Chameleon

Chameleon and Starbuck in The Man with Nine Lives

A charming and aging con man, who just happens to be Starbuck's father. After being separated by the Cylon raid at the settlement of Umbra on planet Caprica. He had been something of a professional wagerer, apparently, due to his vast knowledge of chancery games. (This might explain Starbuck's natural fascination with chanceries.) However, his current occupation was basically making do with his ability to naturally con people out of money.

Among other false occupations, has been known to pose as a genetic tracer, a head of Inter-Fleet Broadcasting, and the Livestock Ship's commanding officer; however he crossed three Borellian Nomen -- Maga, Bora and Taba -- who in return swore a blood trail to exact revenge upon the "jackal, Captain Dmitri". They eventually managed to track him on the Rising Star, courting Siress Blassie who was apparently took to him during a type of orchestral symphony.

By an act of self-preservation, Chameleon managed to escape, meeting up with Starbuck and Apollo as Lieutenant Boomer and Flight Sergeant Jolly minced words with the Nomen. Chameleon talked about his past on Caprica and about losing a son, which spoke volumes to Starbuck. Chameleon found his chance for protection, portraying himself as a genetic tracer and stating that the Galactica's equipment would be just the thing needed to do testing to determine if they were indeed father and son.

To play up the lost father/son relationship, he told Starbuck that Cassiopeia reminded him much of his wife. Starbuck then admitted to him that Cassiopeia was the only one he ever considered getting Sealed to.

Later on, he attempted to tell Starbuck the truth when in the launch bay, since Starbuck admitted that he was considering dropping the Colonial service and join him in reuniting lost children with their parent(s). However, he never had the chance as Maga and Bora had trespassed into the bay, attacking Starbuck in attempting to discern where "Captain Dmitri" was.

Chameleon managed to save Starbuck from the Nomen by firing the Viper's lasers into the launch tube, throwing Starbuck clear of the tube. Miraculously they Nomen survived, but were apprehended. Chameleon later admitted that he deceived them all, explaining the whole story.

He also thought that the story about him being Starbuck's Caprican father was false, however tests proved positive. He managed to convince Cassiopeia not to reveal the results to Starbuck, saying that he would rather be his friend, especially since Starbuck wanted to recapture yahrens that could never be recaptured. He did, however, promise that he would tell Starbuck when he had been Sealed to a very dubious Cassiopeia.

He was remanded to the custody of Siress Blassie, who supported his rehabilitation into society for his actions, but took it with joy since he and Starbuck were now only friends... (The Man with Nine Lives)

Portrayed by Fred Astaire