O'Brien, Bashir, & Casey Biggs

[Melakon]

In "The Changing Face of Evil", aired in 1999, O'Brien and Bashir build a model of the Alamo, and at one point lose the figure of William B. Travis, eventually found in the finale.

I was going through Memory Alpha references to Damar, and eventually checked some of Casey Biggs' credits at IMDB. In 1988, Casey appeared in an IMAX short, "Alamo: The Price of Freedom", as William B. Travis. In 1996, Casey first appeared as Damar.

Is this a simple coincidence? Or did they learn of Casey's Alamo role and then make Travis a plot point as an inside joke?

 

[R. Star]

I'd call it coincidence. Bashir and O'brien were fighting the Battle of Britain, Irish crusades, his Bond program, and all sorts of silly hero scenarios on the holodeck. They just obsessed with the Alamo by season 7.

Being from Texas, it's a big deal to us here... I can't say I know how well known it is outside of the state. But it basically is -the- heroic last stand.

Either way, I don't see it having anything to do with Biggs, with all due respect to him and his abilities, wasn't exactly big enough to warrant that kind of easter egg.

 

[Melakon]

I agree it's likely a coincidence. Until we get a definitive answer from Ira Behr, I guess.

I know of the importance of the Alamo to Texans since first learning of it in the 60s or perhaps earlier. Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to visit San Antonio, as I like viewing historic sites.

 

[R. Star]

I agree it's likely a coincidence. Until we get a definitive answer from Ira Behr, I guess.

I know of the importance of the Alamo to Texans since first learning of it in the 60s or perhaps earlier. Unfortunately, I've never had a chance to visit San Antonio, as I like viewing historic sites.

If you're ever in San Antonio, definitely stop by, it's worth it. It's rather close to the Riverwalk there too to it's pretty convenient.

It's basically a museum now and the mission's all that's left, but the atmosphere really puts you there and the tour's entertaining and educational enough in it's own rights.

 

[DS9forever]

I'm pretty sure I read an interview that mentioend the writers knew of this before Biggs was cast.

 

[Melakon]

That would tie in with them assuring Biggs they had big plans for the character, but it couldn't have been the reason for his casting 3 years earlier; it was just icing on the cake.

 

[Kinggodzillak]

In the DS9 Companion they mention that Casey's role in the IMAX Alamo film was the reason Damar was the first character to die in the finale.

 

[Melakon]

That does make sense, and fits my in-joke notion. I wanted to get DS9 Companion, but the bookstores I visited pulled out of the nearest mall before 2000, and were the only stores there I visited. All I have is the early Making of DS9 book.

 

[JoeD80]

The DS9 companion is worth it to get if you find it online! Very detailed on behind-the-scenes information, much more so than the other Trek guides.

 

[DS9forever]

I found the interview I mentioned in the old official DS9 magazine:

"Ira [Behr] told me he was so blown away by that IMAX movie that when he saw me come in for the Damar audition, I sort of had it locked up. You never know how you're going to get a job in this business''".

 

[TheSubCommander]

In "The Changing Face of Evil", aired in 1999, O'Brien and Bashir build a model of the Alamo, and at one point lose the figure of William B. Travis, eventually found in the finale.

I was going through Memory Alpha references to Damar, and eventually checked some of Casey Biggs' credits at IMDB. In 1988, Casey appeared in an IMAX short, "Alamo: The Price of Freedom", as William B. Travis. In 1996, Casey first appeared as Damar.

Is this a simple coincidence? Or did they learn of Casey's Alamo role and then make Travis a plot point as an inside joke?

Sounds like a coincidence to me, too. But it would have been kinda cool ifCasey Biggs out of Damar makeup, and as another character (like as a bar patron), looked over the shoulders of Bashir and O'brien while they were setting up the figures and observed, "Hey you're missing William Travis."