Starbuck (TOS)

This article covers the Original Series character. For other subjects that share this name, see: Starbuck.

Starbuck
[show/hide spoilers] Spoilers hidden in infobox by default only.
Name
Age
Colony	Umbra, Caprica
Birth place	{{{birthplace}}}
Birth Name	Starbuck
Birth Date	{{{birthdate}}}
Callsign
Nickname	{{{nickname}}}
Introduced	[[{{{seen}}}]]
Last Known Appearance	[[{{{lastseen}}}]]
Death
Parents	Chameleon (father)
Siblings
Children
Marital Status	Single
Family Tree	View
Role	Viper pilot, battlestar Galactica
Rank	Lieutenant
Serial Number	{{{serial}}}
Portrayed by	Dirk Benedict
Starbuck is a Cylon
Starbuck is a Final Five Cylon
Starbuck is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Starbuck is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
Additional Information
[[File:|300px|Starbuck]]

Lieutenant Starbuck is the fumarello-smoking, womanizing, smart-aleck Colonial Warrior. He's also one of Galactica's finest pilots.

Starbuck was born on Caprica in the agro settlement of Umbra. He was orphaned when a Cylon raid destroyed the settlement ^{(TOS: "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 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 peace conference, Starbuck allows an eager Zac to take his spot on the reconnaissance patrol. His winning hand at the pyramid game amounts to nothing when the alarm sounds, signaling the beginning of the Cylon Ambush. Starbuck is left behind with the other Vipers when Galactica breaks off to attempt to save the 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, and process all of the civilians. Aboard the freighter Gemini Starbuck helps rescue Cassiopeia.

Apollo volunteers Starbuck (along with Boomer) to help lead 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 mines beneath the surface of Carillon. Using deceptive radio communications, Starbuck and Apollo force the Imperious Leader's basestar into the atmosphere as the fires in the tylium mine finally detonate the planet ^{(TOS: "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 shuttle pilots to fly Vipers ^{(TOS: "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 Baltar aboard his basestar. Baltar releases Starbuck, who meets up with the crew down on Kobol. He joins in the ensuing battle, helping to drive off the Cylon Raiders ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}.

Starbuck teaches Boxey Pyramid to keep his mind off Apollo ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}.

Starbuck is the first to test pilot an experimental reconnaissance Viper. Being the test pilot earns him a dining slot on Rising Star where he ends up trying to juggle simultaneous dates with both 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 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 ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I")}. Starbuck helps to destroy the pulsar, rescues Cree, and makes some interesting friends ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "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 their father. Starbuck manages to find time to flirt with the eldest daughter, as well as teach them on how to time an attack by signing verses, as taught by his old flight instructor ^{(TOS: "The Young Lords")}.

Apollo and Starbuck discover Pegasus while out on patrol. Starbuck feels threatened by Commander Cain's past ties with Cassiopeia ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}.

Starbuck is among those who first encounter Count Iblis ^{(TOS: "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: "War of the Gods, Part II")}.

Starbuck meets Chameleon ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}.

After being framed for the murder of a rival Triad player. Apollo and Boomer help prove Starbuck's innocence, implicating the actual murderer ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "Experiment in Terra")}.

An old 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 guilty party. Starbuck returns to Galactica and patches things back up with Cassiopeia ^{(TOS: "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 ^{(TOS: "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 pilot of Warrior grade in the Battlestar Galactica's Blue Viper Squadron. He was orphaned at a very early age during a 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 Golden Cluster for his heroism in the Final Destruction. Aboard the Battlestar Galactica he is known for his proficiency in Triad as well as his courage and dedication. He is un-married. Fairly recently, Starbuck became involved with an elderly con-man, who, while trying to escape from Borallian (sic) Bloodhunters, claimed to be his father. As a result, Cassiopea had them undergo a test of genetic inheritance that was publically (sic) announced as negative.

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:

"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."

Benedict further elaborated on Starbuck's appeal and character traits:

"He knows every 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 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."

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 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. The network, ABC, resisted for months, arguing that Benedict wasn't "sexy enough," and only relented after production had already begun. 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.

Dirk Benedict modeled his portrayal of the "cigar-smoking ladies' man" on James Garner's character from the Western 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. The audience responded positively to this portrayal, and Starbuck quickly grew from a supporting character into one of the show's leads. 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. 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."

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.

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. Framed as a dream that Dr. Zee is having, the story chronicles Starbuck's fate after he is stranded on a desolate planet. Desperate for companionship, he reprograms a damaged Cylon, teaches him to play pyramid, and the two form an unlikely friendship reminiscent of the film Enemy Mine. The story takes a mystical turn, revealing that Starbuck is Dr. Zee's father.

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. 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. This change was met with enthusiasm by the network and became a cornerstone of the new series.

Additional Details

• Starbuck is one of only five characters in the Original Series to be featured in every episode.

Gallery

• Starbuck Gallery
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References

Production History

 

Subject: CharactersSubjects: Saga of a Star World