Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Weyoun
As played by Jeffrey Combs, Jeffrey Combs and Jeffrey Combs...and Jeffrey Combs.
"Time to start packing!"
Perhaps not the line you would expect to end the occupation of one Terok Nor but one that helps sum up the personality of the Vorta, Weyoun. An overseer in the oppressive Dominion, Jeffrey Combs's character just kept coming back for more thanks to the wonders of cloning technology and a good script. Appearing across the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh seasons of DS9, he acted as an intermediary for the Founders, particularly during the occupation of Cardassia. Also a key figure in attempting to keep Dukat and Damar on a tight leash, Weyoun would be at the heart of many of the major decisions of the Dominion War.
But there's much more to the character, the actor and the clones than just the Dominion War. Combs, as fans will know, has a rich history with the franchise and likewise, Weyoun became one of Deep Space Nine's most significant recurring characters during its final seasons.
Perhaps best described as "everyone's friend and everyone's enemy", Weyoun provided the insight into the workings of the "anti-Federation." While he almost always held an air of positivity, he was the king of spin, ever prepared to step to a bleak outcome. Of course, this would all be delivered with hesitation and regret. And the Oscar goes to...
From screen to page and online, let's take a closer look at the prominent Vorta.
10. Seeing Double
Combs appearance in Dogs of War as both Weyoun and Brunt is not as unique as fans may appreciate.
In fact it wasn't the first or second time that an actor would appear in two different roles in the same episode.
Track back to season three of TNG and The Defector. Patrick Stewart would act as both Captain Picard and also as (uncredited) Michael Williams in the holodeck recreation of Shakepeare's Henry V. The other would be Brian Markinson.
Markinson would appear alongside Jeffrey Combs in season five's In the Cards as Doctor Giger but over on Voyager he would take on the role of Lieutenant Pete Durst in Cathexis and Faces. In the second of those episodes he would also play the part of Vidiian Sulan who grafts Durst's face onto his own. Naturally it would make sense to have Markinson play both parts!
Let us not forget the Next Generation episode Brothers, in which Brent Spiner plays Data, and Lore, and Noonian Soong!
What does make Combs unique in this realm is that, thanks to his appearance as a patron of Vic Fontaine's club in What You Leave Behind, he is the only actor to have appeared in two different roles (credited or uncredited) in two successive episodes. Combs is also the only actor to have his name with both characters listed in the show's opening credits.