# Armin Shimerman
**Armin Shimerman** (born 1949 in Lakewood, New Jersey) is an American actor, voice-over artist, and author, best known as [Quark](https://www.edgepedia.org/quark-star-trek), the Ferengi bar owner he played in 172 episodes of *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* from 1993 to 1999.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077129.html) • [2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television) • [3](https://www.latw.org/artist-public-profile/armin-shimerman) His career spans Broadway and regional stage work, recurring television roles such as Principal Snyder in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, and voice roles including Andrew Ryan in *[BioShock](https://www.edgepedia.org/bioshock-series)* and Dr. Nefarious in *Ratchet & Clank*.[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949, Lakewood, New Jersey[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077129.html) |
| Signature role | Quark in 172 episodes of *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993–1999)[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television) |
| Star Trek first | First actor to play a Ferengi, as Letek in "The Last Outpost" (1987)[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/) |
| Other recurring TV | Principal Snyder (*Buffy*, 19 episodes), Pascal (*Beauty and the Beast*, 16 episodes), Judge Brian Hooper (*Boston Legal*, 7 episodes)[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television) |
| Voice roles | Andrew Ryan in *BioShock*, Dr. Nefarious in *Ratchet & Clank*[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/) |
| Writing | Co-author, *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — The 34th Rule* (1999), with David R. George III[6](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html) |
| Teaching | B.F.A. professor for Shakespeare at USC[7](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/) |
## Early life and personal life
The Library of Congress authority record gives his birth date as 1949, and his birthplace as Lakewood, New Jersey, with occupations of actor and screenwriter.[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077129.html) He has been married to the actress Kitty Swink since May 16, 1981.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/)
## Stage career
Shimerman's stage career began in New York. In 1976 he was an understudy for the roles of Filch, Ned, and others in *Threepenny Opera* at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Vivian Beaumont Theatre at [Lincoln Center](https://www.edgepedia.org/lincoln-center), and he later played Mr. Thorkelson in *I Remember Mama* (1979) at the same theater.[6](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html) His Broadway credits also include *Saint Joan* at Circle in the Square Theatre.[3](https://www.latw.org/artist-public-profile/armin-shimerman)
**Shakespeare and regional theater.** His Shakespearean credits include the Fool in *King Lear* at the Guthrie Theatre, *Richard III* and *Love's Labour's Lost* at San Diego's Old Globe, and *Henry V* at the American Shakespeare Festival.[7](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/) Regional work includes the [Duke of York](https://www.edgepedia.org/duke-of-york) in *Richard II* at the Mark Taper Forum (1991), Marius Byleveld in *[The Road to Mecca](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-road-to-mecca)*, Count Leo Tolstoy in *Discord* at the Geffen Playhouse, and Richard Harkin in Conor McPherson's *The Seafarer* at the Lyceum Theatre.[6](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html) • [3](https://www.latw.org/artist-public-profile/armin-shimerman) For the blind Irishman in *The Seafarer* at San Diego Repertory Theater he won the San Diego Critics Circle Award for Best Actor.[7](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/)
## Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Quark
Shimerman was the first actor ever to play a Ferengi, as Letek in the *Star Trek: The Next Generation* episode "The Last Outpost" in 1987. Five years later he was offered the role of Quark, the first Ferengi in the main cast of any *Star Trek* series, and played him for seven seasons.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/) His first *Next Generation* appearance was actually a small part in "Haven," which he later described as being "the talking prop"; he then filmed "The Last Outpost."[8](https://www.startrek.com/news/quark-from-deep-space-nine) He appeared in four *Next Generation* episodes as Quark and various characters, and reprised Quark in *Star Trek: Voyager* in 1995.[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
**Working under prosthetics.** A former *Beauty and the Beast* co-star, [Ron Perlman](https://www.edgepedia.org/ron-perlman), gave him advice on how to emote effectively under full-head prosthetic appliances when he landed the Quark role.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/)
**Retrospective assessment.** Asked to rate how fully the series tapped Quark's potential, Shimerman said, "On a scale of one to 10, I would say a nine. That's in hindsight. If you'd asked me that in the fifth or sixth season of Deep Space Nine, I would have said a four."[8](https://www.startrek.com/news/quark-from-deep-space-nine)
## Other screen and voice work
Beyond Quark, his best-known recurring television roles are Principal Snyder in 19 episodes of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1997–2000), Pascal in 16 episodes of *Beauty and the Beast* (1987–1990), and Judge Brian Hooper in 7 episodes of *Boston Legal* (2006).[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television) Film roles include Judge Arthur Younger in *Eye for an Eye* (Paramount, 1996) and Conrad in *Breathing Hard* (2000).[6](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html)
His voice work includes the antagonist Andrew Ryan in *BioShock* and Dr. Nefarious in *Ratchet & Clank*.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/) After *Deep Space Nine* ended in 1999, he guest-starred on shows from *The West Wing* to *ER* to a [Jonathan Frakes](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-frakes)–directed episode of *Leverage*, lent his voice to animated shows and video games including *The Grim Adventures of Bill & Mandy* and *Batman: The Brave and the Bold*, and has focused mostly on voiceover and stage work while directing shows in Los Angeles and teaching theater.[8](https://www.startrek.com/news/quark-from-deep-space-nine)
## By the numbers
- 172 episodes of *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* as Quark (1993–1999)[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
- 19 episodes of *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* as Principal Snyder[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
- 16 episodes of *Beauty and the Beast* as Pascal[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
- 7 episodes of *Boston Legal* as Judge Brian Hooper[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
- 4 episodes of *Star Trek: The Next Generation*[2](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
- Eleven different seasons of *Star Trek* series[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/)
## Writing and teaching
Shimerman co-authored the 1999 novel *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — The 34th Rule* with David R. [George III](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-iii), and narrated its audiobook as well as that of *Legends of the Ferengi* ([Simon & Schuster](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-and-schuster), 1997).[6](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html) He has also written a series of novels featuring his fictional character Dr. [John Dee](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-dee).[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/) He founded the science-fiction theater group Alien Voices with Leonard Nimoy and John de Lancie, served as a National Officer in the Screen Actors Guild for six years, and is a B.F.A. professor for Shakespeare at the University of Southern California.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/) • [7](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/)
## Recognition and legacy
His awards include the San Diego Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for *The Seafarer*, a 2023 Marina Del Rey Film Festival Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Short Film, and a 2023 Jury Prize for Best Ensemble Cast.[7](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/) Within *Star Trek*, Shimerman played Quark in *The Next Generation*, *Deep Space Nine*, and *Voyager*.[5](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/)
On typecasting, he has said, "I'm always playing rather strange characters because I look strange. One of the nice things about doing games is that I can play very different characters."[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/)
## References
1. [Shimerman, Armin — Library of Congress Name Authority Record](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97077129.html)
2. [Television | Armin Shimerman (official site)](https://www.arminshimerman.com/television)
3. [Armin Shimerman | L.A. Theatre Works](https://www.latw.org/artist-public-profile/armin-shimerman)
4. [Armin Shimerman Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards — TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/armin-shimerman/bio/3000316668/)
5. [Armin Shimerman — Biography — IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001734/bio/)
6. [Armin Shimerman Biography (1949–) — Film Reference](http://www.filmreference.com/film/85/Armin-Shimerman.html)
7. [Armin Shimerman — Geffen Playhouse](http://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/armin-shimerman/)
8. [Quark from Deep Space Nine — StarTrek.com](https://www.startrek.com/news/quark-from-deep-space-nine)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sc to Sl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license