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

{{Short description|none}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:List of ''Battlestar Galactica'' (1978 TV series) and ''Galactica 1980'' characters}} [[File:Battlestar Galactica (1978) cast.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Promotional photo of the cast of ''Battlestar Galactica'' (1978). From left to right: Tony Swartz as Jolly, Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Boomer, Anne Lockhart as Sheba, Lorne Greene as Adama, Maren Jensen as Athena, Richard Hatch as Apollo, Laurette Spang as Cassiopeia and Dirk Benedict as Starbuck.]] ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction television series created by Glen A. Larson that aired on the ABC network from September 17, 1978, to April 29, 1979. It stars an ensemble cast led by Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict and Lorne Greene.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/battlestar-galactica/|title=''Battlestar Galactica''|first=Trevor|last=Kimball|date=September 29, 2007|website=TV Series Finale|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=February 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204042241/https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/battlestar-galactica/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="starlog">{{cite magazine |title=''Battlestar Galactica'': Episode Guide |magazine=Starlog |issue=27 |date=October 1979 |url=https://archive.org/details/CompleteStarlog/Starlog%20%23%20027/page/n35/mode/2up |pages=36–42 |access-date=February 24, 2024}}</ref> Canceled after 24 episodes, the series was revived as ''Galactica 1980'', which aired for 10 episodes from January 27 to May 4, 1980, and featured only Greene and Herbert Jefferson Jr. from the original series cast.<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980">{{Cite web|url=https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/galactica-1980/|title=''Galactica 1980''|first=Trevor|last=Kimball|date=September 29, 2007|website=TV Series Finale|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=February 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204042145/https://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/galactica-1980/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Woolery |first1=George W. |title=Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part II: Live, Film, and Tape Series |date=1985 |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-1651-2 |pages=187–188}}</ref>

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

The ''Battlestar Galactica'' franchise was rebooted on the Sci-Fi Channel with a 2003 miniseries and a 2004–2009 series, using new incarnations of some characters from the original series and inventing others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/battlestar-galactica-michael-lesslie-showrunner-peacock-reboot-1202923668/ |title=''Battlestar Galactica'': Michael Lesslie to Write & Exec Produce Peacock Reboot of Sci-Fi Franchise |date=May 4, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Peter |last=White |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504183945/https://deadline.com/2020/05/battlestar-galactica-michael-lesslie-showrunner-peacock-reboot-1202923668/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== ''Battlestar Galactica'' (1978–1979) ==

=== Main ===  ==== Captain Apollo ==== Captain Apollo, portrayed by Richard Hatch,<ref name="Phillips">{{cite book | last1=Phillips | first1=Mark | last2=Garcia | first2=Frank | title=Science Fiction Television Series: Episode Guides, Histories, and Casts and Credits for 62 Prime-Time Shows, 1959 through 1989 | chapter=''Battlestar Galactica'' | publisher=McFarland & Company | volume=1 | year=1996 | isbn=978-1-4766-1030-6 | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qXeNAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT68 | access-date=January 9, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Muir 48">{{cite book | last=Muir | first=J. K. | title=An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica | publisher=McFarland & Company | year=2005 | isbn=978-1-4766-0656-9 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P0bFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA48 | access-date=January 9, 2017 | pages=48–50}}</ref> is a Viper starfighter pilot on the Battlestar ''Galactica'', the son of Commander Adama and brother of Lieutenant Athena. The leader of Blue Squadron, Apollo is typically partnered with his best friend, Lieutenant Starbuck. Early in the series, Apollo marries reporter-turned-Viper pilot Serina, but she is killed by Cylons, and Apollo adopts her young son, Boxey.

Lee Adama (call sign "Apollo"), portrayed by Jamie Bamber, is a reimagined version of Captain Apollo in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="sr 2023">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-colonial-fleet-plan-cut-season-1/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' Dropped Its Original Plan for the Colonial Fleet after Just 3 Episodes|first=Mark|last=Donaldson|date=July 15, 2023|website=Screen Rant|access-date=February 1, 2024|archive-date=July 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719183914/https://screenrant.com/battlestar-galactica-colonial-fleet-plan-cut-season-1/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hatch played a different recurring character, Tom Zarek, in the reboot series.<ref name="sr 2023"/>

==== Lieutenant Starbuck ==== Lieutenant Starbuck, portrayed by Dirk Benedict,<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Muir 48"/> is Apollo's charismatic best friend, a skilled Viper pilot known for gambling and womanizing. Over the course of the series, he develops a romantic relationship with Cassiopeia. In "The Man with Nine Lives", Starbuck comes to believe that con man Chameleon, who needs the pilot's help to evade revenge-seeking Borellians, may be his father.

''TV Guide'' ranked Starbuck # 21 on its "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends of All Time" list.<ref>{{cite book|title=TV Guide Book of Lists|url=https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse|url-access=registration|year=2007|publisher=Running Press|isbn=978-0-7624-3007-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/169 169]}}</ref>

Kara Thrace (call sign "Starbuck"), portrayed by Katee Sackhoff, is a gender-swapped version of Lieutenant Starbuck in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/04/battlestar-galactica-all-hail-a-cult-classic-of-21st-century-tv|title=''Battlestar Galactica'': All Hail a Cult Classic of 21st-century TV|first=Graeme|last=Virtue|date=September 4, 2020|website=The Guardian|access-date=February 1, 2024|archive-date=February 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201170707/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/sep/04/battlestar-galactica-all-hail-a-cult-classic-of-21st-century-tv|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ew 2019">{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/03/20/battlestar-galactica-finale-tenth-anniversary/|title=The ''Battlestar Galactica'' Finale Is 10 Years Old, and This One Part Is Unforgettable|first=Darren|last=Franich|date=March 20, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 1, 2024|archive-date=February 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201181444/https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/03/20/battlestar-galactica-finale-tenth-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Commander Adama ==== Commander Adama, portrayed by Lorne Greene,<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Muir 48"/> is the commander of the Battlestar ''Galactica'' and the refugee human fleet, and the father of Apollo and Athena. A religious man, he is also the spiritual leader of the surviving colonists, and leads the quest for the fabled planet Earth. Adama is suspicious of the offer of armistice by the Cylons, a fearsome society of robots with whom the Twelve Colonies have been at war for a thousand years. He is the only battlestar commander to keep his ship on battle-stations drill, and as a result, the ''Galactica'' is the only battlestar to survive the Cylon sneak attack. Both his wife, Ila, and youngest son, Zac, are killed in the attack.

William Adama, portrayed by Edward James Olmos, is a reimagined version of Commander Adama in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020"/><ref name="ew 2019"/>

==== Lord Baltar ==== Lord Baltar,{{efn|Baltar is called "Count Baltar" in the pilot episode only.}} portrayed by John Colicos,<ref name="Phillips"/> is a member of the Council of Twelve, a quorum of representatives from the Twelve Colonies. Humanity has been at war against the Cylons for a thousand years, and Baltar comes to the council with an offer of peace from the Cylons. In truth, he has promised to aid them in destroying most of the human race in exchange for them sparing his own colony, plotting to rule as dictator with the Cylons as his enforcers. The Cylons, however, are intent on exterminating all humans. They fail to honor their arrangement and destroy all twelve colonies. A protesting Baltar is sentenced to death, but is granted a reprieve by the Cylon Imperious Leader, who realizes Baltar will be useful in helping the Cylons find and destroy the fleeing human fleet of survivors.

Gaius Baltar, portrayed by James Callis, is a reimagined version of Lord Baltar in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020"/>

==== Lieutenant Athena ==== Lieutenant Athena, portrayed by Maren Jensen,<ref name="Phillips"/> is a starfighter pilot and communications specialist who serves in the Core Command bridge crew of the ''Galactica'', and Commander Adama's daughter.

Sharon Agathon (call sign "Athena"), portrayed by Grace Park, is a copy of the Number Eight Cylon model in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020"/><ref name="ew 2019"/>

==== Boxey ==== Boxey, portrayed by Noah Hathaway,<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Muir 48"/> is Serina's young son.{{efn|An adult Boxey appears as Captain Troy in ''Galactica 1980'', portrayed by Kent McCord.}} After Boxey's pet daggit, Muffit, is killed in the attack on Caprica, Apollo arranges for a robot daggit, Muffit II, to be given to the boy.

==== Lieutenant Boomer ==== Lieutenant Boomer, portrayed by Herbert Jefferson Jr.,<ref name="Phillips"/> is a starfighter pilot.

Sharon Valerii (call sign "Boomer"), is a gender and race swapped version portrayed by Grace Park, is a copy of the Number Eight Cylon model in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020"/><ref name="ew 2019"/>

==== Flight Sergeant Jolly ==== Flight Sergeant Jolly, portrayed by Tony Swartz,<ref name="Phillips"/> is a starfighter pilot.

==== Cassiopeia ==== Cassiopeia, portrayed by Laurette Spang,<ref name="Phillips"/> is a Medtech and former “socialator”. She is the love interest of Starbuck.{{efn|Cassiopeia is presented as a courtesan in the series pilot.}}

==== Colonel Tigh ==== Colonel Tigh, portrayed by Terry Carter,<ref name="Phillips"/> is Commander Adama's second-in-command on the ''Galactica''.

Saul Tigh, portrayed by Michael Hogan, is a reimagined race swapped version of Colonel Tigh in the 2003 miniseries and 2004–2009 series.<ref name="guardian 2020"/>

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

=== Recurring ===  ==== Serina ==== Serina, portrayed by Jane Seymour,<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Muir 48"/> is a reporter-turned-Viper pilot, and Boxey's mother. She marries Apollo, but is subsequently killed by Cylons in "Lost Planet of the Gods".

==== Others ==== * Ed Begley, Jr. as Ensign (later Flight Sergeant) Greenbean<ref name="Phillips ep">{{cite book | last1=Phillips | first1=M. | last2=Garcia | first2=F. | title=Science Fiction Television Series | chapter=''Battlestar Galactica'': Episode Guide | publisher=McFarland & Company | volume=1 | year=1996 | isbn=978-1-4766-1030-6 | chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qXeNAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT68 | access-date=January 9, 2017 }}</ref>  * David Greenan as Flight Officer Omega<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Sarah Rush as Flight Corporal Rigel<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * John Dullaghan as Dr. Wilker<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * George Murdock as Dr. Salik<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Larry Manetti as Corporal/Lieutenant Giles<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Janet Louise Johnson as Lieutenant Brie<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Jeff MacKay as Corporal Komma<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Jack Stauffer as Bojay<ref name="Phillips ep"/>

=== Guest ===  {{div col start}} * Lew Ayres as President Adar, leader of the Twelve Colonies<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sire Anton<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Ray Milland as Sire Uri<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Rick Springfield as Lieutenant Zac, Commander Adama's youngest son<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * John Fink as Dr. Paye<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Sheila DeWindt as Lieutenant Deitra<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Janet Lynn Curtis as Sorell<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Roy Thinnes as Croft<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Britt Ekland as Tenna<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * James Olson as Thane<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Christine Belford as Leda<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Richard Lynch as Wolfe<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Denny Miller as Ser Five Nine<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Lloyd Bridges as Commander Cain, commander of the Battlestar ''Pegasus''<ref name="Phillips"/><ref name="Muir 48"/>  * Patrick Macnee as Count Iblis<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Kirk Alyn as the Old Man<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Fred Astaire as Chameleon, a con man who may or may not be Starbuck's father<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Anne Jeffreys as Siress Blassie<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Lance LeGault as Maga, the leader of the Borellian Nomen, a warrior tribe of humans with a bony ridge on their foreheads<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Anthony De Longis as Taba, one of the Borellian Nomen<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Robert Feero as Bora, one of the Borellian Nomen<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Frank Ashmore as Flight Sergeant Ortega<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * W. K. Stratton as Lieutenant Barton<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Lloyd Bochner as Commandant Leiter<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Randolph Mantooth as Michael<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Kelly Harmon as Sarah<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Ray Bolger as Vector<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Ina Balin as Siress Tinia<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * John Hoyt as Domra<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Edward Mulhare as John<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Ken Swofford as General Max-Well<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Melody Anderson as Brenda<ref name="Phillips ep"/>  * Ana Alicia as Aurora,<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/> a past lover of Starbuck's who he thought had been killed in the Cylon attacks  * Paul Fix as Kronus,<ref name="Muir 48"/><ref name="Phillips ep"/> a retired fleet commander  {{div col end}}

Macnee also narrated the opening of several episodes,<ref name="Phillips"/> and voiced the Cylons' Imperious Leader.<ref name="starlog"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/patrick-macnee-star-1960s-tv-805137/|title=Patrick Macnee, Star of 1960s TV Series ''The Avengers'', Dies at 93|website=The Hollywood Reporter|author1=''THR'' Staff|author2=Associated Press|date=June 25, 2015|access-date=April 30, 2024|archive-date=October 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025231929/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/patrick-macnee-star-1960s-tv-805137/|url-status=live}}</ref> Jonathan Harris voiced Lucifer, an IL-Series Cylon, in nine episodes.<ref name="starlog"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Battlestar-Galactica/Lucifer/|title=''Battlestar Galactica'' (1978 TV Show): Voice of Lucifer - Jonathan Harris|website=Behind The Voice Actor|access-date=January 31, 2024|archive-date=January 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131204036/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Battlestar-Galactica/Lucifer/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== ''Galactica 1980'' ==

=== Main ===  ==== Captain Troy ==== Captain Troy, portrayed by Kent McCord,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is an adult Boxey, now a Viper starfighter pilot.

==== Lieutenant Dillon ==== Lieutant Dillon, portrayed by Barry Van Dyke,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is a Viper starfighter pilot.

==== Jamie Hamilton ==== Jamie Hamilton, portrayed by Robyn Douglass,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is an on-camera reporter for United Broadcasting Company's news program on contemporary Earth.

==== Commander Adama ==== Commander Adama, portrayed by Lorne Greene from the original series,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is the commander of the Battlestar ''Galactica'' and the human fleet

=== Recurring ===

==== Colonel Boomer ==== Colonel Boomer, portrayed by Herbert Jefferson Jr. from the original series,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is a former Viper starfighter pilot who now serves as Adama's second-in-command.

==== Dr. Zee ==== {{For|the Moloko song|I Am Not a Doctor}} Dr. Zee, portrayed by Robbie Rist in the first three episodes and by James Patrick Stuart thereafter,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is a superintelligent child who serves as a scientific advisor to Adama and the Council of Twelve. The episode "The Return of Starbuck" reveals that he had been sent to the ''Galactica'' by a stranded Starbuck, at the request of Zee's mysterious mother Angela.

==== Mr. Brooks ==== Mr. Brooks, portrayed by Fred Holliday,<ref name="TVSF BSG 1980"/> is the station manager, and Jamie Hamilton's superior, at United Broadcasting Company's television studios.

=== Guest === * '''Commander Xaviar''', portrayed by Richard Lynch in the first three episodes, is a member of the Council of Twelve. With the discovery that Earth is not technologically advanced enough to assist in fighting the pursuing Cylons, Xaviar suggests they use Zee's time warp synthesizer technology to travel back in time to advance Earth's technological development from the past. Adama and Zee object to the idea, but Xaviar ignores them and goes to 1944 Nazi Germany, where he attempts to introduce advanced weapons technology to the Germans via their V-2 rocket program. The plot is foiled by Troy, Dillon and Jamie. The character returns, played by Jeremy Brett, in "Spaceball", impersonating Lieutenant Nash (also played by Brett) in an attempt to hold ''Galactica''{{'s}} children hostage to secure his freedom. * '''Dr. Donald Mortinson''', portrayed by Robert Reed, is a renowned nuclear physicist whom Xaviar tries to enlist in his time travel plans. * '''Colonel Jack Sydell''', portrayed by Allan Miller, is an officer with the United States Air Force charged with tracking down UFO sightings. * '''Lieutenant Starbuck''', portrayed by Dirk Benedict from the original series, appears in the series' final episode, "The Return of Starbuck". At some point between the events of ''Battlestar Galactica'' and ''Galactica 1980'', Starbuck crash lands on a remote planet, and builds a robot companion from Cylon parts, which he names "Cy". As Cy tries to understand human relationships, Starbuck helps a mysterious woman, Angela (Judith Chapman), give birth to a baby boy. Starbuck sends Angela and the baby off toward the ''Galactica'' in an escape ship cobbled together with Cy's assistance. A Cylon ship arrives and Cy destroys its occupants to protect his "friend" Starbuck, though Cy is himself irreparably damaged in the encounter. Starbuck remains stranded on the planet, which he has named after himself. The escape pod arrives at the ''Galactica'', containing only the baby, who will grow up to be Dr. Zee.

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battlestar Galactica (1978) characters}} Category:Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series) characters Category:Galactica 1980 characters Characters (1978) Category:Lists of science fiction television characters by series

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

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