Zack Allan
Encyclopedia
Zack Allan is a character in the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5
, played by Jeff Conaway
. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station. In the fourth season, he was promoted to become Babylon 5's Security Chief and he retains that position through to the end of the series' fifth and final season.
in the decade between the Earth-Minbari War
and the opening of the Babylon 5 space station. At one point in the series Allan thanks Garibaldi for "taking a chance" on him despite his previous personal problems.
As it turns out, his personal problems had consisted of apparent drug and alcohol abuse, which had led him to be fired from several previous jobs. However, by the time Zack is hired to work for Babylon 5 Security he had overcome his addictions and he proves to be an excellent security officer. (Garibaldi himself had been granted a similar break, despite an addiction problem of his own, by his commander and friend Jeffrey Sinclair
).
Over the course of the series Zack is revealed to be honest, trustworthy, reliable, a tough and skilled fighter in hand-to-hand combat, a trained Starfury
pilot, and rather unlucky in romantic situations (striking out rather quickly, if inadvertently, with Lyta Alexander
in the made for TV movie Thirdspace
). He is also depicted as being not particularly intellectual, "book-smart" or quick-witted, but rather "streetwise" and shrewd in sizing up other humans or aliens. He is also apparently at least nominally religious, stating a belief in heaven.
He also has an optimistic and easygoing personality that others usually find appealing, and he does not appear to stay depressed or downbeat for very long. He is quite modest, and this often works to his advantage when compared to the other, often more egotistical and aggressive, characters on the series. Zack's voice also gets raspier as the series progresses. In the episodes Voices of Authority
and Atonement
, Zack reveals his ongoing irritation with finding uniforms that fit properly.
, a civilian para-police force created by Earth Alliance President Morgan Clark
to expose and arrest "traitors to Earth". True to form, Zack joined Nightwatch for the bonus pay they offered, without paying much attention to their political views and fascist nature. However, he had the truth of their nature driven home when a shopkeeper accused of sedition
for publicly criticizing Clark's presidency was physically dragged away from his store and imprisoned by Nightwatch officers in the episode, "The Fall of Night
". After this experience Zack agreed to help Babylon 5's command staff, eventually playing a critical role in "Point of No Return
" in leading the bulk of the station's Nightwatch into a trap set up to capture them.
from 2259-2261. Following Garibaldi's resignation as chief of security in season 4, Allan was appointed Chief of Security. He held the position for many years; except for a brief stint back on Earth, he remained there until the station was decommissioned in 2281. Because of this, he was the only one not to receive his invitation to Sheridan's farewell party in Sleeping in Light
, though Allan would still meet Sheridan one more time as Sheridan took one last walk through the station.
In Sleeping in Light
, he walked with a noticeable limp, which has never been explained on screen. In the voiceover commentary of the episode, series creator J. Michael Straczynski
explained that Zack was involved in heroic activity and lost his leg. In keeping with his previous experience with uniforms, it is suggested that the prosthetic he was supplied with never fit correctly. Later in the episode, after the aged and abandoned Babylon 5 was destroyed and the Drakh
influence on Centauri Prime was exposed and eliminated, Zack joined the Rangers
and became Centauri
Emperor Vir Cotto
's assistant and (presumably) a direct liaison between the Emperor and the Interstellar Alliance.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
, played by Jeff Conaway
Jeff Conaway
Jeffrey Charles William Michael "Jeff" Conaway was an American actor best known for his roles in the movie Grease and the US television series Taxi and Babylon 5. Conaway was featured on the first season of reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew...
. He regularly appeared in the show from season 2 onwards. During the second and third seasons of the series he was a security officer on the Babylon 5 station. In the fourth season, he was promoted to become Babylon 5's Security Chief and he retains that position through to the end of the series' fifth and final season.
Personality
Zack Allan's background is never explained in detail on the series. He met and worked with Babylon 5 Security Chief Michael GaribaldiMichael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
in the decade between the Earth-Minbari War
Earth-Minbari War
The Earth–Minbari War is a fictional war that formed a major part of the back story of the science fiction television series, Babylon 5. The war was fought between the Earth Alliance and the Minbari, an older alien race that overwhelmingly outmatched Earth in terms of technology and weapons...
and the opening of the Babylon 5 space station. At one point in the series Allan thanks Garibaldi for "taking a chance" on him despite his previous personal problems.
As it turns out, his personal problems had consisted of apparent drug and alcohol abuse, which had led him to be fired from several previous jobs. However, by the time Zack is hired to work for Babylon 5 Security he had overcome his addictions and he proves to be an excellent security officer. (Garibaldi himself had been granted a similar break, despite an addiction problem of his own, by his commander and friend Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair
Jeffrey Sinclair is a character in the fictional universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by actor Michael O'Hare. He was a regular in the first season of the show, as Commander of the Babylon 5 station, and made a number of guest appearances afterward.-Early life and...
).
Over the course of the series Zack is revealed to be honest, trustworthy, reliable, a tough and skilled fighter in hand-to-hand combat, a trained Starfury
Starfury
The Starfury fighter is a fictional vessel used by Earthforce, the military branch of the Earth Alliance, in the science fiction television series Babylon 5...
pilot, and rather unlucky in romantic situations (striking out rather quickly, if inadvertently, with Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
in the made for TV movie Thirdspace
Babylon 5: Thirdspace
Babylon 5: Thirdspace is a made-for-television film that is part of the Babylon 5 science fiction universe. It was written by J. Michael Straczynski and directed by Jesús Salvador Treviño....
). He is also depicted as being not particularly intellectual, "book-smart" or quick-witted, but rather "streetwise" and shrewd in sizing up other humans or aliens. He is also apparently at least nominally religious, stating a belief in heaven.
He also has an optimistic and easygoing personality that others usually find appealing, and he does not appear to stay depressed or downbeat for very long. He is quite modest, and this often works to his advantage when compared to the other, often more egotistical and aggressive, characters on the series. Zack's voice also gets raspier as the series progresses. In the episodes Voices of Authority
Voices of Authority
"Voices of Authority" is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Ivanova and Marcus go in search of the First Ones with Draal's guidance. A new political officer, Julie Musante, is assigned to Babylon 5. Sheridan has to deal with her inquiries...
and Atonement
Atonement (Babylon 5)
"Atonement" is an episode from the fourth season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:As Babylon 5 recovers from the propaganda war started on ISN, Sheridan sends Marcus and Dr. Franklin to Mars. Along the journey, they annoy each other, including Marcus singing "The...
, Zack reveals his ongoing irritation with finding uniforms that fit properly.
Nightwatch
Briefly in season 2 and 3, Allan was a member of NightwatchNightwatch (Babylon 5)
In the Babylon 5 science fiction universe, Nightwatch was an Earth Alliance paramilitary organization set up during the Presidency of Morgan Clark...
, a civilian para-police force created by Earth Alliance President Morgan Clark
Morgan Clark
William Morgan Clark is a fictional character and a major antagonist from the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, portrayed by Gary McGurk. His character rarely appeared on-screen, but is a major off-screen presence in the show....
to expose and arrest "traitors to Earth". True to form, Zack joined Nightwatch for the bonus pay they offered, without paying much attention to their political views and fascist nature. However, he had the truth of their nature driven home when a shopkeeper accused of sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
for publicly criticizing Clark's presidency was physically dragged away from his store and imprisoned by Nightwatch officers in the episode, "The Fall of Night
The Fall of Night
The Fall of Night is the final episode of the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The Centauri have been expanding their war of aggression; now they are launching attacks into Drazi and pak'ma'ra space...
". After this experience Zack agreed to help Babylon 5's command staff, eventually playing a critical role in "Point of No Return
Point of No Return (Babylon 5)
Point of No Return is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The B5 command staff deal with orders to allow the Nightwatch to take over station security...
" in leading the bulk of the station's Nightwatch into a trap set up to capture them.
Chief of Security
Allan was the second aide to B5 Chief of Security Michael GaribaldiMichael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
from 2259-2261. Following Garibaldi's resignation as chief of security in season 4, Allan was appointed Chief of Security. He held the position for many years; except for a brief stint back on Earth, he remained there until the station was decommissioned in 2281. Because of this, he was the only one not to receive his invitation to Sheridan's farewell party in Sleeping in Light
Sleeping in Light
"Sleeping in Light" is the final episode of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. The episode was nominated for the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.-Plot:...
, though Allan would still meet Sheridan one more time as Sheridan took one last walk through the station.
In Sleeping in Light
Sleeping in Light
"Sleeping in Light" is the final episode of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. The episode was nominated for the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.-Plot:...
, he walked with a noticeable limp, which has never been explained on screen. In the voiceover commentary of the episode, series creator J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
explained that Zack was involved in heroic activity and lost his leg. In keeping with his previous experience with uniforms, it is suggested that the prosthetic he was supplied with never fit correctly. Later in the episode, after the aged and abandoned Babylon 5 was destroyed and the Drakh
Drakh
The Drakh are a fictional alien race in the Babylon 5 universe. The Drakh were dark servants for the race of First Ones known as the Shadows. They appeared in the fourth and fifth seasons of Babylon 5 as well as the television movie, A Call to Arms...
influence on Centauri Prime was exposed and eliminated, Zack joined the Rangers
Ranger (Babylon 5)
Rangers are a fictional class of warriors that play a prominent role in the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-History:...
and became Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
Emperor Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto
Vir Cotto is a character from the fictional Babylon 5 universe, played on screen by Stephen Furst. He is a Centauri male who was from a family of minor nobility, who would eventually become the Centauri Ambassador to Babylon 5, and then became the Emperor of the Centauri Republic in 2278.Vir Cotto...
's assistant and (presumably) a direct liaison between the Emperor and the Interstellar Alliance.