Armin Shimerman
Played by: Armin Shimerman
Species: Ferengi
Quark is the Ferengi barkeep and owner of his own bar on board DS9, as well as the Gaming and Holosuite Arcade though he first opened the bar when the station was under Cardassian rule, at that time named Terok Nor. Memory Alpha.org describes him as “A constant thorn in the side, sometime adversary, sometime confidante of station Security Chief Odo. Even though he engaged in numerous shady ventures, by Ferengi standards Quark was a compassionate and generous man who proved his worth and loyalty to nearly all DS9 crew members throughout the years, gaining their well-earned respect.”
Armin Shimerman
For more information, please read Quark’s page on Memory Alpha.org: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Quark
Armin Shimerman
Quark has one brother, Rom who worked for some time as a waiter in his bar and a nephew Nog who helped his father at the bar as well. Quark often had a tensed relationship with his mother Ishka, disapproving of her wearing clothes and earning profits, all the things that are prohibited for a female Ferengi and the two came head to head such in Episode “Family Business“
Odo & Quark – I Do Not Own The Picture
Quark was often involved in numerous shady business deals that made him in conflict and under the watchful eye of Odo. The two had a complex relationship that went to the extreme such in Episode The Ascent where the two traded continuous insults while being stranded in a planet however at certain times, the two would exhibit friendly gestures such as Quark’s advice for Odo, of either professing his love to Kira or moving on. At the series finale, Quark demanded a “Goodbye” from Odo who was leaving to the Founder’s Home Planet in which the latter refused but later asked Kira to send a “Goodbye” to Quark
QUARK: Ah ha! I knew it! When I saw the two of you slip out, I said to myself, that no good, misanthropic, cantankerous, changeling is trying to sneak off the station without anyone noticing.
ODO: That was the idea.
QUARK: Well, it’s not going to happen.
ODO: Apparently not.
QUARK: So, now that I’m here, is there something you want to say to me?
ODO: Such as?
QUARK: Such as, ‘Goodbye, you certainly were a worthy adversary.’ Or maybe something with the words mutual respect in it.
ODO: No.
QUARK: No? What do you mean no?
ODO: I mean no. I have nothing I want to say to you.
QUARK: You’re telling me that after all these years, after all we’ve been through, you’re not even going to say goodbye to me?
ODO: That’s right. Nerys, I’ll be on the runabout. Huh.
(Odo goes through the airlock.)
KIRA: Don’t take it hard, Quark.
QUARK: Hard? What are you talking about? That man loves me. Couldn’t you see? It was written all over his back.
(Quark raises a glass to Odo and leaves.)
Odo and Quark
QUARK: Afraid you’d lose? You know, Odo, I used to think all your problems stemmed from the fact that you were a changeling, isolated from your own kind, forced to live among strangers who didn’t understand you. You couldn’t eat, you couldn’t drink, you couldn’t sleep, you couldn’t make love. Was it any wonder you had such a bad disposition? But you’re not a changeling anymore. You’re one of us. Life is yours for the taking. All you have to do is reach out and grab it. But do you? No. Because solid or changeling, you’re still a miserable, self-hating misanthrope. That’s who you are and that’s who you’ll always be.
ODO: I’m still not playing cards with you.
Quark, usually when he is about to participate in some shady deal would frantically search around him, making sure that Odo is not…. the chair next to him or even the glass he was about to drink from
Quark
Shimerman says of Quark, “He started out as a rather greedy, insidious Ferengi character, much like the Ferengi from Next Generation. And as he resided on Deep Space 9, with a small community and other cultures, primarily the Human culture and the Bajoran culture, he began to assimilate into their ways, and his behavior became more and more Human, more and more empathetic, more and more congenial, and that was the growing arc for Quark.” Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org
QUARK: I want you to try something for me.
(He pours a glass of foamy brown stuff.)
QUARK: Take a sip of this.
GARAK: What is it?
QUARK: A human drink. It’s called root beer.
GARAK: I don’t know.
QUARK: Come on. Aren’t you just a little bit curious?
(Garak sips)
QUARK: What do you think?
GARAK: It’s vile.
QUARK: I know. It’s so bubbly and cloying and happy.
GARAK: Just like the Federation.
QUARK: But you know what’s really frightening? If you drink enough of it, you begin to like it.
GARAK: It’s insidious.
QUARK: Just like the Federation.
GARAK: Do you think they’ll be able to save us?
QUARK: I hope so.
Armin Shimerman
Shimerman points out, “One of the great misunderstandings about Quark is that he was constantly cheating people of things and dealing in black market goods. This is absolutely true in the first two seasons. But the truth of the matter is, Quark became very domesticated after about the second season, and yet the characters on the show, and the audience, continued to believe he was always a scoundrel.
I came to realize that after a time, he really wasn’t stealing anymore. Yes, he was worried about his bottom line, but he was no longer actually doing nefarious things, he was no longer cheating, yet because he had started out that way, the characters in the show never really forgave him for a past life, a past life that he needed to do in order to survive under two oppressive regimes. Under the new regime, the regime of the Federation and the Bajorans, he became more domesticated and learned to take on the principles of the new society.
And that’s what happened over the seven years, he mellows out, and becomes more a part of the society he’s living in, but it’s the sort of subtle a normal human being might go through if they found themselves surrounded by a new society.“
Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org
The writers often had put Quark into positions exploring the limits of his greed such as in Episode “Business As Usual” When Quark’s cousin Gaila convinces him become a weapons dealer in a way to pay off his debts. However, Quark begins to question himself when realizing that those weapons are being used to exterminate millions of people. His deep friendship with Jadzia Dax also suffers who begins to ignore him, ending their friendships for the decisions he had made which all adds to his own self dilemma
”How much latinum did they pay you, Quark?“
“Enough to buy a new conscience?“
Dax & Kira, in Quark’s dream
During their first pitch session Bradley Thompson and David Weddle were told by Ira Steven Behr that he wanted a story “where Quark runs up against the limits of his greed.” This episode was the result. As Hans Beimler explains, “Quark is a Ferengi businessman. That’s something he’s proud of, that has significance to him. He’s not a weasel. “Business as Usual” is a great story because it tells us how far Quark has been pushed, and to what depths he’s willing to go, that he would take the role of an arms dealer. And he’s never completely comfortable with it. He kids himself for a while. He’s in denial, but when they start talking about killing twenty-eight million people, he becomes a man in tremendous turmoil.” Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org
“The worst Hagath can do…is kill you – what’s one life compared to the lives…of 28 million people?!“
Quark, to himself in the mirror, realizing what he must do
Quark
Quark chose and his friendship with Jadzia Dax remained as strong
Quark
Quark had a romantic relationship with a Cardassian woman named Natima Lang, often described her as the love of his life. Quark was also forced to marry a Klingon widower, Grilka whom he took credit of killing her husband yet he was able later to help her grant control of her own House, The House of Grilka. She then granted him his request of divorce and the two became friends however she later visited the station again, asking Quark’s financial help but this time, Quark with Jadzia Dax and Worf’s help was able to woo Grilka in a Klingon way and the two end up having sex, almost as Jadzia Dax confessed her interest in Worf who was mesmerized with Grilka
Quark and Natima Lang
Quark and Grilka
Quark and Grilka
Quark and Grilka
And there is Quark…. & Jadzia Dax
Quark & Jadzia Dax
Quark and Dax had a long term friendship while together on the station. She understood and liked Ferengi. She spent long hours with Quark playing tongo and dabo. Quark often confided in Jadzia and asked her advice. Quark was infatuated with Jadzia, but she thought of him as a friend, and did not return his romantic feelings. Courtesy of Memory Alpha.org
And of course there is Morn
Quark’s Enemies? Well, I guess HEW-MON are not a top favorite….
Quark: I think I figured out why humans don’t Ferengi
Sisko: Not now, Quark
Quark: The way I see it, humans used to be a lot like Ferengi, greedy, acquisitive, interested only in profit. We’re a constant reminder of a part of your past you’d like to forget
Sisko: Quark, we don’t have time for this
Quark: You’re overlooking something, Commander. Humans used to be a lot worse than Ferengi. Slavery, concentration camps, interstellar war; we have nothing in our past that approaches that kind of barbarism. You see?
We’re nothing like you. We’re better
That and of course, Liquidator Brunt…. FCA
Quark
Quark
Quark
