is the name of a fictitious character on the
Sci Fi Channel series ''
Battlestar Galactica ''. He is played by
Richard Hatch , who had previously portrayed
Captain Apollo the lead character of the original
Battlestar Galactica Series of the late 1970's.
Zarek is a charismatic and philosophical political leader from the Colony of Sagittaron, who was jailed for terrorist activities (he planted explosives in a government building, destroying it and causing many deaths) and for spurring political unrest for twenty years. After the destruction of the
Twelve Colonies , he and a number of other inmates found themselves stuck on the
Astral Queen , a prison barge which joined the
Battlestar Galactica in fleeing the
Cylons .
Gathering followers among the prisoners, Zarek leads a riot against the leadership of the ragtag fleet, protesting the poor living conditions on the Astral Queen. He creates a hostage situation which
Adama and
President Roslin must resolve in the midst of a crisis of water supply in the fleet. ("
Bastille Day ").
Later in the series, Zarek runs for political office, and is elected representative for Sagittaron on the new Quorum of Twelve (the Legislative branch of the government). He then runs for the vacant office of Vice President, in a power play meant to take a step towards ascending to the presidency, but was defeated when Roslin made a surprise replacement for her own nominee, and Dr.
Gaius Baltar was elected Vice President.
