Who2 Editorial Blog

Notes and Commentary from the Editors

Monday, August 17, 2009

Fred Astaire Was On 'Battlestar Galactica'?

Oddly, yes. He played an "old con man" who "works his way into Starbuck's life" in episode 15 in 1979. Here's the photographic proof, with Astaire and rascally Dirk Benedict.

(This was the old Battlestar Gallactica, obviously, not the new one. Though it would have been awesome to see Astaire dance with Cylon Number Six.)

But how did he like it?

Later asked what his favourite role was, the man who had appeared in so many movies with countless stars answered that his appearance in Battlestar Galactica was his favourite role because his little grandson had been so impressed with it...

He found it a tough show because of special effects that caused three days of overtime, and because of the space language, which he didn't understand.

So says this rather fascinatingly detailed page about Astaire's religion. (He was Episcopalian.) Skip to the very bottom for the Galactica goodies.

(Thanks to Battlestar Wiki for the photographic proof.)

Labels: Battlestar Galactica, Dirk Benedict, Fred Astaire