10 Amazing Behind The Scenes Secrets Of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

After settling on Avery Brooks for the part of Captain Sisko (and we'll get to how that happened in a little bit), the production team began work on the costuming and overall 'look' of their central protagonist. Not too hard a job in Star Trek, given all the Starfleet characters tend to wear a set uniform, but there was one contractual hitch.

Prior to his entry into the Star Trek universe, Brooks had a major role in the series Spenser: For Hire where his character, Hawk, sported a distinctive look with a shaved head and goatee. Owing to the show still airing after its cancellation in 1988, Paramount were concerned he'd resemble his former part too strongly and requested that he both lose the beard and grow his hair back in. Brooks hated the look, but understood the reasoning.

As the show grew more successful and he found himself in a strong position, he renegotiated his contract and, gradually, got back to his preferred look. Even briefly having both hair and a goatee in Season 3.

The only other costuming tale of note concerns Colm Meany, who apparently insisted that O'Brien was someone whose job was to "roll his sleeves up" and get things done thus, his uniform would need to let him do that.