Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Harry Mudd

Thief, swindler, con man, liar, rogue, intergalactic matchmaker and importer of Klingon coffee.

#StarTrek #HarryMudd #StarTrekTOS

[QuintusAntonious]

I'm always gobsmacked at how "out of time" the actor playing Mudd feels. Back in the 60s and earlier, acting styles were much more subdued, almost rigid and formal probably because acting was still so closely tied to drama and stagecraft. But Mudd is bombastic, fluid, and his facial expressions make him feel like someone from today. He really was a fantastic character, and well acted.

[jpbaley]

I was very lucky to meet Roger Carmel at the Star Trek convention in Denver, CO in the mid 80’s. I was a year or 2 out of college and the 2nd Trek convention I attended. Mr. Carmel was larger than life (I was a short 5’4” tall). He was funny, irreverent but I would call him dashing and such a sweetheart. I was so upset when he passed at such a young age not more than a year later. This was back when conventions were still put on by actual fans and not profit over people corporations. Most actors did not charge for autographs and were treated as people first. I loved the Denver conventions for their emphasis on the fans and guests. They always had The Play! Best damn parodies put on by a bunch of amateurs.

[shanerasmussen]

The one thing you missed I think is that it was originally planned for Mudd to be who McCoy went to for a ride to Genesis in TSFS, Carmel's health problems thus also gave us the first prototype Ferengi (at least IMO the "how can you be deaf with ears like that" guy screams first draft Ferengi to me). This prototype Ferengi being Mudd's replacement in the story also points up the similarities between Mudd and Quark in particular.

[fivestar]

Carmel as Mudd was pitch perfect, mischievously joyful, always causing problems but not trying to hurt anyone

[markstevens]

When they were desperately trying to put together scripts for The Next Generation's first season, Rick Berman actually approached Roger Carmel to see if he would be willing to play Harry one more time, Carmel was game, and the script was written, but sadly Carmel died before production could begin. The abandoned script was eventually made as "The Neutral Zone" When Data and Worf first uncover the cryo sleepers, they discover one pod is empty but running, hinting that someone had already left. That was supposed to be Harry!

[ericgjovaag]

Roger C. Carmel's Colonel Gumm has another distinction among "Batman" villains: He's the only villain not listed as a "Special Guest Villain" in the opening credits! Since the storyline was also a crossover with "The Green Hornet" series, the guest star spot was given to "Special Guest Heroes" Van Williams as the Green Hornet and Bruce Lee as Kato.

[jtkirkfan]

If you’re counting Mudd’s appearance in TAS as part of him being a recurring character, then he is not the only recurring character. Stanley Adams lent his voice to Cyrano Jones in “More Tribbles, More Troubles”.

[craigmacdonald]

Mudd actually does exist in the Kelvin universe, but as Harriet Mudd. There was a prequel comic to Into Darkness where Kirk and crew run in to Harriet Mudd. During Into Darkness, Spock mentions that they still have the ship they confiscated during “the Mudd incident” which Kirk, Spock and Uhura then use to sneak into Klingon space.

[Chuck_Hooks]

"Stella, shut up!"

Would like to have seen Roger C Carmel play the Cyrano Jones rogue trader in The Trouble With Tribbles.

Would have made The Trouble With Tribbles even more legendary.

[jeffk]

I first saw Rain Wilson’s version of Mudd before watching TOS, and the whole episode I just kept yelling that FINALLY here was a character that felt like a true Star Trek character amongst the Disco cast! How little did I know lol

[Lubotehjackal]

My family have been watching ToS and we just watched I, Mudd and just really enjoyed it. Mudd is so much fun

[halloweendad]

Mudd is way up there among the most interesting and charming villains. Like the Tom Hiddleston's Loki, James Woods' Hades, and of course, The Joker.

[thebullet]

Mudd was an instant favorite. He was delightfully mischievous and so likable.

[aliengranpa]

"space pimp"!! 🤣🤣🤣
Can you imagine this story being told in the exact same way in 2022? Not even HBO or Starz would approve this

[marcress]

Roger C. Carmel has always been a great actor and a great character. It seemed he specialized in bringing ordinary people into an over-the-top reality. Before STAR TREK he was the "heart" of a great DICK VAN DYKE SHOW episode titled "It Wouldn't Hurt to Give Them a Raise." In the episode he plays a character named Doug Wesley, a corporate accountant trying to explain the subject to Van Dyke's character, Rob Petrie. His comic timing with Van Dyke is perfect. Now, almost 60 years later it is still hilarious.

[dinomonzon]

Given a choice between Harry Mudd & Quark, I’d rather hang out at Quark’s Bar.
Harry was namechecked in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
Starlog Magazine reported that there was a planned Harry Mudd TV spin off.
Mr. Carmel also voiced the Quintesson bailiff or judge in the 1986 Transformers: The Movie.

[stephenphillips]

If there's one character I'll always remember the name of, it's this one. Harcourt Fenton Mudd is probably one of the most memorable characters in TOS.

[jackforbes]

It would be great to see Wilson do an episode or 2 on Strange New Worlds as Mudd

[jerrydavison]

Wasn't "Cerano Jones" (Trouble with Tribbles) a "Mudd-esque" character?
I easily see Harry Mudd in that role as well.

[AllanGildea]

That was great, Ellie and team - thanks. What a wonderful character, superbly played with absolute gusto.