Rom

Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik. Rom is a Ferengi, the son of Keldar and Ishka. He is Quark's younger brother, and the father of Nog. On the show he is often used for comic relief, but over the show's run the character grows in importance. In the early seasons, he works at Quark's bar. Background Max Grodenchik previously played two different Ferengi characters in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes "Captain's Holiday" and "The Perfect Mate". While working on "Perfect Mate" head of the makeup department Michael Westmore told Grodénchik about a new Star Trek series and that it would include a Ferengi as a series regular, and that his agent should check for casting call coming in a few months time. Months later, Grodénchik read for the role of Quark at a large and busy casting call, but did not feel the audition went well and did not expect to hear back, forgetting about it. A few weeks later, at a smaller casting call, he auditioned again, but did not think it went well that time either. As he was waiting disappointed outside the gates of Paramount Studios, Armin Shimerman came over and talked to him. Shimerman had figured out that they were the last two up for the role of Quark, but he also noticed that the script mentioned Quark's nephew Nog and so there was the possibility of there being the part of Nog's father. In the pilot episode, he was hired for one day's work in the role of "Ferengi Pit Boss". Grodénchik was hired for one episode at a time and was contracted on a day-by-day basis for the duration of his role as Rom. He was hired again as a guest star on the fourth episode and was credited as "Rom". He would return to play Rom in thirty-seven episodes. Overview In the Star Trek science fiction universe, Rom was born around 2335. Rom did not have the business acumen typically associated with the Ferengi race; he was described as one who "didn't have the 'lobes' for business". He had a knack for fixing things, but until around 2372, he worked exclusively as a waiter and stock boy in his brother Quark's bar on Deep Space Nine (DS9). Rom frequently displays a lack of confidence, largely due to Quark's habit of belittling him. There is evidence to suggest that Quark was attempting to protect Rom from inevitable failure by preventing him from venturing into business for himself.