Editing Starbuck (TOS)

{{Disambiguation|Starbuck|other subjects that share this name|This article covers the [[Original Series]] character.}}{{Character Data
| series=TOS
    |title=Starbuck
    |photo= StarbuckSystem.jpg
    |age=
    |colony=[[Umbra]], [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|Caprica]]
    |birthname= Starbuck
    |callsign=
    |death= 
    |parents= [[Chameleon]] (father)
    |siblings=
    |children=
    |marital status= Single
    |role= {{TOS|Viper}} pilot, [[Battlestar (TOS)|battlestar]] ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''
    |rank= Lieutenant
    |actor= [[Dirk Benedict]]
    |cylon= 
    |name= 
    |sepcon title=Starbuck (TOS alternate)}}Lieutenant '''Starbuck''' is the [[fumarello]]-smoking, womanizing, smart-aleck [[Colonial Warrior]]. He's also one of ''{{TOS|Galactica}}''{{'|s}} finest pilots.

Starbuck was born on [[The Twelve Colonies of Man#Caprica|Caprica]] in the agro settlement of [[Umbra]].  He was orphaned when a [[Cylons (TOS)|Cylon]] raid destroyed the settlement {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}.

== Overview ==

Starbuck represents the quintessential roguish pilot archetype—charming, skilled, and perpetually finding himself in trouble through his various vices and romantic entanglements. Despite his apparent frivolity and self-serving nature, Starbuck consistently demonstrates courage, loyalty, and an innate sense of justice when circumstances demand heroic action. His relationship with {{TOS|Apollo}} forms one of ''Galactica''{{'|s}} central dynamics, with Apollo serving as the responsible leader while Starbuck provides the unpredictable, often impulsive element that frequently saves the day through unconventional means.

Starbuck's personality embodies contradictions that make him particularly compelling to others: he's simultaneously self-centered and selfless, irresponsible yet dependable when it matters most, and pleasure-seeking while possessing an underlying moral compass that guides his actions during critical moments.

== Biography ==

=== The Peace Conference ===
En route to the [[Cimtar Peace Accords|peace conference]], Starbuck allows an eager [[Zac]] to take his spot on the reconnaissance patrol. His winning hand at the [[Pyramid (TOS)|pyramid]] game amounts to nothing when the alarm sounds, signaling the beginning of the [[Battle of Cimtar|Cylon Ambush]]. Starbuck is left behind with the other {{TOS|Viper}}s when ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'' breaks off to attempt to save the [[The Twelve Colonies of Man|colonies]]. The Vipers manage to hold their own until ''Galactica'' returns with the news that the colonies have been destroyed.

=== Post Cylon-Attack ===
The lieutenant helps to inspect the ships in [[The Fleet (TOS)|the Fleet]], and process all of the civilians. Aboard the freighter [[Gemini (TOS)|''Gemini'']] Starbuck helps rescue [[Cassiopeia]].

Apollo volunteers Starbuck (along with {{TOS|Boomer}}) to help lead [[The Fleet (TOS)|the Fleet]] through the minefield of the [[Straits of Madagon]]. He is part of the initial [[landram]] team that discovers the [[Ovion]] resort on [[Carillon]]. He is selected to receive the [[Gold Cluster]] for his efforts in the Straits, as part of a ploy by Sire [[Uri]] to disarm the Fleet. After rescuing Boxey, Muffit, and Cassiopeia from the Ovions, Starbuck sets fire to the [[tylium (TOS)|tylium]] mines beneath the surface of Carillon. Using [[Battle of Carillon|deceptive radio communications]], Starbuck and Apollo force the [[Imperious Leader]]'s [[Basestar (TOS)|basestar]] into the atmosphere as the fires in the tylium mine finally detonate the planet {{OS|Saga of a Star World}}.

Starbuck and Apollo discover, and are nearly lost in, a [[magnetic void]]. As one of the two Viper pilots not infected by the mysterious illness, Starbuck helps to train the female [[Colonial shuttle|shuttle]] pilots to fly Vipers {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I}}. Starbuck tries to take over a mission for Apollo and [[Serina]], and ends up being captured by the Cylons. He meets {{TOS|Baltar}} aboard his [[Basestar (TOS)|basestar]]. Baltar releases Starbuck, who meets up with the crew down on {{TOS|Kobol}}. He joins in the ensuing [[Battle of Kobol (TOS)|battle]], helping to drive off the Cylon {{TOS|Raider}}s {{OS|Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II}}.

[[File:Pyramid.jpg|thumb|left|Starbuck teaches Boxey Pyramid to keep his mind off Apollo {{OS|The Lost Warrior}}.]]

Lieutenant Starbuck desperately wants to help Apollo when he is chased off by Raiders during a recon mission, but is ordered to hold back in order to avoid giving away the Fleet's position. Boomer and Starbuck later pick up Apollo's transmissions and guide him back to ''Galactica'' after his ordeal {{OS|The Lost Warrior}}.

Starbuck is the first to test pilot an experimental reconnaissance Viper. Being the test pilot earns him a dining slot on ''{{TOS|Rising Star}}'' where he ends up trying to juggle simultaneous dates with both {{TOS|Athena}} and Cassieopeia. During his test flight he encounters a [[Sixth-millennium starfighter]] attacking a shuttle and intervenes. The pilot of the shuttle ends up stealing Starbuck's Viper, and Starbuck is captured when he flies off with the shuttle. He is taken to a [[Proteus|prison]] where the prisoners are named for the crimes of their ancestors, and are all descendents of criminals. He incites a prison revolt, just in time for Apollo and Boomer to show up (along with Starbuck's missing Viper). Starbuck helps the two of them defeat their Raider pursuers. In the process of destroying the Raiders Starbuck accidentally destroys the vast stores of [[ambrosa]] that the prisoners had made, dashing his dreams of making a fortune off of it {{OS|The Long Patrol}}.

The lieutenant is part of a patrol that encounters the [[Ravashol pulsar]]. Starbuck is adamant about trying to save [[Cree]], who is captured by the Cylons during their initial encounter with the pulsar. He rigs the computer to include his name on the mission to [[Arcta]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I}}. Starbuck helps to destroy the pulsar, rescues Cree, and makes some [[Tenna|interesting friends]] {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II}}.

Starbuck joins the mission to [[Serenity]], where he ends up accidentally winning the [[constable]]'s badge (and thus the position) in a game of Pyramid. Rather than following the example of previous constables, Starbuck instead bargains with the [[Borays]]. Starbuck's bargain leaves [[Nogow]] the constable, Serenity free of attacks, and Siress [[Belloby]] free ([[The Magnificent Warriors]]).

Damage to his Viper forces Starbuck to force down on the marsh planet of [[Attila]]. Starbuck ends up helping some children defeat a Cylon garrison to free [[Megan|their father]]. Starbuck manages to find time to flirt with the [[Miri|eldest daughter]], as well as teach them on how to time an attack by signing verses, as taught by his old flight instructor {{OS|The Young Lords}}.

Apollo and Starbuck discover ''{{TOS|Pegasus}}'' while out on patrol. Starbuck feels threatened by [[Cain (TOS)|Commander Cain's]] past ties with Cassiopeia {{OS|The Living Legend, Part I}}. Starbuck joins the commando mission that parachutes down onto [[Gamoray]]. He manages to make a pass at [[Sheba]] while preparing for the drop. He and Boomer destroy the command center for the planetary defense systems. Later he and Apollo break off of their assigned escort duty to help ''Pegasus'' by disabling some of the weapons of the basestars. They witness the destruction of the basestars, but are unsure of the fate of ''Pegasus'' {{OS|The Living Legend, Part II}}.

On Viper patrol, Starbuck tries but fails to intercept all of a group of suicidal Raiders. The impact of the Raiders causes a fire aboard ''Galactica''. Starbuck goes on a spacewalk with Apollo, helping to set charges on ''Galactica''. Starbuck saves Apollo as the charges detonate, and the vacuum extinguishes the fire {{OS|Fire in Space}}.

Starbuck is among those who first encounter Count [[Iblis]] {{OS|War of the Gods, Part I}} and when Iblis kills Apollo. He transports his body back towards ''Galactica''. The shuttle is intercepted by the [[Beings of Light]], and Starbuck has a chance to interact with them. Apollo is resurrected, and they return to ''Galactica'' with directions towards [[Earth (TOS)|Earth]] {{OS|War of the Gods, Part II}}.

[[File:Gaming.jpg|thumb|right|Starbuck meets Chameleon {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}.]]

Starbuck meets his father, [[Chameleon]], while gambling aboard ''Rising Star''. Starbuck ends up saving his father from the [[Borellian Nomen]] that are pursuing him. Chameleon asks Cassiopeia not to reveal the results of the tests confirming him as Starbuck's father, allowing Starbuck to believe that he is not his father {{OS|The Man with Nine Lives}}.

After being framed for the murder of a [[Ortega|rival]] [[Triad (TOS)|Triad]] player. Apollo and Boomer help prove Starbuck's innocence, implicating the [[Karibdis|actual murderer]] {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star}}.

On the expedition to [[Paradeen]], Starbuck helps [[Sarah Fowler]] and [[Michael]] reach their destination. Starbuck ends up lost in the catacombs of Paradeen city. After he is rescued he helps to overpower and capture the [[Eastern Alliance]] soldiers that had captured Sarah {{OS|Greetings From Earth}}.

Starbuck helps Apollo with the situation on [[Terra]]. Starbuck's warning to ''Galactica'' allows her to intercept the Eastern Alliance missiles, preventing the destruction of the [[Nationalists]] and countless millions of lives {{OS|Experiment in Terra}}.

An old [[Aurora (TOS)|love interest]] prompts Starbuck to make a trip to the ''[[Celestra]]''. As luck would have it, part of the crew mutinies while he is onboard, including his old flame. He joins the shuttle mission to transport the mutineers to ''Galactica'' when their shuttle is nearly cut off from the fleet. After the mutineers locate the ''Celestra'', Starbuck and company retake the ship and capture the [[Charka|guilty party]]. Starbuck returns to ''Galactica'' and patches things back up with Cassiopeia {{OS|Take the Celestra}}.

Despite Cassiopeia's misgivings, Starbuck helps Apollo fly Baltar's Raider onto a basestar. After successfully infiltrating the basestar they manage to disable the ship's sensors, and escape. Their sabotage allows ''Galactica'' to get the drop on the basestar and destroy it {{OS|The Hand of God}}.

== Tie-in Material Information ==
* ''According to [[Encyclopedia Galactica]]'' (a non-canonical piece of merchandise published in 1979):
: Lieutenant Starbuck is a [[Viper (TOS)|Viper]] pilot of [[Colonial Warrior|Warrior]] grade in the Battlestar ''Galactica''{{'|s}} [[Blue Squadron (TOS)|Blue Viper Squadron]]. He was orphaned at a very early age during a [[Attack on Umbra|Cylon raid on his home]]. But despite early adversity he went on to graduate with honors from the [[Academy]] in [[6562]] although he was nearly expelled in his fourth yahren for gambling in the cadet's barracks. In [[6570]], he was awarded the [[Gold Cluster|Golden Cluster]] for his heroism in the [[Final Destruction]]. Aboard the Battlestar ''[[Galactica (TOS)|Galactica]]'' he is known for his proficiency in [[Triad (TOS)|Triad]] as well as his courage and dedication. He is un-married. [[The Man with Nine Lives|Fairly recently]], Starbuck became involved with [[Chameleon|an elderly con-man]], who, while trying to escape from [[Borellian Nomen|Borallian (sic) Bloodhunters]], claimed to be his father. As a result, [[Cassiopeia|Cassiopea]] had them undergo a test of genetic inheritance that was publically (sic) announced as negative. <ref>{{cite book|last=Kraus|first=Bruce|year=1979|title=[[Encyclopedia Galactica]]|pages=53}}</ref>

== Notes ==

=== Actor's Character Interpretation ===
[[Dirk Benedict]], who portrayed Starbuck, brought a specific vision to the character that emphasized his roguish charm and moral complexity. Speaking to ''Starlog'' magazine about his approach to Starbuck: <blockquote>"''Galactica'' is my first opportunity to play an upbeat character with a sense of humor and who enjoys life. He's very excitable, a passionate con man. He'll cheat, but he's never malicious or out to hurt anybody."<ref group="commentary" name="houston_starlog_benedict_starbuck_upbeat_passionate_con_man">{{cite magazine|last=Houston|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|year=1978|month=December|title=Two Crazy Kind of Guys|magazine=Starlog|volume=|issue=|pages=24|id=|url=|accessdate=}}</ref></blockquote>Benedict further elaborated on Starbuck's appeal and character traits: <blockquote>"He knows every [[Chancery|gambling casino]] in the galaxy, and enjoys the women. He's easily distracted in the face of very serious situations; so a large part of him is childlike — even though he [[Fumarello|smokes cigars]]. He's always in trouble, nowhere near ready to settle down into any sort of monogamous relationship. I think he's easy for young people to identify with."<ref group="commentary" name="houston_starlog_benedict_starbuck_gambling_women_childlike">{{cite magazine|last=Houston|first=David|authorlink=|coauthors=|year=1978|month=December|title=Two Crazy Kind of Guys|magazine=Starlog|volume=|issue=|pages=24|id=|url=|accessdate=}}</ref></blockquote>

=== Character Conception and Portrayal ===
According to ''[[So Say We All: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Battlestar Galactica]]'', the casting of Lieutenant Starbuck was a contentious process. While several actors tested for the role, including [[w:Don_Johnson|Don Johnson]] who gave a "very good job" in his tests, creator [[Glen A. Larson]] was a strong advocate for [[Dirk Benedict]], lobbying heavily for him.<ref group="production" name="sswa_starbuck_casting_larson_benedict_advocacy">{{cite book/sswa|64-65}}</ref> The network, ABC, resisted for months, arguing that Benedict wasn't "sexy enough," and only relented after production had already begun.<ref group="production" name="sswa_abc_resistance_benedict_sexy_enough">{{cite book/sswa|65}}</ref> Benedict himself described the process as a "huge struggle" and believed the network's final reason for their reluctance was his perceived lack of sex appeal.<ref group="production" name="sswa_benedict_huge_struggle_sex_appeal">{{cite book/sswa|65-66}}</ref>

Dirk Benedict modeled his portrayal of the "cigar-smoking ladies' man" on [[w:James_Garner|James Garner]]'s character from the Western series ''[[w:Maverick_(TV_series)|Maverick]]''. He envisioned Starbuck not as a straightforward hero, but as a reluctant one who would rather play cards or spend time with an attractive woman than fly into battle. This unheroic approach—a hero who wasn't eager to get into his fighter and risk his life—was unusual for television at the time and became a defining trait of the character.<ref group="production" name="sswa_benedict_maverick_reluctant_hero_unheroic">{{cite book/sswa|67}}</ref> The audience responded positively to this portrayal, and Starbuck quickly grew from a supporting character into one of the show's leads.<ref group="production" name="sswa_audience_response_supporting_to_lead">{{cite book/sswa|135}}</ref> The character's trademark cigars became so popular with female fans that when ABC threatened to fire Benedict for smoking them on screen, an influx of cigars sent to the studio by admirers caused the network to reverse its decision.<ref group="production" name="sswa_cigars_female_fans_abc_reverse_decision">{{cite book/sswa|213}}</ref> Benedict greatly enjoyed the role, later stating, "I would have liked to have played Starbuck for another three or four years. It was a wonderful character... one of the greatest experiences I ever had."<ref group="production" name="sswa_benedict_wonderful_character_greatest_experiences">{{cite book/sswa|67}}</ref>

=== Absence from and Return in ''Galactica 1980'' ===
[[Dirk Benedict]] declined to return as a series regular for the ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' spin-off, stating that he found the new concept "very cheap" and not something he wanted to be a part of.<ref group="production" name="sswa_benedict_declined_galactica_1980_very_cheap">{{cite book/sswa|244-245}}</ref>

However, he did return for the final episode, "[[The Return of Starbuck]]." The episode, written by [[Glen A. Larson]], is considered by many involved with the production to be the only worthwhile installment of the series.<ref group="production" name="sswa_return_starbuck_only_worthwhile_episode">{{cite book/sswa|267}}</ref> Framed as a dream that [[Dr. Zee]] is having, the story chronicles [[Starbuck (1980)|Starbuck's fate]] after he is stranded on a [[Planet Starbuck|desolate planet]]. Desperate for companionship, he [[Cyrus (Cylon)|reprograms a damaged Cylon]], teaches him to play [[Pyramid (TOS)|pyramid]], and the two form an unlikely friendship reminiscent of the film ''[[w:Enemy_Mine|Enemy Mine]]''.<ref group="production" name="sswa_starbuck_cylon_pyramid_enemy_mine">{{cite book/sswa|269}}</ref> The story takes a mystical turn, revealing that Starbuck is Dr. Zee's father.<ref group="production" name="sswa_starbuck_dr_zee_father_mystical">{{cite book/sswa|267}}</ref>

=== Re-imagined Series Perspective ===
The character of Starbuck from the Original Series was a major influence on the 2004 re-imagined series. Creator [[Ronald D. Moore]], when developing the new show, felt that the dynamic between the straight-arrow Apollo and the roguish Starbuck was a cliché. One of his first and most significant decisions was to gender-flip the character, making Starbuck a woman.<ref group="production" name="sswa_moore_apollo_starbuck_cliche_gender_flip">{{cite book/sswa|315-316}}</ref> Moore believed this would fundamentally change the dynamic and allow for a fresh, modern character, reflecting the increasing presence of women in combat roles in the real world.<ref group="production" name="sswa_moore_fresh_modern_women_combat">{{cite book/sswa|542-543}}</ref> This change was met with enthusiasm by the network and became a cornerstone of the new series.<ref group="production" name="sswa_network_enthusiasm_cornerstone_new_series">{{cite book/sswa|315}}</ref>

=== Additional Details ===
* Starbuck is one of only five characters in the Original Series to be featured in every episode.

== Gallery ==

<gallery caption="Starbuck Gallery"> 
Image:Starbuck Autograph.jpg
Image:Starbuck Portait.jpg
Image:Starbuck Space Battle.jpg
Image:Four portrait.jpg
Image:Starbuck and Boomer.jpg
Image:Athen On Bridge.jpg
Image:Starbuck portrait 2 - Realm Press.jpg
</gallery>

== References ==

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

{{Tabnav
| series = TOS|Characters
| episode1 = Saga of a Star World
}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters (TOS)]]
[[Category:Main Characters (TOS)]]
[[Category:TOS]]

[[de:Starbuck (TOS)]]
[[fr:Starbuck (LSO)]]