Interviews with Walter Koenig

On Babylon 5....

As to that future, Koenig has several writing projects in the works, and, most recently, he has a recurring role as the Psi-Cop Bester on Babylon 5. ";I'm happier with the work that I've been doing there than anything I've done in a long, long time," he says. "In fact, I have an episode, The Ship of Tears, which might really be the best work I've ever done on television. I'm not sure if that says a great deal about me, but I really do believe that it is the best work that I've ever done. I'm quite proud of it." (Anders, 1996)

Walter Koenig (who plays Psi Cop Bester) appeared at StarQuest 95 in San Jose last weekend. He said he enjoyed the role of Bester because he is able to interpret it in his own way. He confirmed what has been published before, that Bester's frozen left hand was his own idea. (He also grinned with mock frustration when someone asked how Bester got the glove on and off his frozen hand.) He felt that to give Bester an infirmity would help explain his behavior.

Koenig also said that Bester's final glance at Talia in "A Race Through Dark Places" was his idea. The script originally called for Bester to simply turn and leave, but Koenig felt that this would show total defeat by Talia and therefore weaken Bester too much. Bester's turn and quizzical look could be taken to indicate that he knew something strange had happened and wasn't totally fooled by Talia.

Koenig said that it was his belief that Bester's story about having a daughter, a normal family, going on picnics, and so on, was a falsehood, designed to win himself sympathy. However, he admitted that he had no idea what was in Joe's head about the character. (Rosenblum, 1995)

Walter Koenig recently filmed the "Babylon5" episode, "Epiphany", which will air in either late January or early February. His Bester role was trimmed a little... the episode ran about 3 1/2 minutes too long and it was easiest to cut some of his lines. He said it was a shame what was cut, "I get to be my wonderful nasty self and take credit for ending the war." He speaks to his wife and sets up the audience for a quandary... he admits to doing a lot of bad things in the name of love. He says he'll be very interested to see what the audience makes of this: will they find a saving grace in Bester? He is scheduled back for the filming of another B-5 episode in late January -- it will be for the 14th episode of the season. This past July he was told by series creator J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) that he would be in the 4th season (this year) at least 4 times. He has filmed two episodes now, and will go on to filming two more. He said he's very curious, like other B-5 fans, as to how things are going to work out in the story arc. In the "Epiphany" episode, he can see how the audience will look at the Bester character and wonder whether or not you want to kill him or let him live a little longer. Koenig said the scene in question was needed because, essentially, the command staff "dupes me again" like in "The Race Through Dark Places" and he didn't want to end up looking like a fool. He wanted another scene done so it looks like Bester still had power and stood as a worth adversary. He still does not know what is going to happen to Bester in the end...

Koenig said he has had to find some redeemable qualities in Bester in order to play him, "You can't play a character you hate." He leaves it to the writer and director to make the character bad... and his job is to make the character believable. He knows that if *he* were the viewer at home, he would probably *hate* Bester.

The issue involving the 5th season of Babylon 5 has not been resolved yet. Koenig said JMS was told to wrap up the series as of this season... which is why, Koenig said, he believes this will be the series' final year. He says JMS has been busy trying to clean up loose ends and fix things up... however, he apparently was told rather recently that there may indeed be a 5th season renewal. Koenig said he felt sad for JMS, "this must be rough for him."

Koenig said the character of Bester is much more involved than Star Trek's Chekov character. "Most of the time on Star Trek I didn't have much to do. On Babylon 5 the character is principal to the action and is a dimensional character. He's there for many reasons."

When asked if Straczynski had seen any of Koenig's work (other than Star Trek) before he was hired for B5, Koenig replied, "Yes, he saw me do "The Boys of Autumn" with Mark Lenard. He originally asked Koenig to do the B5 episode with Knight One and Knight Two (he played the principal knight, I forget the episode), but Koenig had a heart attack in Chicago and was too ill to do the part. Instead they got another actor, "a marvelous British actor" and Koenig loved the performance. Koenig feels it was real serendipity that he wasn't able to take the first role offered... but was able to take the second one and now it's a recurring character.

Asked about Bester's left hand Koenig said it's not supposed to be a real hand; it's supposed to be a prosthetic. He said he was trying to create a sense of power for the character because so many of the cast members are much "bigger than I am," including Bruce Boxleitner and Jerry Doyle who are both 6'4". Claudia Christian is 5'9". He wanted to instill the psychological implication that Bester had overcome a handicap against others. There has never been a reference to it in the show, but it's there. Koenig came up with this himself, asking Straczynski in advance if he could do it, and JMS said, "Yes."

He really enjoys the apparent care that Straczynski takes with writing Bester. Koenig said he has never been uncomfortable with any lines or actions written for him because JMS seems to have a feel for what the individual actors are like. He feels he may be better as an actor on B5 because he has been given a better role on the show... not like Star Trek. "I am not necessarily a better actor than I was in Star Trek," but he feels he has much more to work with.

The B5 cast is a pleasure to work with, "...very respectful. In some circles, being with Star Trek for 30 years, there's an aura around you and they treat you with respect. It's not the same experience with Paramount," which he said made actors, mostly the supporting Trek cast members "feel like second class citizens." On B5 everyone is very friendly, very accepting. The front office (Straczynski and John Copeland) is very nice to deal with. Koenig said he keeps "waiting for the experience to fall apart. After 5 positive experiences with these people, I don't want my natural paranoia to take over." Every time he is asked to do a B5 episode, he must ask JMS for an update on what has happened since the last time he was on the show. He says he has caught some of the episodes, but not all of them and sometimes needs details. When he was filming "Epiphany" he didn't know "We had won the war. I had to ask him how that happened."

He loves the B-5 uniforms.

Koenig, on both days, spoke *VERY* highly of Straczynski (as if you haven't sensed this already from the review). "He (JMS) has a sense of loyalty that is a beautiful thing to experience." He said his heart attack had affected him in many ways, but he never thought something good (like the Bester character) would happen to him.

On comparing Babylon5 and Star Trek: Koenig said he doesn't know much about working with Rick Berman, "My experience with him was okay." Working with Gene Roddenberry, "Gene was very affable, friendly and a bit detached from situations." He often went to Gene to try to get changes for the Chekov character, but he was the last actor hired for the series and had the least amount of seniority -- he feels he may have done himself a disservice by not trying to get more changed. Regarding Straczynski, "He has a wonderful respect for the Babylon 5 actors. Actors often are treated very badly and made fun of by writers and directors... there's lots of envy and bitterness there." He feels JMS and his staff really like the actors, "And there is a real sense of professional respect. With the original (Trek) series, the supporting cast was treated like second class citizens and we never questioned that."

There is really no "star" ego with any of the Babylon 5 actors. He has worked with Boxleitner, Doyle, Andrea Thompson and Patricia Tallman. "...and they're all great." He says it's especially fun working with Boxleitner because his character is always upset at Bester and is yelling and screaming! (Alexandra, 1996)