Neelix
Encyclopedia
Mr. Neelix (ˈniːlɨks) is a fictional character
in the television series Star Trek: Voyager
. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips
.
In the pilot episode "Caretaker
", Mr. Neelix and his Ocampan partner Kes
are rescued from the Kazon
, and they join the crew of the USS Voyager
. He arrives with his personal craft The Baxial, which is utilized in later episodes. Mr. Neelix offers his services to Captain Kathryn Janeway
, as a guide to the Delta Quadrant. He promptly appoints himself "Chief Morale Officer" and soon takes over the mess hall and becomes cook, as replicator
usage has to be rationed in light of Voyager' s limited power supplies. Although Janeway simply tolerates Mr. Neelix at first, she later comes to respect and value Mr. Neelix as an important member of the crew eventually appointing him as unofficial ship's Ambassador after he proves his diplomatic abilities.
Mr. Neelix and Kes are romantically involved when they board Voyager, however, their relationship is later terminated by Kes under the control of an alien rebel during an away mission . Upon resolution of the conflict Kes decides to not re-initiate their intimacy (the alien's original rationale was based on Kes' own subconscious), though the two do remain good friends thereafter.
Mr. Neelix considers Security chief Tuvok
a friend, and is always trying to "cheer up" the Vulcan. Tuvok, in turn, tolerates Mr. Neelix, his attitude hardly changes even after being fused with the Vulcan, creating a hybrid dubbed "Tuvix" during a transporter
mishap. But, they eventually resolve their issues, and become friends. Mr. Neelix is also close to Samantha Wildman and her daughter Naomi. During an event when Tuvok was seriously injured and lost his ability to control his emotions, he spent every second with Mr. Neelix. He told Mr. Neelix he respects him and considers him a deep friend. He initially refused to undergo a procedure to regain his control telling Mr. Neelix he did not want to go back to just "tolerating" him instead of being his friend. When Mr. Neelix decided to leave the ship to stay with a group of his own people, Tuvok gave him a final show of respect and appreciation by doing a small jig with his foot after Mr. Neelix declared earlier in the episode he would get the Vulcan to dance before their journey was over.
Mr. Neelix's religious views are never fully discussed, but for most of the series he believes in a Talaxian version of the afterlife. In the episode Mortal Coil
he loses this faith after being clinically dead for several hours, and having no vision of an afterlife, after being brought back to life with Borg technology employed by Seven of Nine
. Mr. Neelix is so distraught by this that he considers suicide, but Chakotay
convinces him that life is worth living regardless of an afterlife.
Mr. Neelix leaves the USS Voyager in the final season episode "Homestead", when he goes to live on an asteroid-based colony of exiled Talaxians. Janeway
appoints Mr. Neelix as the "official" Ambassador for Starfleet in the Delta Quadrant, and he bids the crew a fond farewell. He has a cameo in the series finale, "Endgame
", establishing that in an alternative timeline Mr. Neelix does indeed stay in contact with his friends.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the television series Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.-Personal life:...
.
Fictional Biography
Mr. Neelix is a Talaxian originally from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, in the Delta quadrant, although his great-grandfather was Mylean. His entire family was killed in a conflict with the Haakonian Order. This forever haunts Mr. Neelix, although he masks it with his bright, constantly cheerful personality.In the pilot episode "Caretaker
Caretaker (Voyager episode)
"Caretaker" is the first episode of Star Trek: Voyager. It was originally shown as one double-length episode, but has been split into two parts for repeats...
", Mr. Neelix and his Ocampan partner Kes
Kes (Star Trek)
Kes is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager, played by Jennifer Lien.She was a regular for the first three seasons, leaving the show in the season four episode "The Gift". She made one guest appearance two seasons later....
are rescued from the Kazon
Kazon
In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Kazon are a Delta Quadrant race. The Kazon are technologically inferior to the United Federation of Planets as it exists in the twenty-fourth century...
, and they join the crew of the USS Voyager
USS Voyager (Star Trek)
The fictional Intrepid-class starship USS Voyager is the primary setting of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. It is commanded by Captain Kathryn Janeway....
. He arrives with his personal craft The Baxial, which is utilized in later episodes. Mr. Neelix offers his services to Captain Kathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, she was the lead character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and later, a Starfleet admiral, as seen in the 2002 feature film Star Trek...
, as a guide to the Delta Quadrant. He promptly appoints himself "Chief Morale Officer" and soon takes over the mess hall and becomes cook, as replicator
Replicator (Star Trek)
In Star Trek a replicator is a machine capable of creating objects. Replicators were originally seen used to synthesize meals on demand, but in later series they took on many other uses.-Origins and limitations:...
usage has to be rationed in light of Voyager
Mr. Neelix and Kes are romantically involved when they board Voyager, however, their relationship is later terminated by Kes under the control of an alien rebel during an away mission . Upon resolution of the conflict Kes decides to not re-initiate their intimacy (the alien's original rationale was based on Kes' own subconscious), though the two do remain good friends thereafter.
Mr. Neelix considers Security chief Tuvok
Tuvok
Tuvok is one of the main characters on the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Tuvok is a Vulcan who serves as the ship's chief of security and its chief tactical officer. Tim Russ portrayed Tuvok throughout the show's run, from 1995 to 2001....
a friend, and is always trying to "cheer up" the Vulcan. Tuvok, in turn, tolerates Mr. Neelix, his attitude hardly changes even after being fused with the Vulcan, creating a hybrid dubbed "Tuvix" during a transporter
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
mishap. But, they eventually resolve their issues, and become friends. Mr. Neelix is also close to Samantha Wildman and her daughter Naomi. During an event when Tuvok was seriously injured and lost his ability to control his emotions, he spent every second with Mr. Neelix. He told Mr. Neelix he respects him and considers him a deep friend. He initially refused to undergo a procedure to regain his control telling Mr. Neelix he did not want to go back to just "tolerating" him instead of being his friend. When Mr. Neelix decided to leave the ship to stay with a group of his own people, Tuvok gave him a final show of respect and appreciation by doing a small jig with his foot after Mr. Neelix declared earlier in the episode he would get the Vulcan to dance before their journey was over.
Mr. Neelix's religious views are never fully discussed, but for most of the series he believes in a Talaxian version of the afterlife. In the episode Mortal Coil
Mortal Coil (Star Trek: Voyager)
"Mortal Coil" is the 12th episode of the fourth season of the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and deals with a starring character's death, resurrection, and crisis of faith. Produced by Kenneth Biller and Joe Menosky, and directed by Allan Kroeker, "Mortal Coil" received mediocre-to-positive...
he loses this faith after being clinically dead for several hours, and having no vision of an afterlife, after being brought back to life with Borg technology employed by Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine is a fictional character on Star Trek: Voyager, portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. Born human, she was assimilated by the Borg at the age of six. Eighteen years later, Voyager left Borg space with Seven on board, after attempts to negotiate passage through Borg space proved only...
. Mr. Neelix is so distraught by this that he considers suicide, but Chakotay
Chakotay
Chakotay , played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. He is the First Officer of the USS Voyager.-Character biography:...
convinces him that life is worth living regardless of an afterlife.
Mr. Neelix leaves the USS Voyager in the final season episode "Homestead", when he goes to live on an asteroid-based colony of exiled Talaxians. Janeway
Kathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, she was the lead character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and later, a Starfleet admiral, as seen in the 2002 feature film Star Trek...
appoints Mr. Neelix as the "official" Ambassador for Starfleet in the Delta Quadrant, and he bids the crew a fond farewell. He has a cameo in the series finale, "Endgame
Endgame (Voyager episode)
"Endgame" is the title of the series finale of the Star Trek spinoff series, Star Trek: Voyager. Originally shown as a double-length episode and presented as such in DVD collections, it is shown in repeat broadcasts as two linked episodes.-Plot:...
", establishing that in an alternative timeline Mr. Neelix does indeed stay in contact with his friends.