Casey Biggs: Hello everybody! I'm really happy to be here today, I'm looking forward to some really great questions! For those of you who are wondering...yes, this is REALLY me!

Question: I was wondering, have you always wanted to be an actor? And who were your role models that inspired you to become an actor?
Cfiorenza

CB: I've wanted to be an actor since I was in grade school, because I could sing and I was in the choir. When I went to high school, they did great musicals, and I did all the leads in the musicals and that's what led me to want to become a professional actor. I have to confess, I did want to be William Shatner when I was young.

Q: Mr. Biggs, just how long did it take to put all that makeup on?
starstrike

CB: The makeup took three hours to put on and an hour to take off. So four hours altogether.

Q: Cardassians are among my favorites of "villainous" aliens. Despite the infamously grueling makeup sessions for many Star Trek aliens, what did you find enjoyable in your role as a Cardassian? Also, I want to thank you for being a part of my favorite Star Trek series.
gyip

CB: Thank you for the question. One of the best parts of playing a Cardassian was that you never had to act — you had to play the make up and the costume and let them do all the work. (laughs) But the most fascinating thing about Damar was what a patriot he was. Yes, I killed Ziyal, but she was a traitor!

Q: Casey, what was your favorite episode and why?
stamods

CB: My favorite episode was the one Rene Auberjonois directed, where Damar finally got fed up and decided to stop drinking that awful Kanar, and decided to become a rebel. That was my favorite episode.

Q: What does Kanar really taste like?
jeffmorris12

CB: The worst possible thing you could ever imagine! But of course the way I acted it, it looked delicious didn't it? In fact, it was really Karo syrup, so don't ever try this at home.

Q: What do you like and dislike about Cardassian characters?
neoaldebaran

CB: I don't dislike anything. What was fascinating to play was that they were a military race, so they had to be controlled no matter what was inside of them. What I didn't like was that they didn't get their own spin-off series.

Q: Hello Casey, this is Mimi. You have directed many plays. Do you want to direct TV and/or movies?
moriahlin

CB: Yes, I do. All forms of storytelling interest me — it's like being a sculptor, being able to sculpt stories and ideas.

Q: Mr. Biggs, which aspect of Damar did you prefer playing: the well-meaning sycophant or the reluctant patriot leader?
sec31op

CB: The reluctant patriot leader — everybody wants to be a reluctant hero. Those are the best parts. I don't even know how to spell "sycophant," but I know what it means!

Q: How did you get the job of Damar?
visser59

CB: I had to audition, I think it was in the fourth season, and I went in and read for the producers and then I had to go back and read again, because I didn't know they had such big plans for this character.

Q: If you had the amount of power Damar had, what would you do with it?
rocket4477

CB: Well, by the end of the series, the way the character did, I'd use it to rebuild our race and take what I learned from — or what Damar seemed to have learned from the Dominion — take what he didn't like from them and turn that around into a positive thing for his people, because I believe that Damar was a true patriot.

Q: Did you like working with Kevin Costner?
Ysly

CB: Yes, Kevin was a wonderful guy, although two of my scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. It was right around the election, and we'd sit in Kevin's trailer on the set of "Dragonfly" and talk about politics, which he's very passionate about. I think they cast me because they thought I looked like him, again because there wasn't a lot to read when I auditioned.

Q:Your stage presentation "What Shakespeare Leaves Behind" with Marc Alaimo and Jeffrey Combs has become a popular attraction at conventions. Could you tell us how that show came about?
sandy

CB: When Marc and Jeff and I were asked to a convention, we thought it'd be more interesting for the fans than just signing autographs to see what really made us want to be actors. All three of us are classically trained and we got together and thought it'd be fun for us to do, but also informative and educational for the fans to see us do things that they wouldn't actually get to see us do. If you haven't seen it, do, because a lot of people would pay a lot of money to see Jeffrey Combs play Juliet. What people don't realize about Marc is what a truly gifted actor he is.

Q: Mr. Biggs, what was it like to be a part of Star Trek history?
mikejmoe

CB: Unlike anything you could imagine. When I got involved, I had no how far-reaching this would be. Having been to Italy and Germany and England and France and seen the passion with which people follow this show was truly inspirational. And right after September 11th I was in Germany with a convention full of people, and at the end of the convention we sang "New York, New York." It brought chills to everybody.

Q: Do you get along with the cast and crew of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
subterranean_homesick_alien

CB: Yes, I do. Quite famously, actually, and many of them have become very good friends.

Q: Which cast member did you enjoy working with the most?
darvin

CB: I think Jeff and I had one of the best times, because they made us the Fric and Frac of outer space. I like to call us the Bickersons of Outer Space, because the last few episodes stuck us in the same room arguing about something about some quadrant in front of a big screen.

Q: Mr. Biggs, what did you think of the last episode of Deep Space Nine?

mikejmoe

CB: Except for the fact that I died in the last five minutes I thought it was great! And for those of you who didn't know, look closely and you'll see Jeff and I in our 50s suits at Vic's.

Q: Who would have been the better leader for post-war Cadassia, Damar or Garak?
sto_vo_kor12

CB: Damar! No question! I mean, Garak was going to make my uniform.

Q: Mr. Biggs, would you ever venture into space for real if you had the chance to?
shuttlepod1

CB: Good question. I used to ask people all the time to start conversations: if a spaceship came down and gave you the opportunity to go to outer space not knowing if you would ever come back, would you? Most of my life I would have said, "Yes," but now, "No." Because I think the whole objective about being on this place of existence is about figuring it out down here rather than down there.

Q: Slightly early birthday wishes from the Duffys in NYC. Are you returning to Vegas this fall?
cduffy5062

CB: Hi, guys! Yes, I believe we will be in Vegas. Marc and Jeff and I have just been asked to be part of the next convention. Only if we can stay at the Bellagio, like you!

Q: What was it like to work with Nana Visitor? I think she's amazing.
harryjaneway

CB: Nana is fabulous because not only is she beautiful, but she's a great actress and takes what she does very seriously and loves a good joke.

Q: What was it like to work with John Woo in "Broken Arrow?"
vulcangurl23

CB: John was an extraordinary guy because he's so gracious and so considerate about his work and very, very specific. And he always used to say to me, "Casey, you are very great actor — just go faster!" He meant the Hummer that I was driving in "Broken Arrow." Again, most of my stuff ended up on the cutting room floor.

Q:Where would we send fanmail?
RoadWarrior

Q: Do you have a personal Web site?
visser59

CB: Yes, and for fan mail check the Web site and ask the Web master at www.caseybiggs.com.

Q: I've read on an Italian site that you like to dance tango. Is that true? Are you a good dancer?
carolav1

CB: If everybody could live their life like a good tango dance, everyone would have a much better life. Yes, I dance tango and for some time I was obsessed with it. I love to dance and I love to dance the tango. It's a very sexy dance.

Q: How were you introduced to the tango?
StarTrekHost

CB: I've always been interested in it. I was doing a play in New York and I was walking down the street and saw a sign that said "Tango Lessons," so I took some and when I finished the show I found a master tango teacher in L.A. and have even actually performed in a tango concert. I have continued to study and I love the tango because it's all about the duality of tension — try to figure that one out.

Q: Mr. Biggs, what do you do in your spare time?
mikejmoe1

CB: I love to golf, I love to travel — almost too much. I collect good wine, so you always know when I'm making good money, because I've got good wine at my house. Believe it or not, I love to garden, read voraciously and I love to cook. Gosh, somebody should marry me.

Q: What are some of your favorite travel spots? And favorite books?
StarTrekHost

CB: I love the South of France, I love Tuscany, I love Mexico — the middle, like San Miguel de Allende. I'm looking forward to going through Ireland and Greece soon. And I've driven across country about three times by myself, which I really enjoy.

Q: Can you tell us about your favorite charity?
marcwade

CB: Penny Lane is my designated charity. It's a foster care organization in California (pennylane.org). I was in a foster home from 2-8 and when I was asked to have a fan club, I thought it'd be a great way to raise money so there's a scholarship fund in my name that I raise money for every year to give kids money to go to school once they get out of a foster home.

Q: Will you marry me? :)
lwaxana

CB: What would Ben say?

Q: What do you shoot in golf?
hal

CB:: I'm a bogie golfer, probably. I could be very good if I could play more. I find that no matter what happens during the day, if you walk out onto a course you always find a Zen — everything's okay now! It's like walking through a garden.

Q: Casey, would you prefer to be living now or in a time like Star Trek?
stamods

CB: Wow! Well, you never know what a time like Star Trek was, because remember that episode where Star Trek took place in the 50s [Beyond the Farthest Star]? Did Star Trek happen in the 50s or in the 24th century? But seriously, now is probably one of the best times to live...except for maybe the 40s. I love the 40s — the suits were great!

Q: Did you have any interest in Star Trek before you had a role in it?
picard88

CB: Just the first series. I didn't watch Next Generation. I watch it now. I didn't watch DS9 until I started on the show, and I never watched Voyager. (laughs)

Q: Have you ever considered following other guest stars like Andy Robinson and writing a Star Trek novel?
obrien

CB: Yeah, I would in a heartbeat, but I think the publishers came to Armin (Shimerman) and Andy and asked them to do it, so I'd have to ask somebody to do it first. I hear there is some pretty outrageous fan fiction out there already, so I don't know.

Q: What's the most embarrassing thing that happened to you on-set?
the_warp_core

CB: Not being able to find the zipper on my costume and I had to go to the bathroom!

What ambitions do you have left as an actor, is there a role out there you would love to play?
obrien

CB: There are lots of roles I'd love to play and I'd like to create some roles that haven't been done before. I look forward to doing my own TV series. I came close last year and this year, so it's right around the corner — keep your fingers crossed!

Q: Hello Mr. Biggs, I really enjoyed your character on DS9, and I miss that show a lot. Do you plan on doing any appearances in the new series in the future?
virtuoso

CB: I haven't been approached, but I'd consider it if they did. My buddy Jeff has already done two different characters on it, but I'd rather do it without makeup, if you don't mind!

Q: Hi Biggs, do you have any pets?
shuttlepod1

CB: No, I had a dog but it died.

Q: Are you by any chance related to Roxann Dawson? At one time she used the name Roxann Biggs-Dawson.
Johnstjy

CB: Yes, I was related to Roxann. We were married, for those of you who don't know. She had my name and then somebody else's name, and now she just has somebody else's name.

Q: What is a scheduled shoot day like, how many pages did you have to memorize and how much blue screen acting did you have to do?
starstrike

CB: I've never had to do any blue screen on DS9, but the day usually started at 4 a.m. and sometimes didn't finish until 1 a.m. I think the most pages I ever had to shoot at one time was about eight, which is not very much when you've done stage plays that are three hours long without stopping. Some of that language in Deep Space Nine is hard to wrap your tongue around.

Q: In the end, do you feel you ended up a sort of Star Trek version of William Wallace?
kal1938

CB: That's right, another reluctant hero.

Q: Being a historian, I cannot help but make liaisons between the character of Damar in the latter part of the seventh season and Charles de Gaulle and his role in the Second World War. Was there any personal inspiration that drove you to play Damar like you did?
jeremywoolward

CB: Yes, it wasn't Charles de Gaulle, but I'm glad you're so well-versed in history. But taking it from my perspective, Damar was a true patriot and whether he was following Dukat's orders or following the Dominion's orders and then finally following his own heart, he was doing what he thought was selflessly right.

Q: When are you coming home to visit??????
sisters

CB: (laughs) In June!! Make sure that somebody bakes a cake! I look forward to a good swim and seeing some old friends.

Q: Where is home?
StarTrekHost

CB: Toledo, Ohio.

Q: What was your first major break in television?
darvin

CB: I did a thing called "The Great Wallendas." I was 22 and I was doing a play in NYC, a brand new play at the Manhattan Theatre Club, making about $5 a week, and I got a call from my agent during rehearsal. They wanted me to go to Florida to do the movie and my head started spinning and I told the director that I was quitting, I'm going to do a movie. I went out, joined a spa and paid them right there so I could go sit in a Jacuzzi, and I thought, "Uh, oh, things have changed."

Q: Will you be visiting Holland?
StarTrekHost

CB: I want to go everywhere! The person that asked the question from Holland, I haven't been to Holland but I would love to come, and I look forward to a time when I do and I hope you'll be there!

Q: Mr. Biggs, how do you feel about "Uncle Milton" passing away?
cmp66

CB: I have to say that I had to pause when I read it in the paper today, realizing that most TV shows stemmed from his beginning. You realize that when he was doing TV, there were about 5,000 TVs in the whole country, and a year after there were about a million and a lot people owe a lot to Milton Berle's shadow.

Q: Did you get to keep any props from the show?
locutasofborg200

CB: No, but I did keep some of my makeup. I keep it in the freezer. My makeup artists told me to put it there so it wouldn't disintegrate.

Q: What do you think of Trekkies?
the_warp_core

CB: If you're talking about the fans, I think they're great, and having traveled all over and meeting a great many of them, I'm continuously surprised and delighted at how well-versed they are in the show and, for the most part, how incredibly intelligent and fun they are. If you're talking about the film, I have yet to see it. Yes, I have seen "Galaxy Quest" and no, it's not really like that.

Q: How did you feel the first time you saw yourself in full Cardassian makeup?
obrien

CB: Pretty terrified, because I didn't really know how to work in it. As a matter of fact, a number of actors had been fired in the middle of shooting because they couldn't make it past the makeup. A lot of acting is about being still and you never know under all that makeup if what you're thinking is really coming across.

Q: In his book "I am Spock," Leonard Nimoy says he will never turn down a request for an autograph. Do you feel the same way?
kal1938

CB: Absolutely, particularly at conventions where people stand in line, I feel not only that it's an obligation but it's a pleasure to make sure that they get what they pay for.

Q: What is your favorite color?
lil_q

CB: I like blue, of course, because it goes with my eyes. (laughs) Sage is a pretty good color.

Q: Casey, do you like Howard Stern?
blcesq

CB: No. But I hear he speaks highly of me...

Q: Why was Damar wearing a black t-shirt under the armor in the last season? Was he cold?
v1

CB: How did you know I was wearing a black t-shirt?

Q: Mr. Biggs, what do you do on a rainy day?
mikejmoe

CB: Oh, wow, lots of things. I love the rain, for one thing, and it doesn't rain enough here. When it does, I usually think of the rainy days back east. I would love to live back in New England, where it rains a lot. There are so many things to do on a rainy day that I wouldn't know where to begin, but I bet you can think of a few of them.

Q: You seem to show up in quite a bit of sci-fi. Is that coincidence, or do you prefer the sci-fi/fantasy genre?
mrmxyzptlk

CB: I think I've gotten cast in other sci-fi because people who have written those shows were DS9 fans, and that is why they wanted me in the shows.

Q: Casey, which Dax was hotter? Did you ever make the moves?
blcesq

CB: Terry Farrell, without a doubt. She left the show right as I came in, so I never had the chance. One of the costume people wanted to fix me up with her, but it never happened.

Q: Where were you on September 11?
designationlocutus

CB: I was in Los Angeles, and I remember hearing outside the window some newscast and I was upset that it was so loud and I was surprised it was so loud. I got up and turned the TV, and saw what had happened and I thought it was interesting that I heard it in my dreams as well. My life changed, as everyone else's did.

Q: Casey, what do you fell about the current state of major league baseball?
captain_benjamin_sisko

CB: I have no idea. I like the hot dogs.

Q: Do you have anything in common with Damar?
ryan87749

CB: Yes. (laughs) Quite a bit, but I'm not quite as rigid as he is and I don't like Kanar. Although I always thought that when the show was over I'd open up Damar's Kanar Bar, because little did they know, Damar had a hell of a voice.

Q: I'm a student at Strathclyde University in Scotland. You were voted Trek character of the year last year by the students' union. How does that make you feel?
kal1938

CB: I'm honored! And in fact, I may be in Scotland sometime this summer, so keep an eye out.

Q: Did anyone on the set of DS9 ever play a joke on you? Or did you on anyone else?
trumpet

CB: I think that there were a lot of jokes played and some I can't really talk about, so I plead the fifth.

Q: Fantasy time. Who would be your dream leading lady, past or present?
obrien

CB: Oh, boy, that's a tough one. Probably one of the great stars of the 30s and 40s, because I see myself in all those film noir movies.

Q: What kind of car do you drive?
romulanboy999

CB: I have a very cool 1977 MGB that I had completely restored and I just bought a Ford pick-up.

Q: When did you first meet Roxann?
captain_ktyra_parker1876

CB: I met Roxann in New York City. I got a call from a casting director. They fired the actor playing the lead opposite of her, and they wanted me to read for it. They gave me the part and I walked down the hallway and this woman walked up to me and said, "Hi, I'm your wife," and that was Roxann.

Q: What was it like to work on Ryan's Hope? Was the daily soap opera schedule tough?
rasilldurgak

CB: Boy, you're dating yourself! Ryan's Hope was great. I went kicking and screaming into soaps, but I learned so much from doing it that I found the experience invaluable. You have to know how to make that material very good, very fast and also the character was a great, great character. Fenno Moore was who I played on that show.

Q: Have you ever been to the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas? If so, what did you think of it?
jobedge

CB: Yes, I've been there a couple of times and think it's fantastic. I feel like an eight-year-old when I get off that ride and I say, "Oh, so that's what it's supposed to feel like?"

StarTrekHost: We are going to wrap up this chat. Please let Casey know how much you appreciate him chatting with us today!

CB: I want to thank everybody for taking the time out and I'm really sorry we couldn't get to all the questions, because I really enjoyed them and look forward to the next time we do this. I hope to see you out in the convention world, wherever that may be.

Q: I just wanted to thank you for doing this, it means a lot. Everyone's time is valuable, yours is appreciated.
kapact

CB: Always walk with the prophets.

Q: Thank you very much Mr. Biggs!!! You rock!!! Darvin

Q: Thanks. Great chatting to you.
the_warp_core

Q: On behalf of everyone here, I'd just like to say thank you for a most amazing evening, and thank you for answering my question.
picard88

Q: Great job, Mr. Biggs. Have a great day, thanks.
mikejmoe

Q: Thanks Casey! Damar has really inspired me! Thanks for the great acting!
daniel_Jackson

Q:*Kisses Casey * Thanks.
legatekorinas

Q: Come back soon!
designationlocutus

CB: Sometimes it got a little philosophical, so thank you for bearing with me. Star Trek means so much to so many people and always goes much deeper than we realize. So thanks again.

Q: Thanks Casey, come to Scotland.
nx74205

Q: Thanks Casey, you are wonderful!
natira

Q: Hi Casey, thanks for chatting!!!!!!!!!!
spock3043