Kristin Westphalen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Kristin Westphalen was a character
on the television series seaQuest DSV
and was played by Stephanie Beacham
. She was a Physical oceanography
and the chief medical officer
of the seaQuest
and leader of the science team aboard the ship.
in the name of scientific research, however, she was informed that he was incommunicado. The two of them did not meet on the best of terms as Bridger, still in civilian clothing, snickered at her diatribe against Commander Ford, leading her to accuse him of being a stowaway. The two gradually formed a working relationship as Bridger assumed command of the vessel and put emphasis on the scientific mission of the seaQuest over the military one.
Dr. Westphalen faced her first big medical emergency aboard the seaQuest when Darwin, the ship's resident dolphin, was stricken with a mysterious ailment during an investigative mission near a black smoker. She was unable to cure Darwin, despite assistance from Bridger's old friend and marine biologist, Malcolm Lansdowne. Lansdowne was able to determine that it was bacteria from the black smoker that had infected Darwin, and would have infected Bridger as well had she not frantically contacted the sea deck imploring Bridger not to touch the sample containers from the smoker.
An accomplished biochemist
, Dr. Westphalen threatened the life of mass-murderer and fellow biochemist, Dr. Rubin Zellar, when the good doctor unwittingly was taken aboard seaQuest from an Arctic
prison. Zellar had previously murdered Westphalen's brother with one of his chemical warfare weapons. Ultimately, however, Westphalen duped Zellar and forced him to beg for his life, much as he had done to seaQuest crew after tricking them into thinking he would release a toxin encased in ice throughout the ship.
Dr. Westphalen underwent what some may call a possession by a haunted spirit when seaQuest encountered a sunken ship from a century prior; her mind being controlled by the "spirit" of a jilted lover who had cheated on the ship's captain with the engineer and the captain's tortured soul having imprisoned them within the sunken hull all those years. It was not until the crew of seaQuest was able to convince the ship's captain to forgive Lillian (who had inhabited Dr. Westphalen) that all three were able to finally find peace and for Dr. Westphalen to return to normal.
A mother and formerly a wife, Dr. Westphalen had left her own family behind in the passing years, leading to her forming a deep rapport with both Lucas Wolenczak
and Captain Bridger. Her maternal instincts proved invaluable as Bridger was all but forced to serve as surrogate father for Lucas after his own father had left him on the seaQuest to tend to his own career. She and Bridger began a relationship as the seaQuests tour of duty came to an end. Unfortunately, following the destruction of the seaQuest, Dr. Westphalen elected not to sign aboard the seaQuest II and the relationship between her and Bridger fell apart.
Dr. Westphalen was ever the environmentalist. She was also an accomplished chess player
and was fluent in French
.
during the first season of seaQuest DSV
. The character was part of the main trio of the show's cast (consisting also of Nathan Bridger
, and Lucas Wolenczak
). During the hiatus between season one and season two, NBC
and the show's producers began to change the show's format, including the introduction and exit of several characters from the first season. Originally, Dr. Westphalen was to remain a character on the show during the second season, however, Beacham opted not to remain with the show after it was determined that the show would change filming locations from Los Angeles
to Florida
. Beacham also has cited conflict between herself and the show's producers during the first season as primary reasons why she did not return.
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...
on the television series seaQuest DSV
SeaQuest DSV
seaQuest DSV is an American science fiction television series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It originally aired on NBC between 1993 and 1996. In its final season, it was renamed seaQuest 2032. Set in "the near future", seaQuest mixes high drama with realistic scientific fiction...
and was played by Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham is a British television, film and theatre actress. Making her film debut in 1971's The Nightcomers opposite Marlon Brando and becoming more well-known on British television in the BBC series Tenko and the ITV series Connie , her worldwide breakthrough came as a result of playing...
. She was a Physical oceanography
Physical oceanography
Physical oceanography is the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean, especially the motions and physical properties of ocean waters.Physical oceanography is one of several sub-domains into which oceanography is divided...
and the chief medical officer
Chief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
of the seaQuest
SeaQuest DSV 4600
The UEO seaQuest DSV 4600 and the UEO seaQuest DSV 4600-II are the two titular submarines featured in the science fiction television series "seaQuest DSV", which ran for three seasons on NBC from 1993-1996...
and leader of the science team aboard the ship.
Character Biography
Before joining seaQuest, Dr. Westphalen had attempted to contact Nathan BridgerNathan Bridger
Captain Nathan Hale Bridger was a character on the television series seaQuest DSV and was played by Roy Scheider. Within the canon of the series, Bridger was not only the commanding officer of both UEO submarines named seaQuest DSV, but was also the designer of the boats.-Early career:Bridger's...
in the name of scientific research, however, she was informed that he was incommunicado. The two of them did not meet on the best of terms as Bridger, still in civilian clothing, snickered at her diatribe against Commander Ford, leading her to accuse him of being a stowaway. The two gradually formed a working relationship as Bridger assumed command of the vessel and put emphasis on the scientific mission of the seaQuest over the military one.
Dr. Westphalen faced her first big medical emergency aboard the seaQuest when Darwin, the ship's resident dolphin, was stricken with a mysterious ailment during an investigative mission near a black smoker. She was unable to cure Darwin, despite assistance from Bridger's old friend and marine biologist, Malcolm Lansdowne. Lansdowne was able to determine that it was bacteria from the black smoker that had infected Darwin, and would have infected Bridger as well had she not frantically contacted the sea deck imploring Bridger not to touch the sample containers from the smoker.
An accomplished biochemist
Biochemist
Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. The prefix of "bio" in "biochemist" can be understood as a fusion of "biological chemist."-Role:...
, Dr. Westphalen threatened the life of mass-murderer and fellow biochemist, Dr. Rubin Zellar, when the good doctor unwittingly was taken aboard seaQuest from an Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
prison. Zellar had previously murdered Westphalen's brother with one of his chemical warfare weapons. Ultimately, however, Westphalen duped Zellar and forced him to beg for his life, much as he had done to seaQuest crew after tricking them into thinking he would release a toxin encased in ice throughout the ship.
Dr. Westphalen underwent what some may call a possession by a haunted spirit when seaQuest encountered a sunken ship from a century prior; her mind being controlled by the "spirit" of a jilted lover who had cheated on the ship's captain with the engineer and the captain's tortured soul having imprisoned them within the sunken hull all those years. It was not until the crew of seaQuest was able to convince the ship's captain to forgive Lillian (who had inhabited Dr. Westphalen) that all three were able to finally find peace and for Dr. Westphalen to return to normal.
A mother and formerly a wife, Dr. Westphalen had left her own family behind in the passing years, leading to her forming a deep rapport with both Lucas Wolenczak
Lucas Wolenczak
Lucas Wolenczak is a character on the television series seaQuest DSV, played by Jonathan Brandis. He is one of only three characters to remain on the show for all three seasons and is the only character to appear in every episode.-Before seaQuest:...
and Captain Bridger. Her maternal instincts proved invaluable as Bridger was all but forced to serve as surrogate father for Lucas after his own father had left him on the seaQuest to tend to his own career. She and Bridger began a relationship as the seaQuests tour of duty came to an end. Unfortunately, following the destruction of the seaQuest, Dr. Westphalen elected not to sign aboard the seaQuest II and the relationship between her and Bridger fell apart.
Dr. Westphalen was ever the environmentalist. She was also an accomplished chess player
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
and was fluent in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
.
Background
Dr. Westphalen was portrayed by actress Stephanie BeachamStephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham is a British television, film and theatre actress. Making her film debut in 1971's The Nightcomers opposite Marlon Brando and becoming more well-known on British television in the BBC series Tenko and the ITV series Connie , her worldwide breakthrough came as a result of playing...
during the first season of seaQuest DSV
SeaQuest DSV
seaQuest DSV is an American science fiction television series created by Rockne S. O'Bannon. It originally aired on NBC between 1993 and 1996. In its final season, it was renamed seaQuest 2032. Set in "the near future", seaQuest mixes high drama with realistic scientific fiction...
. The character was part of the main trio of the show's cast (consisting also of Nathan Bridger
Nathan Bridger
Captain Nathan Hale Bridger was a character on the television series seaQuest DSV and was played by Roy Scheider. Within the canon of the series, Bridger was not only the commanding officer of both UEO submarines named seaQuest DSV, but was also the designer of the boats.-Early career:Bridger's...
, and Lucas Wolenczak
Lucas Wolenczak
Lucas Wolenczak is a character on the television series seaQuest DSV, played by Jonathan Brandis. He is one of only three characters to remain on the show for all three seasons and is the only character to appear in every episode.-Before seaQuest:...
). During the hiatus between season one and season two, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and the show's producers began to change the show's format, including the introduction and exit of several characters from the first season. Originally, Dr. Westphalen was to remain a character on the show during the second season, however, Beacham opted not to remain with the show after it was determined that the show would change filming locations from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Beacham also has cited conflict between herself and the show's producers during the first season as primary reasons why she did not return.