As a fan of both of these series (okay I’m not actually a fan of the latter, I’m more forced to endure its awful Elizabeth Ziff written / self obsessed ramblings due to little choice) I noticed a strange thing, a crossover of gargantuan proportion – actors from each show appearing in the other. You are watching The L Word and boom, there’s someone from Battlestar Galactica (or vice versa).
I thought it would be fun to look at some of The L Word / Battlestar Galactica crossover actors. It’s not a conspiracy that this is the case, just that both shows shoot in Vancouver. It’s clearly easier for the studios to hire local actors, but it does lead to some interesting character changes for people we may have grown to love or hate.
Michael Hogan is Battlestar Galactica’s Colonel Tigh and also Irwin Fairbanks (father of Dana) in The L Word. His real life wife Susan Hogan plays Captain Franks in Battlestar Galactica and Sharon Fairbanks (wife of Irwin and also mother of Dana) in The L Word.
Aaron Douglas takes the role of Chief Galen Tyrol in Battlestar Galactica (you know the guy, he married Cally.. they’re the most mismatched couple on TV, with him looking 35 and her looking 15). He has also appeared in The L Word episode ‘Listen Up’ as a concerned citizen.
Tahmoh Penikett plays Karl (Helo) Agathon in Battlestar Galactica and he appeared in The L Word episode ‘Losing It’ as a sheriff. Incidentally his sister, actress Stephanie Penikett, plays a twin in The L Word episode ‘Luminous’.
Nicki Clyne features in Battlestar Galactica as Crewman Specialist Cally (she of the young face just mentioned with regards to creepy Chief Tyrol). Nicki also appeared in The L Word episode ‘Losing It’ playing Delilah (yes she was in the same episode as Helo).
Donnelly Rhodes who is best known as Doc Cottle in Battlestar Galactica also appeared in last weeks (I think) episode of The L Word as a soldier speaking to Tasha at the Base (from memory). For some strange reason this isn’t credited in his workography.
Luciana Carro whose role was Louanne (Kat) Katraine in Battlestar Galactica also played Lisa in a number of L Word episodes, including the pilot, ‘Let’s Do It’ and ‘Life, Loss and Leaving’. Not to be confused with Lisa the man lesbian Alice gets with, obviously.
Rekha Sharma plays Tory Foster in Battlestar Galactica, she also played Lori in the first couple of episodes of The L Word.
Callum Kieth Rennie is the evil Leoben Conoy in Battlestar Galactica and he also played Danny Wilson in The L Word (he was Dylan’s husband, you remember, they screwed over Helena Peabody with their documentary / sexual harassment suit).
Erica Cerra is known to Battlestar Galactica fans as Maya (the woman that takes care of baby Hera). She played the most amusing Uta Refson in The L Word (you may recall Uta was the Nosferatu vampire Alice hooked up with – her name Uta Refson is Nosferatu backwards and Alice spies it in a mirror).
Dominic Zamprogna whose role is James (Jammer) Lyman in Battlestar Galactica was in The L Word as a fake love interest for ‘trying to hide in the closet’ Nicki Stevens (Jenny’s girlfriend).
Lorena Gale plays priest Elosha in Battlestar Galactica, she also played Delores in The L Word episode ‘Losing the Light’.
Colin Lawrence appeared in Battlestar Galactica as Hamish (Skulls) McCall (Racetrack’s co-pilot) and he also played David Waters (Kit’s son / Bette’s nephew) in The L Word.
Brad Dryborough has a small role as Hoshi in Battlestar Galactica (one of Admiral Cains dogs-bodies on the Pegasus). He also played ‘Man on all Fours’ in The L Word episode ‘Loud and Proud’, as well as Stephen Green in the episode ‘Lawfully’.
Alonso Oyarzun who appeared briefly as Specialist Socinus in a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica (including Kobol’s Last Gleaming), also played Eduardo in The L Word pilot episode.
Christina Schild played Playa Palacios (she was the reporter that had a tryst with Baltar in a public toilet you may recall) in Battlestar Galactica. She also played Allison in The L Word episode ‘Lassoed’.
Alison Down was Jean Barolay in Battlestar Galactica (Samual Anders friend and resistance fighter – Also a former Caprica Bucks player). She also played Priscilla in The L Word episode ‘Labyrinth’.
Ty Olsson is Captain Aaron Kelly in Battlestar Galactica (Landing Signal Officer, you’d know him if you saw him, he’s the heavy set guy on Galactica). He also played Jim in The L Word episode ‘Lassoed’.
Don Thompson has a role as Specialist Anthony Figurski in Battlestar Galactica (works with Chief and Cally on deck). He also played Victor in The L Word episode ‘L’Chaim’.
Biski Gugushe can be seen as Sekou Hamilton in Battlestar Galactica (Editor of the Aerelon Gazette. Usually spotted at a press conference). He played a protester in The L Word episode ‘Locked Up’.
Ryan Robbins featured as Charlie Connor in Battlestar Galactica (friend of Anders and a resistance fighter, probably most notable when the collaborators are being decided upon in Season 3). He played Bus Stop Man in ‘Losing the Light’ (pretty funny / sad episode, you must remember Bette’s bus stop scene!).
Patricia Idlette is known as Sarah Porter in Battlestar Galactica (Gemanese politician). She played a technician in The L Word episode ‘Lobsters’.
Malcolm Stewart had the role as Marshall Bagot in Battlestar Galactica (a Virgon member of the Quorum of Twelve). He played Dr. Geld in The L Word episode ‘Latecomer’.
Winston Rekert who was a priest in Battlestar Galactica (no further info) also played Bon Sweeney in The L Word episode ‘Little Boy Blue’.
Chelah Horsdal who fans may vaguely recall as Didi Cassidy on Battlestar Galactica (she was prosecuting attorney in Baltar’s trial) also played a psychic on a couple of early L Word episodes. She also plays Sally (Salli) in the recent L Word episodes.
Tamara Lashley plays Sue-Shaun in a couple of Battlestar episodes (she was the cool African American resistance fighter with Anders.. she falls victim to The Farm). She also plays a ‘Bisexual girl’ in The L Word episode ‘Lost Weekend’.
John Pyper-Ferguson is Battlestar Galactica’s Captain Cole (Stinger) Taylor (he’s the cocky ass and former CAG of Battlestar Pegasus). He also plays Michael Angelo in The L Word episode ‘Lady of the Lake’ (one of Jodi’s mad hippy friends, I think he threw Bette in the lake).
Steve Lawlor was a Guard in Battlestar Galactica (no further info other than the episodes were two in number). He also played Richard in The L Word episode ‘Layup’ (the funny basketball episode – you know that over the shoulder hoop Helena makes? Rachel Shelley actually did that.. no editing.
Samantha Ferris played the character of Deckhand Pollux on Battlestar Galactica. You may recall her as being the deckhand to stick up for Seelix when she states the pilots “don’t want us knuckle draggers stinking up the pilots ready room” when Seelix wants to become a pilot. She also plays Meryl Rothman in The L Word episode ‘Luminous’.
Mike Dopud, known as Crewman Specialist Gage in Battlestar Galactica - he’s the lowlife from Pegasus that drinks with Tyrol and Helo and describes the fun they all had gang raping Gina Six. He also plays First A.D. in The L Word episode ‘Lynch Pin’.
Warren Christie plays Tarn on Battlestar Galactica. Tarn is a Galactica technician and scout on Kobol. He’s the poor sap sent back to get that med kit from the crashed Raptor). He also plays Leo Herrera in a few L Word episodes (he’s the guy that gets Bette’s job when Leo fires her in those early episodes).
Michael Tayles features as Flyboy on Battlestar Galactica - he’s one of the Viper pilots, Flyboy is his callsign and we never lear his real name, he’s a bit of a reckless joker. He also played Ewan in The L Word episode ‘Lynch Pin’ (think maybe he was a potential roomie for Shane and Jenny, but not sure).
Jill Teed is Sergeant Hadrian on Battlestar Galactica. Hadrian is the Master-at-Arms on Galactica and is head of internal security. You may recall her heading up the investigation into the accident on the hangar deck that kills numerous crewmen (she kind of had anti-charisma). She also played Teri in a couple of early L Word episodes (flashback scenes).
Marilyn Norry worked in Battlestar Galactica as Reza Hebrides. She’s appearing in a couple of season 4 episodes later this year (at time of writing). She also played Eve in The L Word episode ‘Labia Majora’.
Kurt Max Runte featured briefly as Ensign Charles Bellamy in an episode of Battlestar Galactica (he’s an engineer aboard Pegasus). In The L Word however he ends up on the cutting room floor of the episode ‘Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way’ where he played a Mysterious Man (said to be stalking Helena Peabody).
Monique Ganderton doesn’t have a part on screen in Battlestar Galactica, but she is a stunt woman on the series. She also played a ‘Woman in Stairwell’ in the ‘Labyrinth’ episode of The L Word.
Angela Uyeda is the stunt double for Grace Parks in Battlestar Galactica. She also played a Sales Clerk in The L Word episode ‘Land Ahoy’.
Lani Geleri is a stunt performer on Battlestar Galactica for two episodes and a stunt performer on The L Word for the episode ‘Lez Girls’.
Battlestar Galactica: Razor....
Peter Bryant plays Frank Bruno (not the boxer) in Battlestar Galactica: Razor. He also plays Major Dixon in The L Word episode Literary License to Kill.
Stefanie von Pfetten plays Captain Marcia ‘Showboat’ Case in Battlestar Galactica: Razor and Battlestar Galactica episode The Captain’s Hand. She also plays Kelly in The L Word episode Lagrimas de Oro.
Shaker Paleja plays Hudson in Battlestar Galactica: Razor. He also plays Eric in The L Word episode Livin’ La Vida Loca.
Ingrid Tesch plays a mother in Battlestar Galactica: Razor. She also plays Christine Beech in The L Word episode Let’s Get This Party Started.
Battlestar Galactica Mini Series…
Barclay Hope plays a transport pilot in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series (the lead in to the full series). He also plays Bert Gruber in The L Word episodes: Loneliest Number, Liberally and Lap Dance.
Kwesi Ameyaw plays a liner captain in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. He also plays Randy Jackson in The L Word episodes: Let’s Do It, Lies, Lies, Lies, Lawfully, Losing It, Losing The Light and the Pilot.
Haili Page plays Cami in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. She also plays Hailie in The L Word episode Lesson Number One.
Paralee Cook plays a Warrant Officer in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. She also plays Sally in The L Word episode Labia Majora.
Tim Henry plays a doctor in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. He also plays a security guard in The L Word episode Long Time Coming.
Nahanni Arntzen plays a pilot on the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. He also plays a model in The L Word episode Losing It.
Erin Karpluk plays a ‘woman’ in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. She also plas Alysse in The L Word episode Lookin’ at You, Kid.
Michael Soltis plays Chantara’s husband in the Battlestar Galactica Mini Series. He also plays a hotel desk clerk in The L Word episode L’Ennui.
And there you have it. Shocked by the sheer numbers? We here at LesbianGeek.com were!
Next time you're watching either series, be sure and keep an eye out. Now if only Katee Sackoff (Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace) would sign up for the next season of The L Word (assuming there is one), then my life would be complete.
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