in his sleep last night

I caught an old IRONSIDE episode last night, and was kind of amazed at how nearly every guest star — Andy Robinson, George Murdock, Bill Zuckert, Ken Lynch, Tige Andrews and Michael Strong– was a Trek alum … and then I realized all of them except Robinson were now dead.

I met Rene at a GalaxyCon show in Richmond, Va. earlier this year: we talked about his various roles, especially Odo – and also his role in the 1970 movie “M*A*S*H” which inspired the TV series. He had one of the best / most memorable lines in that or any other movie – one that pretty much summed up the entire storyline and answered why some people end up in wars…. Maj. Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ O’Houlihan (Sally Kellerman, who portrayed Dr. Dehner in TOS’s second pilot) had just been humiliated by the guys, particularly Hawkeye Pierce (Donald Sutherland), and demanded, in outrage, to know how anyone with his mentality could ever achieve a position in ANY army as a surgeon. Rene, as Father John Mulcahy, responded, simply, “He was drafted.” (LOL) Rene said he actually made up that line himself and the director liked it enough to include it in the picture. And – may I say Rene LOVED TO LAUGH, and was extremely gracious to everyone at the Convention; I won’t forget him, ever. May he rest in peace, and may he Live Long and Prosper in the next life.

Strange, just Friday night the series finale of DS9 was playing on H&I, and I watched the scene where Odo morphs into a tuxedo to part with Kira and wade into the ‘water,’ waving goodbye to her. Very poignant scene, and now this happens. What a rough few weeks in the Trek world with regard to losses. RIP, all.

And Marina Sirtis husband died in his sleep last night. Condolences to all.

Always thought we would see his character again. But in hindsight…what we leave behind is the perfect sendoff for his character.

Tough few months for the Trek family. I echo the sentiments mentioned above. I’ve heard nothing positive things about the guy over the last few decades. Condolences to all who knew him.

Yes, a tough few months for the fan community, and the community of 90s Trek actors.

Nana Visitor’s eulogy of Rene published by Variety really shows her respect for his craft and his humanity as well as a true friendship. The DS9 company sounds to have been one of the strongest of all the Trek shows, and while the other actors were aware Rene’s time was drawing short, it must leave be a tremendous gap.

The outpouring here and on other fan sites and many media outlets shows that the connections to the characters and the actors who brought them to life are enduring.

I appreciate how quickly TrekMovie was able to get this story and thread up so that we could express and share our remembrances.

This is all the more important since the official Star Trek site is not a board where we can respond, and the CBSAA Twitter site seems to have switched to only promoting current shows and managed to get through the end of Monday without acknowledging Rene’s passing even with a tweet of the official site’s story.

Sending love to Marina Sirtis ( counceler Deanna Troi ) who’d husband died in his sleep at 61 years of age last night.

Godspeed, and thank you, Mr. Auberjonois.

A Life Well Lived is its own reward.

RIP René Auberjonois…

That’s truly heartbreaking. I had slim hope that some future series would explore the current state of the Dominion. But with Odo it might not work.

This is very sad news.

There are many brilliant DS9 scenes that come to mind when you think of René Auberjonois. Sisko and Odo quietly talking while Odo is experiencing alcohol for the first time. Odo’s story arc with Kira. His arc with the female Founder during the Dominion War. His banter and one-upmanship with Quark. His final scene, wearing a tux. Many more. We all have our favourites.

This wasn’t unique to René on DS9, but I’ve been trying to identify the “extra something” he brought to his performance. The answer is “gravitas”. René treated the role and the setting with absolute seriousness and imbued the performance with a level of sincerity that gave the character dignity and realism. Not easy at all when it involves a fictional shapeshifting alien, in a rubber mask, in the most notoriously nerdy sci-fi franchise of all. And yet, René pulled it off, so that Odo not only commanded respect from viewers but believably commanded respect in the Trek universe too.

René’s performance on the peerless Boston Legal was also superb, of course.

There was one major difference between Odo and René in real life. It’s something you notice when you see photos of René, especially at conventions etc: The genuinely kind gaze and the smiling and the laughter, always, from a man who clearly triggered the same heartwarming reaction in everyone around him. Admit it, when you think of René’s expression in those photos, you’re finding yourself smiling right now.

I take no credit for the following eloquent statement, as someone else on Twitter quoted it when news broke of René passing away. However, it is a particularly appropriate description now: “The drop has become the ocean”.

My condolences to René Auberjonois’s family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Great actor, great role. RIP in the Great Link, friend.

It’s just been announced that William Shatner is divorcing his wife! The guy is 88. Holy crap!

Is…is this a reply to an RIP thread? :o

I already expressed my condolences above. I was simply sharing news on the latest thread.

Just a touch off topic there….

I was sad to learn of his death. He brought such depth to Odo. The sarcastic smile he saved for Quark, the sweet smile for those he cared for, the impatience with process, the love of justice, the many complexities of being a Changeling in a Solids universe, the loneliness, the defensive prickliness from being a lonely person. Considering his makeup was painful to wear [per something he said in What We Left Behind] I have that much more respect for him. His body language and voice were fine instruments that helped him express so much in Odo.

What an actor! I will miss him.

I Just realized DS9 isn’t one of the nee Shows anymore. Although it still feels Like the Most modern ST Show with its development in Story Arc and Characters.

And I Just realized WE never will See anything from DS9 anymore, certainly Not from Odo.

A great actor is eine :(

You will be greatly missed Rene.

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Obituaries —

Star trek and fallout actor rene auberjonois has passed away, the actor appeared in more than 200 roles in a career spanning half a century..

Samuel Axon - Dec 9, 2019 10:24 pm UTC

Rene Auberjonois speaking at a fan convention.

Esteemed character actor Rene Auberjonois died in his home in Los Angeles on Sunday at the age of 79, The New York Times reports . The cause of death was lung cancer.

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René Auberjonois, From Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Dead at 79

Ryan schwartz, senior editor.

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René Auberjonois, best known for his roles on Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , died on Sunday of metastatic lung cancer, his son confirmed to the Associated Press . He was 79.

Auberjonois got his big break in 1970 when he was cast as Father John Mulcahy in the 1970 film MASH . He worked steadily over the next decade before he landed the series-regular role of Clayton Runnymede Endicott III on ABC’s Benson , which earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy in 1984. Then, from 1993 to 1999, Auberjonois portrayed Odo, head of space-station security on the syndicated DS9 .

In 2001, Auberjonois earned his second Emmy nomination, this time for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, for his turn as Judge Mantz on ABC’s The Practice . Three years later, he would join the cast of Practice spinoff Boston Legal , albeit as a different character; he played managing partner Paul Lewiston for the show’s first three seasons, then shifted to recurring status beginning with Season 4. TV Stars Who Died in 2019 View Gallery 54 Images

His most recent primetime gig came in 2016, when he appeared in four episodes of CBS’ Madam Secretary as Walter Nowack. Additional TV credits included episodes of Criminal Minds, The Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Librarians, Masters of Sex, NCIS and Warehouse 13.

Fellow Star Trek vets William Shatner and George Takei shared their remembrances on Twitter:

I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois . To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 8, 2019

This is a terrible loss. Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend. https://t.co/IE2gtivRcg — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 8, 2019

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Oh, no! Between him and Carroll Spinney, my childhood is aching!

I didn’t remember him from the movie MASH. I really liked him best in DS9.

Sad to read this. Enjoyed him on BOSTON LEGAL and BENSON. RIP

He was also the voice of the chef from The Little Mermaid.

Godspeed, good sir.

Sad day. I met him about 20 years ago. What a great human being!

He was also the voice of Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid. What a sad day.

DS9 and Boston Legal is how I knew of him. Enjoyed the work he did on those shows. RIP

Wow! This is sad. I remember in Benson, Boston Legal and a lot of movies and tv roles. RIP man!

Although I really liked him in most of his roles I actually enjoyed him best as the reader of the Special Agent Pendergast audiobooks. He had the most wonderful voice for audiobooks.

May the Prophets guide your soul to the Celestial Temple, Odo

So sad! Rest well, sweet Odo, in whatever shape is your favorite.

I AM SHATTERED TO PIECES

Odo was a brilliant character, great loss :(

So sad!! I loved him as Odo. His acting as the conflicted shape-shifter was top-notch. One of my favorite characters ever. RIP

He was also my favorite narrator of many Preston & Child’s (Pendergast series) Audible books. RIP Good Sir.

René Auberjonois, actor who starred in MASH, Star Trek and Benson, dies aged 79

In a career spanning six decades, the actor worked on Broadway, in Hollywood’s 70s golden age and TV

René Auberjonois, a prolific actor best known for his roles on the television shows Benson and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and his part in the 1970 film M*A*S*H*, has died aged 79.

The actor died on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles of metastatic lung cancer, his son Rèmy-Luc Auberjonois said.

René Auberjonois worked constantly as a character actor in several golden ages, from the dynamic theatre of the 1960s to the cinema renaissance of the 1970s to the prime period of network television in the 1980s and 90s.

For film fans of the 1970s, he was Father John Mulcahy, the military chaplain who played straight man to the doctors antics in M.A.S.H. It was his first significant film role and the first of several for director Robert Altman.

René Auberjonois in 1970, the year he palyed Father Mulcahy in the screen version of M.A.S.H.

For sitcom watchers of the 1980s, he was Clayton Runnymede Endicott III, the hopelessly highbrow chief of staff at a governors mansion on Benson, the ABC series whose title character was a butler played by Robert Guillaume.

And for sci-fi fans of the 1990s and convention-goers ever since, he was Odo, the shape-shifting Changeling and head of space-station security on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

“I am all of those characters, and I love that,” Auberjonois said in a 2011 interview with the Star Trek website. “I also run into people, and they think I’m their cousin or their dry cleaner. I love that, too.”

Auberjonois was born in New York in 1940, the son of Fernand Auberjonois, a Swiss-born foreign correspondent for US newspapers, and the grandson of a Swiss post-impressionist painter also named René Auberjonois.

René Auberjonois as Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

The younger René Auberjonois was raised in New York, Paris, and London, and for a time lived with his family in an artists’ colony in Rockland County, New York, whose residents included the actors John Houseman, Helen Hayes and Burgess Meredith.

After graduating from college at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon, Auberjonois hopped around the country joining theatre companies, eventually landing three roles on Broadway in 1968, including playing the Fool in a long-running version of King Lear.

The following year he would play Sebastian Baye opposite Katharine Hepburn in Coco, a play on the life of designer Coco Chanel that would earn him a Tony for best actor in a leading role in a musical.

In 1970, Auberjonois began his run with Altman, playing Mulcahy in M*A*S*H* In his most famous exchange from the movie, Houlihan wonders how such a degenerate doctor as Hawkeye Pierce could reach a position of responsibility in the US Army. The bible-reading Auberjonois responds, deadpan: “He was drafted.”

“I actually made that line up when we were rehearsing the scene,” Auberjonois said. “And it became a kind of an iconic line for the whole film.”

The same year he played an off-the-wall ornithologist in Altman’s Brewster McCloud, a saloonkeeper alongside Warren Beatty in McCabe & Mrs. Miller in 1971 and appeared in Altmans Images in 1972.

He spent much of the rest of the 1970s doing guest spots on TV shows before joining the cast of Benson in its second season in 1980, where he would remain for the rest of the shows seven seasons, playing the chronic hypochondriac Endicott.

Much of his later career was spent doing voices for animation, most memorably as the French chef who sings the love song to fish-killing Les Poissons in The Little Mermaid.

He played Odo on Deep Space Nine from 1993 until 1998 and became a regular at Star Trek conventions, where he raised money for Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, and signed autographs with a drawing of Odo’s bucket, where the character would store himself when he returned to his natural gelatinous state.

René Auberjonois with Susannah York in the 1972 film Images.

US television

René Auberjonois, Star of Stage, Screen and Star Trek , Dies at Age 79

By Jordan Hoffman

Image may contain Ren Auberjonois Human and Person

René Auberjonois, who originated the role of Father Mulcahy in Robert Altman's MASH , starred as Clayton Endicott III on Benson and aided the Federation during the Dominion War as Constable Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine has died at the age of 79.

Auberjonois' father was a journalist and his mother a painter. Look back on his family line far enough and you'll find that his Great-Great-Great Grandmother was Napoleon's (yes, that Napoleon's) youngest sister. His break on Broadway came in 1968, playing the Fool opposite Lee J. Cobb in King Lear . He won the Tony in 1969 appearing with Katherine Hepburn in André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner's musical Coco .

The following year he co-starred in Altman's MASH and worked with the maverick director again on Brewster McCloud , McCabe and Mrs. Miller , Images and, briefly, The Player . In Brewster McCloud he plays an ornithologist who transforms into a bird. Altman flew Auberjonois down from New York to Houston on a Sunday night, they created the character and shot his sequences on a Monday and he was back in New York by Tuesday for that night's stage performance.

More recently he was seen as a regular on Boston Legal (alongside Star Trek legend William Shatner ) and in Kelly Reichardt's Certain Women . He will appear next year in her film First Cow .

Auberjonois has hundreds of credits from television guest shots, but it's the one-two punch of Benson and Deep Space Nine that gives him the most notoriety. Clayton Endicott III, the snobbish Chief of Staff to the Governor of California, came to the show in the second season, locking horns with the rest of the gang from 1980 to 1986. In a weird twist, Benson's cast also includes Ethan Phillips as Pete Downey, who later played Neelix on seven season of Star Trek: Voyager .

From 1993 through 1999, however, is where Auberjonois slapped on the face-smoothening makeup to become Odo, the mysterious Chief of Security on Deep Space Nine , the most rich and nuanced of all the Star Trek series.

Odo, like Spock and Data before him, and Seven of Nine and T'Pol after, was the outsider on the show and, by extension, the character that usually worked as a stand-in for an engaged fan. Not to deal too much in stereotypes, but I can say with some assurance that there is a degree of truth to the notion of Trekkies sometimes being a bit of a square peg in society's round hole. Someone who has trouble fitting in is going to be a natural favorite for this group.

Auberjonois took to Odo's lore quite well, and when fans approached him for autographs he was keen to include a little cartoon of Odo's bucket. (For those of you who don't know, Odo was from a species called the Founders, who were shapeshifters. At the end of each day, to regenerate, he would revert to his original form, which was a a big mass of goo. Thus, he slept in a bucket. It's Star Trek !) Proceeds from the Odo bucket drawings went to Doctors Without Borders , an organization for which he raised money for years.

I have written about the passings of many celebrities in my career, but this is the first time I've written about somebody I knew.

This isn't to say he and I were bosom buddies, but after years of moderating panels at Star Trek conventions in Las Vegas, New York, Germany, England and on the open seas, I had more than one occasion to do something surprisingly intimate with him: I had the chance to be bored.

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But even working a grueling convention, he was kind. One time, on the Star Trek Cruise , we were backstage before doing an evening game show gig. (Imagine a parody of Hollywood Squares with George Takei in the center, and a guy dressed as The Gorn in the corner.) He and I were alone in an ugly, windowless metal chamber with fluorescent light sucking out our brains. We were exhausted. Someone adjacent to the production approached with some Little Mermaid paraphernalia, and said that it was his daughter's favorite film. Before he could get the request out of his mouth, René was rooting around for a marker to offer a personalized signature. (Auberjonois voiced Chef Louis.)

As with most Star Trek alumni, René was a working character actor who knew a good gig and grabbed onto the convention circuit, and endeared himself to his fans. He had an easier time than most since his character, the gruff changeling Odo, had a tendency to be testy. So, if he was ever grouchy about anything in life, he could go on stage and continue to be grouchy . The crowd loved it and his co-stars loved it even more.

In the last season of Deep Space Nine Odo finally got together with Major Kira, but their love could not last. (I mean, she was a Bajoran freedom fighter, he was a bucket of ooze – how would they raise the kids?!!) But those final episodes, when our friends knew love and happiness, are some of my favorite memories of the future. My heart goes out not just to René's widow and children, but to Nana Visitor and Armin Shimerman who brilliantly played opposite him as Major Kira and as Quark for seven seasons. We'll all meet again on the other side of the wormhole.

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Rene Auberjonois, 'Benson' And 'Star Trek' Actor, Dies At Age 79

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

Actor René Auberjonois of the TV shows “ Star Trek : Deep Space Nine” and “Benson,” died Sunday at his Los Angeles home after battling metastatic lung cancer, according to reports . He was 79.

“To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible,” “Star Trek” franchise alum William Shatner wrote on Twitter, adding that he “will remember a wonderful friendship with Rene.”

Years after starring as Father Mulcahy in the 1970 film “M.A.S.H.,” Auberjonois earned TV sitcom fame as the snarky Clayton Runnymede Endicott III, chief of staff at the governor’s mansion, on “Benson.” (1979-86). He received an Emmy nomination for “Benson,” and for the drama series ’“The Practice” as Judge Mantz.

He also had an enduring run in science fiction as the shape-shifting Odo on “Star Trek: Deep Space” (1993-99).

“He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man,” another “Star Trek” star, George Takei, wrote.

The New York-born actor, who also appeared on TV’s “Boston Legal,” graduated from what is now Carnegie Mellon University, Deadline reported .

He also received several Tony nominations, including for 1989′s “City of Angels,” and won a Best Performance Tony in 1970 for “Coco.”

Auberjonois is survived by his wife, Judith, son Rèmy-Luc, daughter Tessa and several grandchildren, Variety reported.

I have just heard about the death of my friend and fellow actor @reneauberjonois . To sum up his life in a tweet is nearly impossible. To Judith, Tessa & Remy I send you my love & strength. I will keep you in my thoughts and remember a wonderful friendship with René. — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 8, 2019

This is a terrible loss. Star Trek fans knew him as Odo from Deep Space Nine. We knew him as René. He was a wonderful, caring, and intelligent man. He shall be missed. When I look out to the stars, I shall think of you, friend. https://t.co/IE2gtivRcg — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 8, 2019

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly noted that Auberjonois earned an Emmy nomination for “Boston Legal.” It was for “The Practice.”

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Screen Rant

Ds9's odo had a sidekick star trek forgot about.

Despite Odo's protests, Starfleet Security tried to give Deep Space Nine's Constable a Star Trek sidekick, but DS9's lone wolf cop worked best alone.

Constable Odo had a rough start with Starfleet officers, but ultimately earned their respect and formed partnerships.
Lt. George Primmin clashed with Odo over security arrangements, but grew to respect his approach to maintaining security.
Lt. Commander Michael Eddington became a more memorable sidekick for Odo, especially after betraying Starfleet for the Maquis.

Although he was often a man apart, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) briefly had a forgotten Starfleet sidekick in the early days of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . DS9's lawman was envisioned as a gruff and solitary frontier lawman in the mold of John Wayne or Clint Eastwood. In DS9 's early days, Odo often kept his distance from his Starfleet colleagues, as the hierarchy aboard the Bajoran space station was worked out between Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor). As a result, Odo often had to deal with the interference of Starfleet security forces, especially during the Dominion War.

However, Odo had a softer side that made him a loyal friend and a trusted colleague. When he first arrived aboard Deep Space Nine, former security officer Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) clashed with Odo, but he would later call him a " man of honor ", which is a high compliment from a Klingon. Odo and Worf had a fractious partnership as the Klingon struggled to adjust to life outside the security division, but he wasn't the only Starfleet officer to clash with Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . The first Starfleet officer to question Odo's approach to station security was a character who appeared in two episodes of DS9 season 1, but is now largely forgotten.

Odo's Forgotten Star Trek: DS9's Sidekick Explained

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 1, episode 9, "The Passenger", Starfleet send Lt. George Primmin (James Lashly) to oversee security arrangements for a deuridium shipment. Primmin and Odo immediately clashed over the Constable's decision to inform Quark (Armin Shimerman) about the shipment. Sisko warned Primmin against overruling Odo's authority aboard the station as he reminded the officer that Starfleet were on DS9 as guests of the Bajoran Provisional Government. Primmin later grew to respect Odo's approach to maintaining security on the space station, and the mismatched buddy comedy between the two cops on Deep Space Nine is one of the most enjoyable aspects of an uneven episode.

Odo and Primmin's partnership was short-lived, however, as the Starfleet security officer disappeared after the next episode, "Move Along Home". As Primmin was originally devised as a temporary replacement for Chief O'Brien while actor Colm Meaney made a movie, there were no further plans for the character. Writer and DS9 story editor Robert Hewitt Wolfe told the Official Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Magazine that he'd have liked to bring the character back, but there were no wider plans to do so.

Odo Got A More Memorable Starfleet Sidekick In DS9 Season 3

In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, Starfleet sent another security officer to the station to respond to the threat posed by the Dominion. Hilariously, Odo's response to Lt. Commander Michael Eddington (Kenneth Marshall) mirrored his response to Primmin. Believing his authority to be at threat, Odo immediately tendered his resignation to Commander Sisko, before being reassured that he was still in charge of station security. Eddington and Odo would occasionally work together, most notably when the Constable and his sidekick stored the DS9 crew in a James Bond holosuite program following a transporter malfunction.

Quark was Odo's best friend , but both Eddington and Primmin were very capable sidekicks for the Constable during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Michael Eddington became far more memorable than George Primmin when he betrayed Starfleet for the Maquis in DS9 season 5. Eddington's betrayal had a bigger impact on Captain Sisko than Odo, as he relentlessly pursued the Maquis traitor, determined to bring him to justice. It was this gripping storyline that meant that Eddington was able to transcend his original sidekick status and become a fascinating Star Trek character in his own right.

To the Death (episode)

View history
1.2 Act One
1.3 Act Two
1.4 Act Three
1.5 Act Four
1.6 Act Five
1.7 Log entries
2 Memorable quotes
3.1 Story and script
3.2 Production and broadcast
3.3 Reception
3.4 Continuity
3.6 Remastered version
3.7 Video and DVD releases
4.1 Starring
4.2 Also starring
4.3 Guest stars
4.4 Special guest star
4.5 Uncredited co-stars
4.6 Stunt doubles
4.7.1 Iconian gateway images
4.7.2 Defiant turbolift display
4.8 External links

Summary [ ]

Dax and Chief O'Brien are sitting in the mess hall aboard the USS Defiant discussing Molly 's habit of coming to sleep in bed with her parents as Dr. Bashir gets a drink and approaches their table. Unknowingly, Bashir sits in Commander Worf 's favorite chair, and when advised to choose a different seat by both Dax and O'Brien, chooses to remain in the chair. Worf then enters the mess hall, gets an extra-large prune juice from the replicator , and walks towards his favorite chair. He slows for a moment when he sees Bashir in it, but only completes the distance to the table and silently waits while looking at him. Pretending to have just noticed him, Bashir holds the look for a few moments, then with amusement politely relinquishes the chair to the commander. Worf thanks him but just as he is sitting down, a red alert sounds and all senior staff are called to the bridge by Captain Sisko , where they find out that Deep Space 9 has been attacked and an upper pylon has been destroyed.

Deep Space 9 missing Upper Pylon 3

On the attacked portion of the station, a panicked Quark is running through the corridors looking for his brother Rom who was doing work on one of the upper pylons and finds out that he is fine and working with the damage control teams headed by Kira Nerys . Sisko then arrives demanding to know what happened, and Odo reports that a Jem'Hadar strike team beamed in from a civilian transport , set off a bomb in Upper Pylon 3 before the crew could respond, stole some items from the science labs and left through the wormhole . So far, eighteen people are confirmed dead with thirty-one missing and over a hundred injured. They left only forty-five minutes ago, meaning their ion trail can still be detected. Deciding that the Jem'Hadar must pay for this unprovoked attack, Sisko decides to leave immediately and pursue them. Bashir stays behind to assist the wounded, including Kira, nursing an injury to her right arm, while Odo leaves with the rest of the Defiant crew.

Act One [ ]

" These people saved our lives. " " And for that, we shall take advantage of their mistake. "

The Jem'Hadar used a magneton pulse to hide their trail, and the Defiant has trouble locating them, but stumbles upon a badly-damaged Jem'Hadar attack ship on the verge of exploding. Worf notes that the Jem'Hadar that attacked the station came from a civilian transport and not an attack ship, so this can't be the same group. Sisko has the surviving crew beamed aboard the Defiant without their weapons, which consists of six Jem'Hadar soldiers and their Vorta commander, Weyoun , who orders his men to stand down and asks for a word in private with Sisko.

In the Defiant 's mess hall, Weyoun says that their ship was attacked by the same Jem'Hadar who attacked Deep Space 9. These Jem'Hadar are renegades, and Weyoun has been tasked with eliminating them, but he needs Sisko's help. Sisko is incredulous, saying that the Dominion could send a fleet of warships to eliminate the renegades, but Weyoun says they simply don't have the time. Several months ago, a Dominion science team discovered the remains of an Iconian gateway on a remote outpost world, Vandros IV . Unfortunately, the science team's Jem'Hadar guards rebelled and seized control of the gateway. Weyoun guesses that the equipment stolen from Deep Space 9, such as EPS power stabilizers , microfusion initiators , and photonic amplifiers could be used to repair the gateway – which, if made operational, could enable the renegades to teleport, instantaneously, to any world or solar system in the galaxy . Dominion experts have already predicted that if the renegades convince the rest of the Jem'Hadar to revolt, they could take over the entire Dominion in less than a year.

Though moved, Sisko claims that that isn't his problem, but Weyoun begs to differ: if the Jem'Hadar seize control of the Dominion, they will almost certainly declare war on the Federation, and with the gateway, they could invade any Alpha Quadrant world at will, even if the wormhole were shut down. Sisko is shaken, but still not entirely convinced. He asks why the Founders cannot simply order the renegades to stand down – since, after all, obedience to the Founders has been genetically hard-wired into the Jem'Hadar's genetic make-up. Weyoun, shifting uneasily, admits that the degree of the Founders' control over the Jem'Hadar has been "somewhat overstated," but insists that the Dominion is, and will always be, stable. Sisko, after considering the threat the gateway poses to both their sides, reluctantly agrees to help Weyoun destroy it and kill the rebel Jem'Hadar.

Act Two [ ]

Aboard the bridge, Sisko informs his staff about their mission. Worf interjects that he was part of the away team from the USS Enterprise that discovered the Iconian homeworld in the Romulan Neutral Zone and was forced to destroy the gateway they found there to keep it out of the hands of the Romulans – so Worf fully appreciates the danger the gateway poses. Dax and O'Brien express some unease about working with Weyoun's Jem'Hadar, especially since they are as likely to revolt if they learn about the gateway, which could help liberate their entire race. For that reason, Sisko warns, they have to keep it a secret from them.

In his quarters, Sisko summons First Omet'iklan , the Jem'Hadar commander. Omet'iklan makes no secret of his contempt for the Federation, but agrees that that dislike is trumped by his duty to punish the renegades. Sisko makes clear that, for the duration of the mission, Omet'iklan and his men are under his command, not Weyoun's. Omet'iklan appears to accept this, but adds, ominously, that after the mission is completed, " we shall see. "

There is a joint briefing in the mess hall. Since the ziggurat that the renegades are using as a base (where the gateway is housed) is composed of solid neutronium , it cannot be destroyed from orbit with quantum torpedoes , which means they have to do it "the hard way," with a ground assault. Omet'iklan reports the number of the renegades as around 150, and several of the Starfleet officers remark that they don't like the odds. When Worf remarks that silencing all nine guards outside the ziggurat before one of them raises the alarm will be difficult, the Jem'Hadar Second , Toman'torax , taunts him that the much-touted Klingon bravery is a sham, and he will look forward to the day when the Dominion invades the Klingon Empire and massacres its people. Worf launches himself at the Jem'Hadar, but the two are pulled apart by Sisko and Omet'iklan.

Act Three [ ]

During a simulated assault Dax, O'Brien, Odo and Worf storm into main engineering (acting as their "objective"), neutralize two Jem'Hadar guards and prepare to set simulated explosives. However, they hesitate, the room isn't secure as they have not found and incapacitated the third guard they were expecting. As they look for him the lights blink on, signifying that, had that been real, the room's auto-defense systems would have engaged and vaporized them all. Omet'iklan reveals there was no third guard, as nothing is certain in battle and if the crew can't secure the room, then they should detonate the explosives then and there to ensure success. Obviously, the crew aren't thrilled about the prospect of possibly having to sacrifice themselves on the mission. He, Sisko, and Weyoun enter a turbolift , Omet'iklan insisting that their mission cannot succeed as long as the Federation's officers value their lives over success. Sisko disagrees, saying that a healthy fear of death does wonders for keeping officers on their toes. Omet'iklan recommends that the Jem'Hadar train in mixed teams with the Defiant 's crew, but Weyoun starts to overrule him (concerned for the secrecy of their objective). Omet'iklan interrupts, informing Weyoun that he and his men know all about the gateway. Weyoun may believe that the Jem'Hadar's loyalty is bought with deceptions and "the white ," but the truth is that their loyalty to the Founders is inherent, unwavering, and stronger than the Vorta's ever will be. If the renegades disagree with this, then they deserve death. Sisko agrees that mixed teams will be used, but makes clear that he does not intend for this to be a suicide mission .

A short time later, Dax is put off by a Jem'Hadar, Virak'kara , assigned to her squad, who has been staring at her while she has been piloting the Defiant for two hours, trying to learn more about her "patterns." Conversing with him, Dax learns some new (and unsettling) facts about the Jem'Hadar's way of life:

They are bred in "birthing chambers" (and for that reason, their species has no females) and their growth cycle is such that they reach maturity and are ready to fight within three days;
They do not sleep, eat, or engage in any kind of recreational activity; and
Because of the frequency with which they are deployed in battle, their lifespans are extremely short; no Jem'Hadar has ever reached the age of thirty, and those that reach age twenty are considered " Honored Elders "; Virak'kara himself is only eight, and appears stunned when Dax casually mentions that she's over three hundred.

She shares these findings with Worf and O'Brien over a meal, and they are further disturbed to witness another one: Weyoun is eating by himself in a corner, when the Jem'Hadar enter with his white dispenser, and he grudgingly interrupts his meal to unlock it and pass out their next dosage.

After this is done, Toman'torax swaggers over to the officers' table and threatens O'Brien, starting a fight with Worf which quickly escalates into a massive brawl between the Starfleet officers and the Jem'Hadar before Sisko and Omet'iklan arrive and break things up. Both Worf and Toman'torax admit to starting the fight, with the Second admitting that he was insubordinate and deserved punishment. Omet'iklan executes his Second on the spot by breaking his neck, expecting Sisko to administer a similar punishment to Worf. The captain punishes Worf by confining him to his quarters while not on duty before angrily ordering the other officers to clear the room. Omet'iklan coldly chides Sisko, disagreeing openly on maintaining discipline with his officers. The First tells the commander of the mission that he is weak and that he should have been killed in the place of Worf, and that when the mission is over, Omet'iklan will make sure that he does.

Act Four [ ]

Weyoun confronts Odo in a hall and tells him that his people still love him, and that they want him back. Odo says that he does not love them back, and that he does not want to return.

As the Defiant approaches Vandros IV, O'Brien is recording a farewell message for his wife and daughter . He confides to Dax that it is the eleventh time he has done so, and every time he does, he is afraid that it will be the message they end up hearing. Dax assures him that her many years of experience tell her that he will die of extreme old age, peacefully in bed, and surrounded by loving friends and relatives. Then she adds that she will file his farewell message along with the one she has recorded to her mother, "just in case."

Before going to his quarters as ordered, Worf approaches Sisko in engineering and warns him to stay on the ship during the battle, so Omet'iklan cannot make good on his threat to murder him. Sisko declines, and Worf tells the captain to be watchful, "reassuring" him that, even if Omet'iklan succeeds in killing Sisko, Worf will make sure he does not live long enough to boast about it. In response, the captain smiles slightly and says that he is "very comforted" by Worf's "reassurance."

The crew with the Jem'Hadar

As the Defiant is approaching the planet, O'Brien hands out phaser rifles to the crew and reluctantly to the Jem'Hadar. Sisko tells the strike force to prepare to beam down, but Omet'iklan tells him to wait, and intones a Jem'Hadar battle chant, ending, " Remember: victory is life. "

On the planet, the teams are approaching the ziggurat, when Omet'iklan angrily whispers that they have been betrayed, their weapons have been sabotaged. The Defiant officers check their weapons, and also find them non-functional. Dax theorizes that the gateway is generating some kind of dampening field . At that moment, several Jem'Hadar materialize and ambush the crew with melee weapons .

Act Five [ ]

The team overpowers the Jem'Hadar, losing two Defiant crewmen in the process. Omet'iklan guesses that, without energy weapons or the element of surprise, Sisko will abort the mission. Sisko says, " Guess again! ", picks up a kar'takin, and leads the team towards the ziggurat.

The teams storm into the ziggurat, killing several of the renegades, until O'Brien, Sisko, and Omet'iklan reach the chamber where the gateway is. After they kill the two Jem'Hadar on guard, O'Brien starts to set the explosives (which have a chemical backup detonator unaffected by the gateway's interference).

Sisko notices a decloaking Jem'Hadar lunging at Omet'iklan and pushes him out of the way, receiving a wound in his arm for his trouble. Omet'iklan is stunned that Sisko would risk his life to save his, even after being threatened. They all exit the ziggurat and make their way to a safe distance by the time the bombs explode.

With the gateway destroyed, their phasers are functional again. Weyoun beams down with a Defiant security officer and offers his congratulations to everyone and asks to inspect the remains. Instead, Omet'iklan turns his rifle on the Vorta and vaporizes him for questioning the Jem'Hadar's loyalty to the Founders.

There is a tense moment, as the Defiant crew and the Jem'Hadar stand off against each other, but Omet'iklan lowers his weapon, saying that there has been enough killing for one day. He announces that he and his men will stay on the planet to hunt down and kill the remaining renegades. Sisko wishes him luck, but Omet'iklan warns him that, though they fought well together, they will be enemies the next time they meet. With that, the Jem'Hadar cloak and vanish and the weary Starfleet officers beam back aboard the Defiant .

Log entries [ ]

Captain's log, Deep Space 9, 2372

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Has anyone seen my brother Rom?! He told me he was gonna be working on one of the upper pylons today! " " He's fine, I saw him with one of the damage-control teams on Level 5. " " Oh, what a relief... Wait 'til I find him, I'll kill him for scaring me like this!! "

" A Klingon. " " And the traitor. The Founders will be pleased. "

" Omet'iklan, control your men. These people saved our lives. " " And for that we shall take advantage of their mistake. "

" Couldn't the Founders just order them to surrender? From what I know, the Jem'Hadar have been genetically-engineered to obey them?! " " The Founders' ability to control the Jem'Hadar has been somewhat... overstated. Otherwise we never would've had to addict them to the white. " " Sounds like the Dominion isn't quite as stable as you'd like us to believe. " " The Dominion has endured for two thousand years, and will continue to endure long after the Federation has crumbled into dust ... but we'll leave that to history. "

" So let me get this straight, we're going to work with the Jem'Hadar fight the Jem'Hadar? "

" There'll be a joint briefing session at 1900 hours. " " Followed by a get-to-know-you buffet at 1930. " " And I forgot my dress uniform . "

" I was on the mission that discovered the Iconian homeworld. We were forced to destroy the Gateway we found there rather than let it fall into the hands of the Romulans, and Starfleet Command supported our decision. "

" Get back to your stations or go to your quarters. Either way, I want this room cleared. NOW!"

" It is as you said. The Klingon will to fight pales in comparison to our own. " " Yes. He has the look of a warrior, but the heart of a coward. "

" No sleep, no food, no women – no wonder you're so angry. After thirty or forty years of that, I'd be angry, too. " " No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years. " " How old are you? " " I am eight. " " I would have guessed at least fifteen. " " Few Jem'Hadar live that long. If we reach twenty, we are considered honored elders. ...How old are you? " " I stopped counting at three hundred. " " You don't look it. " " Thank you. "

" First Omet'iklan, can you vouch for the loyalty of your men? " " We pledge our loyalty to the Founders, from now until death. " " Then receive this reward from the Founders, may it keep you strong. "

" It is our duty to punish those who would break their vow of loyalty. " " Are you accusing me of something? " " It is not for us to accuse a god of betraying heaven. The gods themselves will sit in judgment over you. "

" I am First Omet'iklan, and I am dead. As of this moment, we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This we do gladly, for we are Jem'Hadar. Remember, victory is life. " (in unison) " Victory is life. " " Such a delightful people. "

" I am Chief Miles Edward O'Brien. I'm very much alive and I intend to stay that way. " " Amen. Let's get it done! "

Background information [ ]

Story and script [ ].

According to Robert Hewitt Wolfe , "To the Death" was written specifically to give the Jem'Hadar more depth; " Our intention was to show that the more you learn about them, the less you want to be around them. If you meet the Borg on a one-on-one basis, they're kind of cuddly, and when you get to know the Klingons , they're not so scary anymore. But the Jem'Hadar, when you really get to know them, are damn scary guys. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. 347))
Robert Hewitt Wolfe also had another intention for the depiction of the Jem'Hadar in this episode. Wolfe commented, " We wanted to spend some time with some Jem'Hadar who weren't screwed up, because the two times we spent any time with the Jem'Hadar was the kid who is so young and doesn't know what he's feeling (' The Abandoned ') and also the ones in ' Hippocratic Oath '. So we wanted to show what a functional Jem'Hadar society is, because we know so much more about them than anyone does and we wanted to get some of that information out there so the audience could understand them a little better. It seems that the more you learn about the Klingons, the less scary they are. The more you learn about the Cardassians , the less scary they are in some ways. What we want with the Jem'Hadar is that the more you learn about them, the more scary they are. These are not the kind of guys you want to party with. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 120)
The writers considered multiple possible missions for Starfleet and the Jem'Hadar to undertake in this installment. Robert Hewitt Wolfe commented, " When we talked about doing 'To the Death', we talked about twenty different missions the Jem'Hadar could go on with Starfleet. One of the missions we talked about is that they have to go and kill Gowron , because they find out he's a renegade shapeshifter. We played with that for quite a while and it didn't come together, so we went back to the original story. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 121) The plot idea which was discarded for inclusion in this episode ended up inspiring the season finale, " Broken Link ".
According to the script, when Weyoun "claps" Odo on the shoulder, he infected him with a virus that presents itself in "Broken Link" and necessitates his return to the Great Link (although the way the scene is filmed, it does not allow the "clap" to be seen on screen). ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion - A Series Guide and Script Library ) This means that, as of this point, Odo is infected with two viruses: one by Section 31 and one by the Founders . One may assume the Section 31 virus was dormant during Odo's return to the Great Link at the end of the season. Although this has been labeled a false rumor by Ronald D. Moore, ( AOL chat , 1999 ) it is actually written in the script.
In the script, Bashir orders Tarkalean tea with "brescha" fruit at the start of the episode. ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion - A Series Guide and Script Library )

Production and broadcast [ ]

This episode marks the first appearance of Weyoun ( Jeffrey Combs ) in the series. Of the character, Combs said, " Weyoun is the snake of the universe. He's the smiling car salesman who'll tell you anything to make you feel as if you're the most important thing in his life just to get you to buy his product. " Combs commented that he based the performance on a scene in Stanley Kubrick 's 1975 film Barry Lyndon , where two characters are being really formal and nice to each other, showing perfect etiquette, but under the surface, it is obvious they despise each other. The character of Weyoun was written to be a one-show character, but the producers were so impressed with Combs, and the character got such a strong reaction from the fans, that they decided to bring him back in season 5 , inventing the concept that the Vorta routinely clone themselves to explain it. According to Ira Steven Behr , " [In] multitalented Jeffrey Combs, we finally had a Vorta who sold the Vorta. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. ? ))
Jeffrey Combs assumed, since Weyoun is killed at the end of this episode, that this would be the only installment to feature the character. He considered it "the coolest thing" that the character who killed Weyoun was played by much-revered actor Clarence Williams III . ( What We Left Behind )
"To the Death" was the fifth episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that LeVar Burton directed and the first of his five to feature the Jem'Hadar. Burton commented, " I had to look at previous episodes to understand who they were and what their relationship to the Founders is. " Burton decided that Clarence Williams III would be an excellent choice to play the role of Omet'iklan . Burton commented, " He's an old friend of mine, but we'd never worked together before. This was just an opportunity to say, 'Hey, CW, you want to come and do this thing?' " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. 348))
Both LeVar Burton and First Assistant Director B.C. Cameron found directing the episode extremely difficult. Burton commented, " We had a day of location shooting that was my worst day as a director, because there was so much work and so little time. There was a huge number of people on location, including all the Jem'Hadar who require makeup and two major fight sequences to stage. All were elements that felt like they conspired to just bite me in the ass. " Cameron commented, " LeVar and I went out to Griffith Park 's bird sanctuary the night before and walked the sets. I remember thinking, 'There's no way we're gonna get all this work done.' We had twenty-five Jem'Hadar stuntmen who had three o'clock makeup calls. We spent the whole day at the top of the bird sanctuary, and the only way up and down was by golf cart. The cast trailers and the honeywagon were way down below. So if anyone went down, we had to wait and wait to get them back up again. Logistically, it was a nightmare. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. ? ))
An error led to the staff confusing the Iconians with the Tkon Empire from TNG : " The Last Outpost " and so graphics for the set were designed around the Tkon. The error was noticed a day before filming began and new, corrected graphics were completed in time for the episode. ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. 348))
This episode was cut for violence, a first for the series and perhaps for Star Trek itself. According to Ira Steven Behr , forty-five seconds of hand-to-hand combat was cut prior to the episode being screened. This displeased Behr a great deal; " That really hurt the show. We built up to this battle and now it's just perfunctory. The fans who wrote letters on the internet saw that the rhythms were thrown off. " Similarly unimpressed was Stunt Coordinator Dennis Madalone ; " In the first edited version, fifty-two Jem'Hadar had been killed. Dax had killed ten and Sisko had killed seven. But when the censors got hold of it, they took out over thirty-two Jem'Hadar deaths. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. ? )) The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) cut a further five seconds (specifically to remove the sound of a neck being broken) and rated the episode 15 .
Terry Farrell was fine with the cuts, commenting, " I killed so many Jem'Hadar warriors that they had to cut some of it out. I think I killed more of them than Worf did. At one point, I had three on my sword. I said to Dennis Madalone, our stunt coordinator, 'Maybe this is too much.' He said, 'No, no, no. You're Dax.' Then Rick Berman called and said, 'You know there's this one part where you're holding back three Jem'Hadar. I thought that was a little much. I hope you don't mind that I cut it.' I didn't mind at all because it was completely unrealistic. If I can't beat Worf, there's no way that I'm beating three Jem'Hadar at once. " ( The Official Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Magazine issue 18 )
This episode was filmed after " The Quickening " but aired the week before.

Reception [ ]

Ira Steven Behr commented, " Thirty-two seconds of violence was cut out. Lots of violence between Jem'Hadar and Federation people. Thirty-two seconds of nothing but action, and I wish it had happened. It kind of restored my faith in the Jem'Hadar, and I think it really makes them interesting. I thought Clarence Williams was good; we finally had Jeffrey Combs back. I thought it really filled in a lot of the Dominion backstory. It was really a tense little episode. I just wish it had been thirty-two seconds longer. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 120)
Ronald D. Moore commented, " The only criticism that I have about ["To the Death"] is that I wish we had been able to get the location that we used for ' The Quickening ' and use it there, because that was a tremendous location. A lot of production value, and it looked wonderful. 'To the Death' was much smaller, not quite as sweeping. I liked Clarence Williams III , I always have, and I thought he really personified the Jem'Hadar for the first time in a way that the audience could grab onto. The Jem'Hadar in a lot of episodes tend to bland out. Sometimes its hard to differentiate between them and [Williams] brought something to that performance that made him at least stand alone among the race. Also, chopping and hacking has always been one of my favorite things. Not since ' Blood Oath ' has there been so much chopping and hacking ". ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 120)
René Echevarria commented, " A hugely important episode for us, and I think we learned some really fascinating things about the Jem'Hadar. It was a show that I was very sceptical of, wondering what we were going to do for three acts on the Defiant with the Jem'Hadar. Robert and Ira were saying, 'We'll find stuff,' and they really did find some great, fascinating stuff about them. Finally we fleshed them out in a believable way that's a really important building block. " ( Captains' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages , p. 120)
Dennis Madalone commented, " This episode should have been the biggest action show ever. We had all the manpower and LeVar [Burton] got it all on film. We made it violent and rich just like ' Battle Lines ' and ' Blood Oath '. " ( Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (p. 348))

Continuity [ ]

According to Kilana , Weyoun managed to file a report on Sisko after this encounter that described him as " direct ." ( DS9 : " The Ship "). It is unclear how or when Weyoun transmitted his report to the Dominion since he was killed by Omet'iklan in this episode.
This episode featured the second Iconian gateway after its introduction in TNG : " Contagion ". Some of the places shown in the Iconian gateways are Starfleet Command, Paris, Earth, and Bajor. Worf refers to the events from "Contagion", mentioning that Starfleet Command supported Captain Picard 's decision to destroy the gateway on Iconia .
This is the first appearance of the Vorta since " The Search, Part II ", the second episode of the third season .
In " The Dogs of War ", Weyoun 8 euphorically claims that " the Dominion hasn't surrendered in battle since it was founded ten thousand years ago . " This seems to contradict Weyoun 4 in "To the Death", who states, " The Dominion has endured for two thousand years. " That number seems to align with the Female Changeling , who later comments, in " What You Leave Behind ", that the Jem'Hadar had been the Dominion's first line of defense for two thousand years .
Jeffrey Combs ( Weyoun ) and Brian Thompson ( Toman'torax ) later appeared in ENT : " Babel One ", " United ", and " The Aenar " together, playing Commander Shran and Admiral Valdore respectively.
Cirroc Lofton ( Jake Sisko ) does not appear in this episode.

Remastered version [ ]

Remastered scenes from the episode are featured in the documentary What We Left Behind .

Video and DVD releases [ ]

UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 4.12, 28 October 1996
As part of the UK VHS collection Star Trek - Greatest Battles : 16 November 1998
As part of the DS9 Season 4 DVD collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

Avery Brooks as Captain Sisko

Also starring [ ]

Rene Auberjonois as Odo
Michael Dorn as Lieutenant Commander Worf
Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Commander Dax
Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman as Quark
Alexander Siddig as Doctor Bashir
Nana Visitor as Major Kira

Guest stars [ ]

Brian Thompson as Toman'torax
Scott Haven as Virak'kara
Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun 4

Special guest star [ ]

Clarence Williams III as Omet'iklan

Stunt doubles [ ]

Brennan Dyson as stunt double for Michael Dorn
Tom Morga as stunt double for Scott Haven
Patricia Tallman as stunt double for Terry Farrell ( deleted scene )

References [ ]

200,000 years ago ; 4th century ; 2364 ; 2369 ; ability ; absolute ruler ; accusation ; addiction ; Ahjess ; Alpha Quadrant ; Amen ; away mission ; Bajoran ; Bajoran wormhole ; battle drill ; bearing ; birthing chamber ; Breen ; chief of staff ; Civilian transport ship ( transport ship / civilian transport ); company ; confined to quarters ; Constable ; cranial meninges ; dampening field ; Dax, Lela ; Deep Space 9 levels ; Dominion ; Dominion history ; Dominion Intelligence ; egg laying ; empire ; EPS power stabilizer ; executive officer ; explosive device ; fear of death ; Federation President ; female ; field supervisor ; Free Haven ; freedom ; garrison ; god ; guard duty ; heart ; heaven ; Honored Elder ; Iconia ; Iconian ; Iconian gateway ; ion trail ; " in comparison "; insurrection ; interstellar empire ; Jem'Hadar ; Jem'Hadar warship ; Kar'takin ; ketracel-white ; Klingon ; Klingon Empire ; magneton pulse ; mek'leth ; microfusion initiator ; neutronium ; new plan ; O'Brien, Keiko ; O'Brien, Molly ; photonic amplifier ; pediatric medicine ; phaser rifle ; privateer ; proprietary rights ; prune juice ; psychographic profile ; quantum torpedo ; red alert ; renegade ; Rom ; Romulans ; search and destroy mission ; security detail ; senior staff ; short-sightedness ; sleep ; social graces ; staring ; strike team ; suicide mission ; traitor ; transporter ; transporter bay ; transporter protocol 5 ; unit ; Vandros IV ; warrior ; Weyoun 4's attack ship ; ziggurat

Iconian gateway images [ ]

Bajor ; Cardassia Prime ; Dozaria ; Earth ; Paris ; Starfleet Headquarters ; Volan III ; Volan III moon‎

Defiant turbolift display [ ]

antimatter injection reactor ; antimatter pod ; bridge ; brig ; cargo bay ; computer core ; crew mess ; crew quarters ; deflector control ; deuterium fuel storage ; docking port ; emergency battery ; emergency manual monitor ; engineering support ; environmental support ; escape pod ; fire control ; first aid station ; gndn monitor ; impulse engine ; landing gear ; lateral sensor ; maintenance ; navigational deflector ; phaser coil ; photon torpedo launcher ; power distribution ; power transfer tunnel ; ptc monitor ; sensor module ; shuttle access ; sickbay ; transporter room ; waste management

External links [ ]

"To the Death" at StarTrek.com
" To the Death " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
" To the Death " at Wikipedia
" "To the Death" " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
"To the Death" script at Star Trek Minutiae
1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein

Star Trek: DS9’s Jake Sisko Joining Starfleet Was Never Going To Happen

Jake Sisko's choice to become a writer over joining Starfleet Academy was a deliberate and refreshing departure from fandom expectations.
Nog's surprising path to becoming a Starfleet officer subverted viewer expectations and added depth to DS9's storytelling.
By exploring Jake's career as a writer, DS9 was able to delve into new aspects of life in the Federation, enriching the show's narrative.

There was never a serious chance of Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) joining Starfleet Academy in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and an episode from season 2 proves it. As the young son of the widowed Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), Jake Sisko was set up as DS9 's answer to Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) from Star Trek: The Next Generation . However, Jake took a very different path to Wesley in DS9 , choosing a career as a writer and journalist over a place at Starfleet Academy. During DS9 's Dominion War arc, Jake's career gave Star Trek the opportunity to explore new aspects of life in the Federation .

One of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's smartest decisions was to put Nog (Aron Eisenberg) on the path to becoming a Starfleet officer instead of Jake. It subverted audience expectations of both DS9 's Ferengi characters and the character of Jake Sisko. DS9 put a full-stop on the question of Jake Sisko applying to Starfleet Academy in the season 2 episode "Shadowplay", written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion , Robert Hewitt Wolfe explained why Jake's decision about Starfleet Academy fit perfectly into the three plots that comprise season 2's "Shadowplay" :

" They're all about the unreality of appearances. Everyone would think Jake would want to be a Starfleet guy, but he doesn't. You'd think Bareil was on the station to see Kira, but the truth is that Quark lured him there. And then there's the girl, who seems real, but isn't ."

Rene Auberjonois Star Trek: Enterprise Appearance Contained A Massive DS9 Callback

Ds9’s jake sisko in starfleet was never a serious consideration.

There's a matter-of-fact way to how Jake Sisko's Starfleet Academy aspirations - or lack thereof - are dealt with in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . This suggests that there was never an intention to redo Wesley Crusher's Starfleet journey . In fact, the character outline for Jake Sisko in DS9 's 1992 writer's bible makes no mention of Jake wanting to follow in his father's footsteps. In fact, it references the death of Jennifer Sisko (Felecia M. Bell) and how it's inspired Jake to dream " of going to live on Earth " because " he knows that his mom would still be alive if they did not live in space ".

This is in sharp contrast to Wesley Crusher who, despite the tragic death of his father Lt. Commander Jack Crusher, still wanted to pursue a career in Starfleet. Jake's disinterest in Starfleet is sensitively handled in "Shadowplay", as he gets a job working with Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) who encourages the young man to speak to his father. Jake's discussion with his father is beautifully understated, and never becomes emotionally overwrought. The whole issue is touchingly resolved by Sisko asking his son to " Find something you love, then do it the best you can. "

Chief O'Brien reveals to Jake that he gave up a potential career as a talented cello player to join Starfleet, a nod to his cello playing in Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Jake Sisko In Starfleet Could Never Have Bettered Wesley Crusher’s Star Trek: TNG Arc

Jake Sisko joining Starfleet Academy would only have been a carbon copy of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Wesley Crusher arc . Star Trek: Deep Space Nine never wanted to repeat TNG 's past glories, and always pushed the franchise in new directions. If Jake had joined Starfleet Academy two things would have happened; either he would have grown disillusioned like Wesley in "Journey's End", or he would have become an exceptional officer like his father. Neither of these potential stories are dramatically interesting, so it's a relief that DS9 chose to make Jake a writer instead.

By making Jake Sisko a writer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could explore the place of literature and journalism in the Federation, something that had rarely been explored before. Indeed, the loss of one Star Trek kid from Starfleet Academy allowed another to fly. Nog's Starfleet career told the story of what happens when, unlike Jake or Wesley, nobody expects you to succeed. This meant that the reward of Nog's Star Trek: Deep Space Nine story was far richer than it would have been if Jake Sisko had followed his expected path.

All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are streaming now on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Star Trek: DS9’s Jake Sisko Joining Starfleet Was Never Going To Happen

How Deep Space Nine's Dominion War Nearly Wrecked Star Trek's Utopia

How deep space nine 's dominion war nearly wrecked star trek 's utopia, over five years of hot and cold conflict, deep space nine charted the deadliest war in star trek 's history—one that pushed the federation to its limit..

Star Trek likes to imagine itself as a franchise that is largely above conflict , but it is defined by it : and how its most idealized heroes in Starfleet and the Federation react to, and become shaped by it. While Trek ’s history is littered with devastating battles , few conflicts hold a mirror to Star Trek quite like the bloodiest of them all— Deep Space Nine ’s Dominion War .

As one of the most legendary moments in the conflict celebrated its anniversary earlier this week—marking the airing of “In the Pale Moonlight” , where Captain Sisko sells his soul to bring the Romulan Star Empire into the war on the Federation’s side—we’re taking a look back at the longest game a Star Trek show ever played in setting up what would become one of its most memorable arcs, and a story that would forever shape its legacy .

Although Federation-aligned and independent powers of the Alpha Quadrant had begun colonizing Gamma Quadrant holdings and engaging in trade with the region’s myriad beings almost as soon as the discovery of the Bajoran wormhole in 2369—the first stable wormhole discovered in the Milky Way Galaxy—it was not Starfleet, the Klingon Empire, the Cardassian Union, or the Romulan Star Empire, nor any of the major military powers of the Alpha Quadrant, that first received intelligence about the Dominion’s existence, but the Ferengi Alliance.

Operating in intelligence secured by the Grand Nagus Zek, the Ferengi successfully entered a trade agreement with a major mercantile faction of the Dominion in the Karemma, in an attempt to secure the Ferengi as a major economic power on the other side of the wormhole. But while their alliance with the Karemma was established, solid intel or interaction with the wider Dominion remained out of reach for the Alpha Quadrant powers beyond intelligence reports from trading Gamma Quadrant species: the Dominion was solidifying its own borders, securing new worlds, and conquering species while lying in wait.

First Contact

Starfleet’s first formal contact with the Dominion set the stage for the scope of the war to come—but open conflict with the Dominion was still several years away. In 2370, after encountering the military arm of the Dominion in the Jem’Hadar, Commander Sisko, Deep Space Nine’s chief Starfleet administrator, and Quark were held hostage as Jem’Hadar forces destroyed multiple Alpha Quadrant colonies as a warning that the Gamma Quadrant was their territory. In an attempt to make a show of force of its own, Starfleet dispatched the Galaxy-Class starship Odyssey as well as several runabout shuttles on an expedition to recover Sisko.

Although Sisko was rescued, the show of force didn’t work. Immediately engaging with Starfleet, the Jem’Hadar’s technology proved more than a match for the Federation’s, with the Odyssey unable to damage the Dominion attack ships. They were no match for the Jem’Hadar’s ruthless tactics either, when the Odyssey was destroyed in a suicide run during the engagement. Sisko and the survivors were left to return to the Alpha Quadrant with a warning: the Federation had no idea what hell it had just unleashed.

A Cold War Begins

The destruction of the Odyssey did not mark the beginning of open conflict, but sparked realizations on both sides of the wormhole— a Dominion invasion of the Alpha Quadrant was not a hypothetical, but an inevitability. The Dominion began establishing simulations for how the various Alpha Quadrant powers would react to a potential Dominion encroachment beyond the Gamma Quadrant. Meanwhile, Starfleet entered production on the first explicitly designed warship in its fleets, the Defiant -class escort, stationing the first of its kind at Deep Space Nine, right at the wormhole’s entrance.

Deep Space Nine itself became the center of Starfleet’s plans for an early military footing. The Federation’s presence on the station was increasingly militarized even beyond the Defiant ’s stationing there, fortifying the station with increased defenses, and the establishment of a series of relays and listening posts on the other side of the wormhole as an advanced warning system. However, beyond the military might of its Jem’Hadar forces, the Dominion had another trick up its sleeve: a quasi-intelligence branch of changeling agents, preparing to infiltrate branches of each Alpha Quadrant power.

The Fall of the Obsidian Order

The Alpha Quadrant’s own intelligence agencies attempted to combat changeling subterfuge with increased security sweeps and detection, but the Dominion pivoted its earliest infiltrations at two intelligence targets in particular: the Romulan Tal Shiar, and the Cardassian Obsidian Order. Spurred by the discovery of a plan by Cardassian intelligence to assault the changeling homeworld, Dominion operatives lured the Obsidian Order and Tal Shiar into a joint operation in the Omarion Nebula in 2371—where a massive force of Jem’Hadar ships decimated the Cardassian-Romulan task force.

With the Tal Shiar badly damaged, Romulan planning to the war pivoted to neutrality, staying away from engaging with the other Alpha Quadrant powers. But the destruction of the Obsidian Order crippled Cardassia’s power structure: without the threat of the Order policing dissidence, Cardassia itself was facing a power vacuum prime for the Dominion to capitalize on.

Emboldened by the success at the Battle of the Omarion Nebula, the Dominion moved further into destabilizing the Alpha Quadrant. Infiltrating the upper echelons of Klingon Command under the guise of General Martok, a changeling operative influenced Chancellor Gowron into making public moves to seize Cardassian territories while the Union was distracted by internal conflicts. Drawing condemnation from the Federation, Gowron reacted by shattering a tentative peace between the Empire and the Federation that had lasted for nearly a century by formally pulling out of the Khitomer Accords that had established the Klingon-Federation Alliance.

Given free reign to effectively continue a war of attrition against the Cardassian Union, Gowron’s warmongering provided two advantages to the Dominion: the Klingons badly, badly damaged the Cardassian Union, itself already weakened by the civilian government’s overthrowing of the Cardassian military command’s rule over the world. But the Federation’s distraction by the Klingon powers also gave Dominion agents an opportunity to repeat their successes within Starfleet Command. After a changeling agent bombed a conference in Antwerp, dissident voices in Starfleet Command attempted to stage a coup d’etat—however, it failed after being exposed.

The Dominion’s influence in the Klingon Empire, however, allowed it to attack the Federation even without infiltration from within. The Martok agent convinced Gowron, emboldened by successes against the Cardassians, to begin staking claim on existent Federation territories in late 2372, formally beginning a new Klingon-Federation war.

Invasion and Union

Although a cease-fire in the conflict between the Federation and Klingons was secured relatively quickly after the exposure of the Martok agent, the ensuing chaos—as well as an attempted Borg assault that vastly damaged Starfleet’s military strength in Sector 001—had primed the Alpha Quadrant for the Dominion. Half a year later in 2373, the Dominion reaped the seeds it had sown in years of infiltration and subterfuge. With Cardassia drastically weakened through internal and external strife, a beleaguered Gul Dukat entered negotiations with the Dominion to formally develop an alliance, allowing the Cardassians to stage key territory retrievals on the Klingon front with Dominion backing. Plans by Starfleet to seal the Bajoran wormhole and cut off any threat of a Dominion invasion were thwarted by an agent posing as Dr. Julian Bashir, DS9's Starfleet medical chief, who successfully managed to stablize the wormhole’s integrity even further—allowing the Dominion to regularly transport a steady stream of supplies and military power to Cardassian space.

Growing tensions and small border conflicts on the fringes of what was now Dominion-Cardassian territory saw the Federation and Klingons bury the hatchet formally, with the Empire re-entering the Khitomer Accords. But even with one wound patched up, war was now inevitable, and Starfleet launched a plan to mine the space around Deep Space Nine and the Bajoran wormhole, effectively delaying further transport of Dominion materiel into the Alpha Quadrant. A field of self-replicating mines pushed the Dominion into action, sending a message to Captain Sisko and Starfleet at the station: disable the mines, or the Dominion and Cardassians would take Deep Space Nine and do it themselves.

Starfleet made its first humbling gambit: just days later, an overwhelming Cardassian-Dominion force assaulted Deep Space Nine, but not before the mine field was armed—and not before Starfleet withdrew from the station entirely, leaving the Bajoran security forces staged there to welcome Dominion control. In exchange, the distraction caused by the Dominion pressing so much of its Alpha Quadrant forces into action a Deep Space Nine allowed a joint Starfleet-Klingon allied force to invade Cardassian space, destroying a key Dominion shipyard and hampering initial production efforts of Alpha Quadrant-made weaponry.

On stardate 50975.2, the Dominion War turned hot.

A Sacrifice of Angels

Although the sacrifice of Deep Space Nine in exchange for mining the Bajoran wormhole was a key early victory for the Federation-Klingon alliance, it was pretty much the only one in the opening months of the war. Klingon and Starfleet forces were regularly pushed into retreat on all fronts, overwhelmed by the Dominion’s sheer numbers and their superior technology. Morale began to plummet—especially after a devastating battle in the Tyra system all but destroyed Starfleet’s Seventh Fleet, losing nearly a hundred ships and thousands of officers in a single engagement.

But while large scale conflict was going badly for the alliance, small-scale operations and individual skirmishes played to its military strengths. Small task forces managed to infiltrate Dominion space and successfully destroy significant amounts of the Dominion’s supply of Ketracel-White, the drug that sustained the Jem’Hadar as an effective fighting force, creating a supply crisis, while others sabotaged major sensor arrays to stem the flow of Dominion intelligence.

The War Digs In

The Dominion kept pushing, encroaching closer and closer to core Federation worlds like Vulcan and Bolarus. And as efforts back in the Bajoran system to disable the minefield around Deep Space Nine began to bear fruit, Sisko realized the Federation needed a win to steady morale and to avoid what was increasingly looking like a devastatingly swift loss to the Dominion: take back the station where the war had first begun in the first place.

Despite initial resistance from both the Empire and Starfleet Command, Operation Return was put into action in late 2374, securing an overwhelming victory for alliance forces. Although the mine field was ultimately destroyed, Deep Space Nine was retaken, and nearly 3,000 Dominion warships traversing the wormhole were mysteriously vanished away by the entities—believed by the Bajoran people to be their spiritual pantheon, the Prophets—that called it home. Having withdrawn ships from various fronts to defend DS9, Dominion advances on Federation and Klingon space were stalled throughout the Quadrant, and Gul Dukat, broken by the death of his daughter during the attack on DS9, was captured by the alliance, leading to new leadership in the Cardassian wing of the Dominion under Damar.

A Pale Moonlight

The third major battle for Deep Space Nine lead to a slowdown in the overall arc of the Dominion War, as both sides consolidated forces and territories. Formal peace talks even began between the two sides, but eventually stalled out. With direct access to the Gamma Quadrant now barred by the wormhole’s inhabitants, the Dominion ramped up direct production in its Alpha Quadrant holdings, stemming the Ketracel White shortage crisis through a trade agreement for a version of the drug developed by the Son’a. Its strength restored, the Dominion launched a surprise assault that put the Federation on the precipice: distracting alliance forces, an invasion fleet from the Kalandra sector managed to occupy Betazed, the homeworld of a major Federation member, in just 10 hours, successfully repulsing multiple Starfleet attempts to retake the world.

Through Betazed, the Dominion was on the doorstep of the heart of the Federation—attacks on Vulcan, Bolarus, Andor, Tellar, Alpha Centauri, and even Earth were now on the table. Once again on the back foot and with the war ramping up again, the alliance needed a win. As presented in one of the finest hours of all seven seasons of Deep Space Nine , “In the Pale Moonlight,” Captain Sisko, working with the Cardassian tailor Elim Garak, successfully managed to stage a deception for the Romulan Star Empire, assassinating a Senator carrying forged evidence of a Dominion plan to invade Romulan space. The Romulans took the bait, formally entering the war on the side of the Alliance—and all it cost was the life of one Romulan senator, one criminal, and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer.

Turning Tides

The opening of the Romulan front gave the Federation opportunity and space to reach out and secure diplomatic ties with smaller besieged powers in the Alpha Quadrant, to gain access to further staging grounds and material support. Bolstered by the significant military power Romulus brought to the table, a clear pathway to the end of the Dominion War was laid out by alliance command: a direct invasion of Cardassia, the heart of the Dominion’s stronghold in the quadrant.

As 2374 came to a close, the Alliance began striking its first major offensives into Cardassian space, taking the highly contested Chin’toka system as well as Kalandra—which would eventually lead to the liberation of Betazed months later. Consolidating the new flashpoints on their fronts, the Klingons successfully managed to launch several deep-strike raids into Cardassian territory, destabilizing military infrastructure even further. Section 31, the secret intelligence wing of Starfleet, also successfully developed and laced the changeling homeworld’s great link with a morphogenic virus, greatly destabilizing their security and ability to conduct sabotage and intelligence gathering operations.

The Dominion, however didn’t go down without a fight. As the Alliance encroached further, Dominion command entered an alliance with the Breen Confederacy—something it had kept secret from its Cardassian allies, promising the Breen several Cardassian systems in exchange for their loyalty. As the Dominion ignored the Cardassian’s requests for support against the Federation and Klingons, fractures began to grow between the two entities. But the Breen’s surprise entry into the war in 2375—by launching an unprecedented shock bombardment on Starfleet Headquarters in San Francisco, the first hostile assault on Earth in centuries—as well as the use of powerful new weaponry that allowed them and the Dominion to almost completely eradicate Alliance forces holding Chin’toka to put the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans on the defensive.

A Revolutionary End

Another lull in the war’s grander momentum after the second battle of Chin’toka allowed the Alliance to recover its lost military power and develop a counter to Breen weaponry—but it also gave the increasingly disenfranchised Cardassians a chance to undermine the Dominion from within. Left ignored after the Dominion’s pact with the Breen, Damar staged a rebellion against their former allies—one that, while swiftly put down, managed to put the Dominion and Breen on the back foot, withdrawing from much of their holdings to consolidate power directly around Cardassia.

Although Cardassian dissidence had been largely quelled, however, it wasn’t eradicated—with the Alliance sending operatives to help Damar respark a popular revolution on the world, distracting the Dominion long enough for the Alliance to gather its forces into one final effort, the plan that had been its dream the year prior: the invasion of Cardassia Prime.

The Final Battle

With the local uprising successfully putting Cardassian under a power blackout, Alliance forces entered Cardassian space in late 2375, engaging Dominion, Cardassian, and Breen forces. A Jem’Hadar attempt to quell rebellion on Cardassia, killing millions of civilians in targeted bombings, saw the Cardassian fleet break away from the Dominion and Breen, fracturing their tentative defensive lines and giving the Alliance direct access to the planet.

Forced to accept terms of surrender—in exchange for a cure for the morphogenic virus now ravaging the changelings and their homeworld—the Dominion stepped down, and several days later, its leadership signed the Treaty of Bajor on Deep Space Nine, formally bringing an end to the Dominion War. The remaining Dominion forces retreated back into the Gamma Quadrant, and Deep Space Nine’s Bajoran security forces officer, the changeling Odo, returned with them to deliver the morphogenic cure directly to his people’s homeworld.

The Legacy of the Dominion War

Meanwhile, while most perfunctory borders of space occupied by the Alpha Quadrant powers prior to the Dominion’s invasion in 2373 were restored by the Treaty of Bajor, the quadrant had undergone a significant rebalancing of power that would impact interstellar events for decades to come. The near-total destruction of the Cardassian Union created a power vacuum in its former territories, while the Breen, albeit humbled by the Dominion’s retreat, had established its expansionary goals as well as its significant military threat. The aftermath of both its initial war with Cardassia and then as part of the Alliance diminished the Klingon Empire’s own status as a major power in the quadrant for the next decade, as it looked internally to reconsolidate and rebuild—leaving the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation as the defining players in the Alpha Quadrant.

Although the Dominion War had brought with it a sense of uneasy diplomacy that was unprecedented in either faction’s history for centuries, tensions between Romulus and the Federation would renew shortly after—amplified first after the Reman commander Shinzon staged a military coup in 2379, attempting to attack Earth in the process, and then six years later, when a secret sect of the Tal Shiar dedicated to the destruction of synthetic life staged a terrorist attack on the Utopia Planitia shipyards at Mars, largely destroying a Federation taskforce intended to aid with evacuation efforts intended to save the populations of Romulus and Remus before their system’s star went supernova. After the attack the Federation decided to formally halt attempts to help the Romulans and Remans, leading to the near extinction of both sibling species when the Romulan star went supernova in 2387.

Although major conflict on the scale of the Dominion War would not return to the Alpha Quadrant for many years to come, its scars lingered for decades, especially as the Federation and Klingon Empires became the de facto remaining powers by the turn of the 25th century. For now, it remains what we know to be the bloodiest conflict in Star Trek ’s history—one that challenged the very ideals of its entire utopian dream to their very core.

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Published Apr 15, 2024

Star Trek 101: Trill History

Learn everything you can about the Trill after Discovery's latest episode with this curated watch list.

StarTrek.com

While there are a number of fan favorite species in the Star Trek universe, perhaps one of the most beloved is the Trill.

Made popular with the character of Jadzia Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , the Trill have always been a fascinating part of the Star Trek universe, and their culture has been the source of many fan discussions.

With the planet Trill and an important ritual making a reappearance in the latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery , we’re counting down the most important legacy Trill centric episodes to watch to best understand who the Trill are, what a symbiont is, and much, much more.

" The Host ," Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 4, Episode 23)

Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Host

The Trill were first introduced in this episode, where Dr. Crusher falls in love with a Trill ambassador.

However, when the ambassador is injured, he confides in Crusher that he's carrying a symbiont and explains that while a Trill host can die, the symbiont must be protected and transferred to a new Trill host as soon as possible. Riker plays host to the symbiont until it is transferred into a new Trill. This episode plays with the idea of the symbiont being part of a host's personality and shows how the symbiont carries the memories of each past life before it.

" Dax ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 1, Episode 8)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Dax

Can you be blamed for something done in a past life?

This first Dax-centric episode in Deep Space Nine ’s seven-season run establishes that Jadzia remembers all things that Dax has done in the past, but questions if she can be blamed for those actions.

Delving deep into the ethical quandaries of being a host, this classic episode written by Star Trek scribe D.C. Fontana is one that's key to revisit to understand the history of the Trill, and what their culture represents. After all, as Sisko argues, Jadzia is a different person than Curzon Dax, or any of Dax's previous lives. A current host shouldn’t have to take the fall for something done in a past life that could have happened before they were even born.

" Invasive Procedures ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 2, Episode 4)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Invasive Procedures

A Trill named Verad attacks the station and tries to take the Dax symbiont from Jadzia in this Season 2 episode.

While mostly centering on the crew's attempts to save Jadzia and her symbiont from the invaders and take back the station, this episode still reveals some key points about the Trill. Namely, they don’t give symbionts to any Trill who applies and the process for application is grueling. Jadzia insists that a Trill can live a good life without being a host, but Verad is insistent that he be joined, even going so far as to force Dr. Bashir to transfer the Dax symbiont to him. Ultimately, Dax is returned to Jadzia and she is able to be joined once more with the symbiont that has become such a part of her.

" Equilibrium ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 3, Episode 4)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Equilibrium

When Jadzia starts having hallucinations and begins playing the same musical motif over and over, she journeys back to the Trill homeworld to understand what’s happening to her.

Ultimately, it is revealed that Dax had a host she never knew about — a murderer named Joran. Joran Dax was considered to be unsuitable, and yet he was able to host the Dax symbiont without being rejected. This revealed that the process for choosing the host unfairly shut out most Trill from being able to be joined, due to the smaller number of symbionts compared to the Trill population. Sisko uses this knowledge to save Jadzia’s life, and in the end, Jadzia reconciles with Dax's missing memories and Joran.

" Facets ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 3, Episode 25)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Facets

"Facets" centered on a ceremony in which the previous Dax hosts were able to inhabit another's body so that Jadzia could converse with them and learn from their experiences.

This establishes that while a host can die, their memories and experiences live on within the symbiont itself, and as a result, Jadzia can learn from them, even if they’re technically gone. She can also summon them to the forefront of her mind or even have them sent to others, who can then be, well, a host to the former host. The episode also features a delightfully comedic turn as Odo shares his consciousness with Curzon Dax, who’s far more relaxed than the usually stoic and buttoned up constable.

" Rejoined ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 4, Episode 6)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Rejoined

Perhaps Star Trek ’s most famous episode centered on LGBTQIA+ themes, "Rejoined" sees Jadzia reunited with fellow Trill Lenara Kahn — both the Dax symbiont and the Kahn symbiont had been paired with married hosts.

Jadzia and Lenara realize they have more in common now than they ever did in the past, and slowly begin to fall in love again. The episode features the first same sex kiss in Star Trek history, establishes that Jadzia is not straight, and that the Trill are a fluid species that don’t judge based on sexuality. However, due to Trill culture and taboo, Lenara and Jadzia are not allowed to be together, which makes their doomed romance all the more heartbreaking.

" Afterimage ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 7, Episode 3)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Afterimage

After Jadzia’s untimely death at the hands of Gul Dukat in the Season 6 finale, the Dax host is passed on to a new Trill, Ezri.

Ezri faces uncertainty from those on Deep Space 9 who knew Jadzia, ranging from discomfort to outright hostility. This episode makes it clear that it's difficult for a new host to pick up where their old life left off, as Ezri tries to forge her own identity in a world that's so used to Jadzia and who she was.

" Field of Fire ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 7, Episode 13)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Field of Fire

It’s up to Ezri to solve a murder, with the help of past host Joran Dax.

Ezri is able to summon Joran to the forefront of her subconscious and has visions of him helping her as she works to solve the murder of a Deep Space 9 crewmember. At the end of the episode, a counter-ritual sends Joran back into her subconscious, where he remains with the other Dax lives. This episode serves to show how Trill can access past lives and even interact with them, though to an outside observer, they only see the current host.

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This article was originally published on November 8, 2020.

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Star Trek 101

Graphic illustration featuring Rayner and the actor who portrays him, Callum Keith Rennie

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Deep Space Nine star René Auberjonois dies at 79 after battle with cancer
René Auberjonois, DEEP SPACE NINE's Odo, Dead at 79 • TrekCore.com
René Auberjonois, Odo From ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,’ Has Died At 79
Beloved 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' Actor René Auberjonois Dies at 79
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's René Auberjonois Dies at 79
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Odo
Odo Ital was a Changeling who served as chief of security aboard the space station Terok Nor, later known as Deep Space 9. He was the only known Changeling to reject the Founders' beliefs and instead gained an appreciation for humanoid species. Despite being affiliated with several groups in that capacity - the Bajoran Militia, Cardassian Union, United Federation of Planets, and Dominion ...
René Auberjonois
René Murat Auberjonois (/ r ə ˈ n eɪ oʊ ˌ b ɛər ʒ ə n ˈ w ɑː /; June 1, 1940 - December 8, 2019) was an American actor and director, best known for playing Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999).. He first achieved fame as a stage actor, winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical in 1970 for his portrayal of Sebastian Baye opposite Katharine Hepburn in ...
Odo (Star Trek)
Odo / ˈ oʊ d oʊ /, played by René Auberjonois, is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.He is a member of a shape-shifting species called Changelings and serves as the head of security for the space station Deep Space Nine on which the show is set. Intelligent, observant, and taciturn, Odo uses his unique abilities throughout the show to ...
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Before You Go

Entertainers We've Lost In 2019

Screen Rant

Odo's Forgotten Star Trek: DS9's Sidekick Explained

Odo Got A More Memorable Starfleet Sidekick In DS9 Season 3

To the Death (episode)

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Act One [ ]

Act Two [ ]

Act Three [ ]

Act Four [ ]

Act Five [ ]

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Defiant turbolift display [ ]

External links [ ]

Star Trek: DS9’s Jake Sisko Joining Starfleet Was Never Going To Happen

Rene Auberjonois Star Trek: Enterprise Appearance Contained A Massive DS9 Callback

Jake Sisko In Starfleet Could Never Have Bettered Wesley Crusher’s Star Trek: TNG Arc

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: The Next Generation

How Deep Space Nine's Dominion War Nearly Wrecked Star Trek's Utopia

First Contact

A Cold War Begins

The Fall of the Obsidian Order

Invasion and Union

A Sacrifice of Angels

The War Digs In

A Pale Moonlight

Turning Tides

A Revolutionary End

The Final Battle

The Legacy of the Dominion War

Star Trek 101: Trill History

" The Host ," Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 4, Episode 23)

" Dax ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 1, Episode 8)

" Invasive Procedures ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 2, Episode 4)

" Equilibrium ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 3, Episode 4)

" Facets ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 3, Episode 25)

" Rejoined ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 4, Episode 6)

" Afterimage ," Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 7, Episode 3)

René Auberjonois, actor who starred in MASH, Star Trek and Benson, dies aged 79