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Baltar is a fictional character in the Battlestar Galactica universe who becomes a traitor to the human race. In the 1978 original, Count Baltar is played by John Colicos. In the 2003 remake, the role of Dr. Gaius Baltar is played by James Callis.
The character in the original series
In the original 1978 movie, Count Baltar acted as the human liaison to the robot race of Cylons. Towards the end of The Thousand Yahren War, Baltar infiltrated the Intergalactic Federation of Battlestars in order to trick the Council of the Twelve into a peace conference aboard the battlestar Atlantia. This betrayal of the entire human race resulted in The Destruction of the Twelve Colonies in the Zodiacian star system.
The Cylon Imperious Leader was displeased with Baltar's actions, and after an interregation session, the Count was ordered executed. In the theatrical version, Baltar died at the hands of the Cylons. In the telecast version, however, Baltar's life was spared, and he was given command of a Cylon Base Star to hunt down the Galactica. Chasing the human fleet for the remainder of the series, he was later arrested for his crimes of insurrection and sentenced to life aboard a prison barge.
The character in the new series
In the 2003 miniseries, Gaius Baltar is a brilliant scientist and an unwitting Cylon accomplice who allows his lust for a beautiful Cylon secret agent, Number Six, to compromise the planet's security systems and the entire defense fleet's electronics grid. Having accidentally allowed the near-destruction of humanity, Baltar nevertheless manages to flee Caprica aboard the Galactica as a victim. He endears himself to the new president while he continues to serve his own ends. He converses often with a vision of Number Six (who may have implanted a device in his head to be able to communicate with him); she manipulates him through his fear of anyone discovering his betrayal.
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