Summary

• Odo, played by Rene Auberjonois, is a beloved character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine known for his dedication to justice and maintaining order.
• Odo's initially strained relationship with Commander Sisko evolves into a respectful friendship, while his friendship with Quark and romantic relationship with Kira Nerys are fan-favorite pairings.
• Before his iconic role as Odo, Auberjonois had appeared in Star Trek VI as Colonel West, and later made appearances in Star Trek: Enterprise and voiced holographic Odo in Star Trek: Prodigy.

Rene Auberjonois beautifully portrayed the Changeling Chief of Security Constable Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Odo appears in all but six episodes of DS9, and quickly became one of the show's most popular characters. A bright light in the often dark world of DS9, Odo values justice above almost everything else and likes to maintain a sense of order. This, along with his strong attention to detail and observation skills make him an excellent Chief of Security for space station Deep Space 9. As Odo is not a member of Starfleet, he often makes his own rules when it comes to the space station.

While he initially butts heads with Commander (later Captain) Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) upon his arrival at Deep Space 9, the two eventually grow to respect one another. Early in DS9, Odo struggles with his identity and with allowing people past the emotional barriers he has put up. But as his story progresses, he begins opening up and letting more people in. Odo's often antagonistic friendship with Ferengi bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman) becomes one of Star Trek's best character pairings, and his relationship with Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) is incredibly sweet.

Rene Auberjonois’ Odo In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Explained

Odo was one of 100 infant Changelings who were sent out to the far reaches of the galaxy. He was eventually found drifting in space in his gelatinous state and was taken to the Bajoran Institute of Science on the planet Bajor. The scientists did not know that Odo was a sentient being until he figured out how to mimic other shapes. Odo knew nothing about himself and did not even know he was a Changeling until the Founders of the Dominion were discovered to be Changelings as well. As a Changeling, Odo can shapeshift into basically any object, but he has to return to his natural gelatinous state every sixteen hours.

In his first significant role, Rene Auberjonois played Father John Mulcahy in the 1970 film M*A*S*H, which would later be adapted into the iconic television show of the same name. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Auberjonois appeared in many episodes of hit television shows, both in live-action roles, including Clayton Runnymede Endicott III in the sitcom Benson, and as a voice actor for animated roles, such as Dr. Strangesnork on Snorks and Chef Louis in Disney's The Little Mermaid. After the end of DS9, Auberjonois portrayed lawyer Paul Lewiston on Boston Legal alongside William Shatner, and continued acting right up until his death in 2019 at the age of 79.

Rene Auberjonois’ Star Trek Movie Character Before Odo Explained

Although Rene Auberjonois is most ed among Star Trek fans for playing Constable Odo, he had actually appeared in the franchise before that. In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Auberjonois portrays Starfleet Colonel West, who participates in the conspiracy to sabotage peace talks between the Klingons and the Federation. Although Colonel West appears in the extended version of the film that was released on home video, most of his scenes were cut from the theatrical version. Because of this, Auberjonois' role in Star Trek VI went uncredited.

Rene Auberjonois also pops up Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 20, "Oasis," as a member of the Kantare species named Ezral. When the Enterprise NX-01 crew find Ezral and his daughter on a crashed ship, they discover that Ezral has created holograms of his shipmates because of the guilt he feels about the crash. Archival audio recordings of Rene Auberjonois as Odo were used in Star Trek: Prodigy season 1, episode 6, "Kobayash," for the appearance of the holographic Odo. With his portrayal of Constable Odo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Rene Auberjonois cemented his Star Trek legacy and ensured that he would always be ed fondly as a beloved member of the Star Trek family.