Andrew Robinson as Elim Garak

Elim Garak was a character in the fictional Star Trek: Deep Space Nine universe, played by Andrew Robinson. He was technically classified as a recurring character but many fans considered him to be a regular given his importance to the story arc and his presence in many episodes. Through the development of the character, viewers of the series became more familiar with the Cardassians, making them less of a stereotypical "villainous species" and more an accumulation of individuals with distinct personalities. Like many other Star Trek characters, Garak has a complicated good/evil duality. Although he is portrayed initially as a deceitful, unprincipled Machiavellian capable of torture and murder, he eventually becomes one of the series' heroes. Elim Garak This work is copyrighted. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... Andrew (Andy) Robinson born February 14, 1942 at New York City, New York, is an American actor best known for his role as the serial-killer Scorpio in Dirty Harry - a role which he played so convincingly, he found himself typecast as a psycho, and could get little acting work. ... Cardassians, a spacefaring race in the fictional Star Trek universe, and the Cardassian Union were introduced in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode The Wounded. Cardassians were one of the main parts of the storyline in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... http://www. ... Detail of the portrait of Machiavelli, ca 1500, in the robes of a Florentine public official Niccolò Machiavelli (May 3, 1469—June 21, 1527) was an Italian political philosopher during the Renaissance. ...

Formative Years

Elim Garak was born on Cardassia Prime to parents Enabran Tain and Mila. He was raised by his mother Mila and did not know the true identity of his father until much later on. A quick learner and an excellent student, Garak attended the prestigious military training school of Bamarren as a child. Most of the skills and traits associated with Garak can be said to have been picked up at Bamarren. He rose through the ranks and gained the respect of his peers and teachers, though he was ultimately betrayed by his one true love, Palandine. These events were formative to his character and general disposition. In the fictional series, Star Trek, Cardassia Prime is the main planet in the Cardassian Empire. ... Enabran Tain is a character in the popular Star Trek series. ... Mila was a character in the fictional Star Trek: Deep Space Nine universe, played by Julianna McCarthy. ...

Garak was often punished as a child by being locked in a cupboard. It is believed this is the root of his later claustrophobia. Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder that involves the fear of enclosed or confined spaces. ...

After Bamarren, Garak began his career at the Obsidian Order, one of the premiere intelligence agencies of the Alpha Quadrant. Always a quick learner, he proved exceptional at his job and rapidly increased in rank and influence, becoming the right hand man of Enabran Tain, head of the Obsidian Order. In the fictional Star Trek series, the Milky Way Galaxy is divided into four quadrants, which are further subdivided into sectors. ... Enabran Tain is a character in the popular Star Trek series. ... The Obsidian Order is a Cardassian secret police organization in the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

Exile

At the peak of his power and career, Garak was perceived to have succumbed to sentimentality and tried to meet with Palandine. He was caught and, because of his family's important role in Cardassian society, was exiled from Cardassia Prime. He chose to locate to Deep Space 9, then still Cardassian and called Terok Nor. During the withdrawal of Bajor by the Cardassians, Garak was deceived and left to the mercy of the Bajorans. He soon after tried in vain to win the favour of his government by spying on the Bajor-Federation negotiations. Garak has since made use of his extensive knowledge and abilities in aiding the Federation on numerous occasions. Deep Space Nine Deep Space Nine is a fictional space station in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... This article is about the fictional planet. ...

On Deep Space 9, Garak went into business as a tailor. Several other characters suspected that his tailor's shop was a mere front and he was still working for the Obsidian Order. Garak denied having ever been involved with espionage, claiming he was just "plain, simple Garak" and that his difficulties with the Cardassian government were a result of tax evasion. A tailor is a person whose occupation is to sew clothes custom-fit to individuals, and to repair clothes. ... This article contrasts tax evasion, tax avoidance, tax resistance and tax mitigation. ...

Garak was frequently at odds with Gul Dukat, the station's former commander. This was due to the fact that, as a member of the Obsidian Order, Garak was responsible for the execution of Dukat's father. In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine television series, Skrain Dukat is a Cardassian leader and a recurring antagonist of Benjamin Sisko. ...

After the Federation started administering the station, Garak struck up a friendship with Dr. Julian Bashir. While his exact motives for choosing Bashir are unknown, it is known that Garak wanted a Federation officer with whom he could regularly exchange "back channel" information with the Federation while keeping in communication with his contacts in the Cardassian Empire. Captain Sisko encouraged Bashir to pursue the relationship, although warning Bashir that Garak was probably not to be trusted. Bashir was most likely chosen because of his naïveté, intelligence, and trusting nature. However, despite the nature of their clandestine relationship, Garak and Bashir grew to be good friends despite their cultural and personality differences. A federation (from the Latin fÅ“dus, covenant) is a state comprised of a number of self-governing regions (often themselves referred to as states) united by a central (federal) government. ... Doctor Julian Bashir of Star Trek Deep Space 9 Bashir talking at Quarks Bar Dr. Julian Bashir (played by Alexander Siddig) is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... Benjamin Lafayette Sisko (Born 2332, New Orleans, Louisiana) is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe, the star of the Star Trek spinoff series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

The Dominion War

Garak provided essential intelligence on Cardassia to the Federation during the Dominion War. His unique abilities can be said to have influenced the outcome of the war in the episode "In the Pale Moonlight" by getting the Romulans to abandon their neutrality and fight alongside the Federation by making his assassination of a pro-Dominion senator look like the work of the Cardassians. He also assisted the Federation victory at the Chintoka system in the episode "Tears of the Prophets". Captain Sisko and Garak scheme against the Dominion. ... Damar of the Cardassian Union, prior to launching a revolution against the Dominion. ...

The extensive help given to the Federation against his own people led to his mental breakdown, though he believed he was ultimately helping Cardassia by assisting the Federation in defeating the Dominion. He later directly participated in fomenting an anti-Dominion revolution on Cardassia alongside Kira and Damar. In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state, consisting of many different races, with ultimate power held by the xenophobic Changelings. ... Kira Nerys is a fictional character of the Star Trek universe, , a Bajoran soldier, is a colonel in the Bajoran Militia who serves as first officer and Bajoran liaison officer on space station Deep Space Nine. ... Corat Damar is a character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a Cardassian officer, played by Casey Biggs. ...

Despite the efforts of Gul Dukat, Garak pursued a relationship with Dukat's daughter Tora Ziyal when she sought refuge on DS9 after her rescue from the Breen. When they were separated during the Dominion occupation of DS9, they realized they loved each other. Ziyal's eventual rejection of her father's wishes led to her death at the hands of Dukat's aide Corat Damar when the Federation was on the verge of re-occupying the station. In the television show Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Tora Ziyal is the half Cardassian / half Bajoran daughter of Gul Dukat and Tora Naprem. ... Breen commander appearing on Star Trek Deep Space 9 The Breen are a species in the science fiction franchise Star Trek. ... Corat Damar is a character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a Cardassian officer, played by Casey Biggs. ...

Post-War Involvement

The Federation-led alliance won the war and Garak returned to his people. What was supposed to be his moment of triumph turned into a pyrrhic victory given the death of 1 billion Cardassians and the destruction of much of Cardassia Prime's infrastructure. A Pyrrhic victory (pronounced pirric) is a victory which is won at too great a cost for the victor. ...

Garak has since assisted in the rebuilding and recovery of Cardassia, while also supporting democratic reforms for its government. He believes that the Dominion War and destruction of Cardassia was partially caused by its military-led government. The post-war Garak is a wholly different person in this respect, given his extensive ties to the military. Democracy is a form of government under which the power to alter the laws and structures of government lies, ultimately, with the citizenry. ...

The Deep Space Nine novel A Stitch In Time, written by Robinson, is supposedly Garak's memoir, and gives a great deal of information about his past and current circumstances. While the novels are not officially considered part of the Star Trek canon, this book can, given its author, be considered a fairly definitive portrait of the character. As such, much of this information was obtained from his book. A memoir, as a literary genre, forms a sub-class of autobiography. ... In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ...

Controversy

While Deep Space Nine was on the air, gay and gay-friendly Star Trek fans felt that the writers were slipping in hints that Garak was bisexual, if not gay. This was due to his mysterious past, effemaniate mannerisms and career choice. Robinson had mentioned that he played the character as if he were bisexual, and there was even a letter writing campaign to have Garak formally "come out." However, Garak was finally given a female love interest, and whatever homoerotic subtext some fans felt existed was erased by the end of the series. In human sexuality, bisexuality describes a man or woman having a sexual orientation to persons of either or both sexes (a man or woman who sexually likes both sexes; people who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to both males and females). ... Castro Street in San Francisco Look up gay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Memorable quotes

From "Past Prologue"
Doctor Julian Bashir: You're Mister Garak, aren't you?
Garak: No, please, just plain, simple, Garak.
Past Prologue is the second episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... Doctor Julian Bashir of Star Trek Deep Space 9 Bashir talking at Quarks Bar Dr. Julian Bashir (played by Alexander Siddig) is a fictional character in the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

From "Cardassians"
Garak: I believe in coincidence. Coincidences happen every day. But I don't trust coincidences. Damar of the Cardassian Union, prior to launching a revolution against the Dominion. ...

From "Profit and Loss"
Bashir: Assuming you're not a spy...
Garak: Assuming?
Bashir: ...Then you might be an outcast.
Garak: Or maybe I'm an outcast spy.
Bashir: How could you be both?
Garak: I never said I was either.
Profit and Loss is the title of a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, from the second season. ...

From "The Wire"
Bashir: So of the stories you told me, which ones were true?
Garak: My dear doctor, all of them were true.
Bashir: What about the lies?
Garak: Especially the lies.
The Wire may refer to: British music magazine The Wire American television show The Wire The telegraph service. ...

From "The Way of the Warrior"
Garak (Shooting attacking Klingons with phaser): I find this hand to hand combat really quite distasteful.
Dukat (Fighting two Klingons with bat'leth): I suppose you would prefer the simplicity of an interrogation chamber.
Garak: You have to admit, it's much more civilized!
The Way of the Warrior is the title of a two-part episode from the fourth season of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

(After Garak was attacked by several Klingons)
Bashir: They broke seven of your transverse ribs and fractured your clavicle!
Garak: Ah, but I got off several cutting remarks which no doubt did serious damage to their egos.
This page is about the race. ...

From "Improbable Cause"
(Bashir tells the story of the boy who cried "Wolf")
Bashir: If you lie all the time, no one is going to believe you, even when you're telling the truth.
Garak: Are you sure that's the point, Doctor?
Bashir: Of course. What else would it be?
Garak: That you should never tell the same lie twice.

From "By Inferno's Light"
Garak: I only wish I were still a member of the Obsidian Order. This would make a wonderful interrogation chamber. Tight quarters, no air, bad lighting, random electric shocks, it's perfect.
The Obsidian Order is a Cardassian secret police organization in the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

From "Purgatory's Shadow"
Garak: Lying is a skill like any other, and if you want to maintain a level of excellence, you have to practice constantly.

Appearances

Garak appeared in the following episodes:

Season 1

• Past Prologue

Season 2

• Cardassians
• Profit and Loss
• The Wire
• Crossover

Season 3

• The Search, part II
• Second Skin
• Civil Defense
• Distant Voices
• Through the Looking Glass
• Improbable Cause
• The Die Is Cast

Season 4

• The Way of the Warrior, part I
• The Way of the Warrior, part II
• Our Man Bashir
• Shattered Mirror
• For the Cause
• Body Parts
• Broken Link

Season 5

• Things Past
• In Purgatory's Shadow
• By Inferno's Light
• Empok Nor
• Call to Arms

Season 6

• A Time to Stand
• Rocks and Shoals
• Favor the Bold
• Sacrifice of Angels
• In the Pale Moonlight
• Tears of the Prophets

Season 7

• Afterimage
• The Emperor's New Cloak
• Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
• When it Rains...
• Tacking into the Wind
• Extreme Measures
• The Dogs of War
• What You Leave Behind, part I
• What You Leave Behind, part II

External link

• Garak article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
• A list of 10 "Great Garak Episodes" at StarTrek.com
• A brief Elim Garak Biography at StarTrek.com