I nominate Admiral Ross as one of the best recurring charcters for being the most level-headed admiral. An admiral with no self-interests guiding his judgements. Sure, he arched his back at Kira and Bashir once, but he never went bonkers and grabbed command of the station or the Defiant.
Others I nominate are the Weyoun clan, Brunt-FCA, Garak, Damar, and Nog.

My nomination for best recurring character is Gul Dukat, hands down.

Incidentally, while we may not have liked Nechayev, she also seemed to be a level headed admiral. We didn't like her because she came down hard on Picard a few times.

Here is my top ten list:

1. General Martok
2. Dukat
3. Weyoun
4. Damar
5. Alternate Kira
6. Eddington
7. Brunt
8. Changeling Leader
9. Kasidy Yates
10. Joseph Sisko

Where is Garak on that top ten list? He is my absolute favorite recurring character, followed closely by Dukat(but only before he teamed up w/the Pagh-wraiths), Nog, and General Martok.

For some reason, Garak, in my view, was not that interesting a character. I think the writers overdid his aura of mystery and intrigue.

INTRESTING?! he is the savour of the alhpa quad.

Recurring characters? How about Julian's little genitically enhanced friends? Sure they didn't do all that much, but you know you liked them whenever they were there!

GREAT LINES from the "mutants":
Patrick: "I'm Patrick!"
Jack: "Patrick!!!"

Patrick: That is a stupˇd question!

Lauren: Am I good, or am I good?

Jack: You were right. You can't break the laws of physics.
All: But you can bend them!

Patrick: How long do we have?
Jack: 60 trillion years. 70, at most. *Both are working with a wall display called "The End Is Near."

Well, out of all 4 shows and 9 movies, and even the 22 cartoons, my favorite charector is rachgd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is simply the best.

Garak is the most interesting recurring character, hands down. IMHO, he's the most interesting character in all of Star Trek.

Mark
completely and utterly non-biased ;0)

morn

LEETA!!! Hubba, Hubba.

I forgot about Garak... I almost consider him a regular rather than a recurring...

The reason Dukat (until he messed with the Pagh-wraiths) and Garak are the best recurring characters is that they have a rich background, and aren't cardboard cutouts. We feel like we know them almost as well as the main characters (well, as well as ANYONE can know Garak...)

Garak, Martok and Weyoun.Great characters, and three leading quote machines.

James voted: my favorite charector is rachgd (countless exclamation marks snipped)
Huh?

My faves, and why:
- Leeta: because she started out as a piece of scenery/fluff, and was developed very well as a foil to both her husband and her brother-in-law/commerce.
- Rom and Nog - who both also started out as charicatures and became so much more! Nog's episode ("Paper Moon") was a high point in his story arc.
- Dukat - what a wonderful mix of malevolence and charm! Sometimes I really wanted to believe what he was saying, and give him the benefit of the doubt even though I knew he was the wormiest of the unredeeming worms. It was wonderful to see Marc Alaimo play Dukat so subtly, especially in the final episodes when he was playing the meek Bajoran farmer and gradually let more of the cockiness and attitude of superiority show. What solid acting!
- The Prophets - at least TPTB didn't dumb-down the Prophets like they did the Q and the Borg, making them more easily understood to those who can't grasp complex concepts. The Prophets as a non-linear species made them much more difficult to understand, and therefore much more fun to 'play' with when they entered a storyline.

And of course, the question begs 'who are the not-so-best?'
- Garak - he was a man (you'll pardon the word choice) of intrigue, but his character didn't really develop over the seven years we saw him. Yes, we learened a little more about him as we went along, and he faced some of his personal issues, but not in the way that the ones I listed as favorites did.
- Jake - I'm sorry, but what a flat character! I don't know whether it was the writing or the acting, but I would tune-out whenever Jake was in a scene.
- Dukat - I know I listed him as a favorite, but he's also a least favorite because sometimes Dukat was written so over the top (especially after the death of Zi'yal) that he became almost bufoonish. Towards the end they reigned him in a bit, which tempers my vote. Oh, heck, I still think he was one of the best.

Long story, Kyle. Don't mind him. The pain meds must've kicked in again.
James, honey, stop confusing the uninitiated! And me! ;o)
(Actually, I was in Star Trek. Remember the unseen Ensign that Bashir and Sisko were always discussing...he kept "budding". Well, I played his wife! >grin<)

Favourite recurring character: It used to be Garak, when there was a little more mystery to him, and we didn't see him as often. Now he's basically a regular.
Rom is my new favourite - he is just adorable!
And, Kyle, I like Jake!
I do agree with you about the Prophets, though. The most intriguing "superior" race in Trek, though I do wish they hadn't suddenly developed the need to be the protectors of Bajor. I thought it was particularly clever to have the Bajorans worshipping more advanced beings as gods, when those beings seemed to have little conception of their worshippers' existence.
They are still very cool though. And great from a production standpoint, since no extra cast members need to be hired to play them!

I'll tell you whom I dislike intensely - and I don't think anyone will cast a dissenting vote here - Kai Winn! Such pleasant evilness is just plain creepy.

Keiko!

My top 15 list

1. Dukat
2. Garak
3. Weyoun
4. Winn
5. Damar
6. Female Changeling
7. Martok
8. Brunt
9. Ziyal
10. Rom
11. Nog
12. Joesph Sisko
13. Mirror Kira
14. Bareil
15. Leeta

And MORN as 16

1.Morn:gotta love the big guy even though he
never said a single word.
2.Leeta:next to Seven the sexiest woman in the
entire Star Trek Universe.
3.Evil Kira aka The Intendant:Kira's dark side
was always delicious fun to watch,and I have a
feeling Nana Visitor really enjoyed playing her.:)
4.Nog:the Ferengi's answer to Wesley Crusher,but
a heck of more fun to be around.
5.Vic Fontaine:Too bad they didn't put in Vic's
Place sooner.
6.Falcon:another holocharacter that was great!!
7.The Jack Pack:especially the woman that kept
putting all the moves on Julian and Patrick 'cause
he was so sweet and innocent.
8.Ziyal:one of the few characters who didn't
deserve their fate,like someone out of a Greek
Tragedy by Sophocles.
9.Kasidy:one of the best.
10.Garak:from simple tailor to saviour of Cardassia.

I vote for Ezri!!!
no reason to explain.. I want to see if she matures and what is going on in her life.
Maybe see if she has a "Trill-ete" with Julian...or maybe they broke off the relationship. so many questions, so few answers...
Shayne

Sorry. Ezri is not elgible. She's not a "recurring" character.

1.)Garek
2.)rom
3.)Mrs. Troi
4.)nog
5.)Mrs. O'Brien

6.)Martok

Dukat before he decided to get silly and go for the pah-wraiths. Garak. Bashir's buds. Damar. Weyoun. Martok. Intendant. Quark.

I didn't like Winn, because she had too much of a superiority complex. Jake was too...bland. The female changeling reminded me of Winn. Bareil was too bland. Jadzia was too...well, I can't say the word here. Julian was too much of a martyr. Nog drove me nuts. So did Rom and his constant groveling to Quark. Worf got old after awhile. So did O'Brien. Kira was a lot like Jadzia, I thought.

3 Cardassians...4 genetically enhanced humans...a Vorta...a Klingon...a Bajoran...and a Ferengi. Do I not like normal humans? ;)

M. Jenkins -- normal humans are just not as interesting as everyone else! :-)

My favorites, basically in order: Weyoun! (Especially #5 -- there *are* differences.) Dukat, before he got in with the paghwraiths and descended into cartoonish supervillainy, Garak, Damar, Kai Winn, Martok, Eddington.

There are a few more great characters who aren't really recurring but were on once or twice: Keevan (the Vorta from "Rocks and Shoals"), Bashir's mutant friends, Tain, Mila. Sloan, though "Extreme Measures" dampened my enthusiasm a bit.

Actually, I think that for the most part, the recurring characters have pretty much owned the show for the past two seasons or so... :-)

Least favorites: most of the recurring Ferengi, with the exception of Nog. Special mention goes to Zek (except in his first appearance). Shakaar, Bareil once he got involved with Kira, Admiral Wooden...I mean Ross. Intendant Kira in her later appearances (even if Nana was having a blast). Red-Eyed, Possessed Dukat.

And it's probably heretic to say this...but Morn is overrated!

Lea -

Too true! I always preferred Worf over the rest of TNG's regular cast. But then, they were all humans. Well, 'cept for Data, but he wanted to be one. (Troi was half of one...Lwaxana was interesting, though.)

As for TOS: I liked Spock best. Another of the everyone else is human thing.

Voyager: Well, ummmm....errrrr...none of them, really. Well, I kinda liked Seska...but she's too dead to count.

1.Evil Kira
2.Garak
3.Leeta
4.Mrs. O'Brien
5.Mrs. Troi
6.Vic Fontaine
7.Bashier's genitically enhanced friends
8.Brunt
9.Martok
10.Morn

Jake's not a recurring character-his name's in the credits, so he's a regular, even though we never saw him!
My vote for best has to go to Morn. He had the best lines in the whole series!

I really liked Eris and Third Talak Talan even though they only showed up once.

Yes Nawdle!!!! I also vote for her!!

TOP 10 DS9 RECURRING CHARACTERS

1: Gul Dukat. Actually likeable for a spell, and always interesting. And then, he got ruined.

2: Admiral Ross. The creators wisely made the character ambiguous, although the lack of closure is odd.

3: Sloane. I just liked the actor, even though the character got some pretty silly stuff.

4: Vic Fontaine. Over-used a little at the end, but a fine addition.

5: Eddington. Would have been nice to see him again, even after his last episode.

6: Damar. Possibly as interesting as Dukat.

7: Garak. The ambiguous Garak from the beginning of the series, however.

8: Weyoun. Fine, dependable character, even though I had no idea who he was when I started watching the show.

9: Brunt. I'm a Jeffrey Combs fan.

10: Kai Winn. Also a Louise Fletcher fan.

Martok... Definitely.

JG Hertzler who plays Martok also played the Vulcan Captain on the Saratoga in the pilot episode, Emissary ...Anyone else notice that?

Martok... Definitely.

JG Hertzler who plays Martok also played the Vulcan Captain on the Saratoga in the pilot episode, Emissary ...Anyone else notice that?

MOOOOOORN!
(You know Morn. He never shuts up... I want Morn's money- I need Morn's money- I deserve Morn's money- Morn, wherever you are, I LOVE YOU!)

Rom, Morn, and Garak are definitely the best, IMHO

My list is as follows:

1> Martok
Hands down the best recurring character of ANY trek series! He was very honorable, and had the best lines ("We WILL suceed!" "By the hand of Kahless, get us outta here!!!")
2> Weyoun
Weyoun was so funny in his own way. He was often the comic relief without even trying. EX. during "Ties of blood and water" when he drinks the poisoned kanar, Sisko and Dukat looked shocked. Then Dukat saying "are you insane?"
3> Kai Winn
Louise Fletcher has always been one of my favorite actresses. She totally chews up the scenery every time up to the last season.
4> Keiko O'Brien
This character was WAY under utilized during the series. The few times she was allowed into an episode, she did a great job (especially when she was taken over by the pah-wraith!)
5> Archon Makbar
I enjoyed her performance during "Tribunal" when she kept yelling at Odo about all the things he couldnt do during a trial.

Garak and Dukat without a doubt are the two best guest stars in this series. The best episodes had both of them together.

I think all the recurring characters were great, but I have to say Garak, Weyoun and in particular Kai Winn (she had one hell of an episode introduction with the final ep of season one "In the hands of the prophets". I loved the bajoran political eps).
Although not recurring (so technically probably not allowed on this board) I thought that Aman Marritza (sp?) from probably the best ever Ds9 ep "Duet" was the best non regular character

Well-it looks like MARTOK wins with a stunning 11 votes!

With all the talk of Weyoun, I think we need to differentiate. I liked Weyoun-5. Maybe he was evil, but so subtle that I forgot it. Weyouns 7 and 8 I never liked. Too mean-spirited, in my opinion. But anyway, best recurring character? Gul Dukat. Best once-occuring character? Amin Maritza. Too bad he got killed by that annoying, drunken Bajoran hate-monger.

I have to agree on so may points.

Garak, Dukat, and Martok were the first to leap to mind. Then I think of Rom, Mrs. Troi, Vic, etc. You guys basically have them all down.

Then, of course, the neurotic Nog.

Crud. Missed Ross. He was always a fave of mine. Since a lot has been said about him, I'll leave it at that.

I nominate Eddington. At a time when it was politically risky to put on a character that could be seen as championing, even arguing convincingly for, the cause of such anti-government groups as the Montana Freeman and Tim McVeigh they did it. They in the frame of the story, agree with their ideas or not, went out on a limb by giving these groups basically good press.
And some of what Eddington said was true. Lets be fair. As a character he showed us a POV of Starfleet that NO OTHER character has. And for that he has a whole new depth that was refreshing. He wasn't another cookie cutter character. "Starfleet good, we come in peace."

My top ten:

1. Elim Garak
2. Dukat
3. Weyoun
4. Michael Eddington
5. Morn (yes, he did have more episodes than Jake, 80 vs. 71)
6. Gowron
7. Keiko Ishikawa O'Brien
8. Enabran Tain
9. Enrique Muniz
10. Molly's stuffed targ