Max Grodénchik (born November 12, 1952), also known as Michael Grodénchik, is an American stage, film, and television
actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
, best known for his role as
Rom
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
, a recurring character on the
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed be ...
''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.
Biography
Born to a
Jewish
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
family in New York City, Grodénchik worked in theater during the 1980s as Michael Grodénchik, where his performances received notice. Of his 1980 performance in
John O'Keefe's ''All Night Long'', ''
Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' art reviewer Marcia Corbino wrote that Grodénchik was an intriguing actor who had "an enchanting, mobile comic face on which aberrant emotions flicker, spread, retreat, retrench and explode with a single instant."
Television
![Shimerman and Grodénchik by Beth Madison, 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Shimerman_and_Grod%C3%A9nchik_by_Beth_Madison%2C_2.jpg)
Grodénchik is best known for his portrayal of the character
Rom
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
in ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.
He had previously auditioned for the role of Rom's brother
Quark, but the role was given to
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor and author.
Early life
Shimerman was born into a Jewish family in Lakewood, New Jersey, on November 5, 1949, the son of accountant Susan and house painter Herbert Shimerman. When he wa ...
. Grodénchik was instead hired to play the "Pit Boss" in charge of the gambling at Quark's Bar in the pilot episode, and his role gradually expanded from there.
Shimerman and Grodénchik appeared on opposite teams on the short-lived British science fiction game show ''
Space Cadets'' in 1997.
Grodénchik played baseball in high school, and considered a career in professional baseball before deciding to become an actor. In the ''
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' episode "
Take Me Out to the Holosuite", Grodénchik's character Rom is the clumsiest player on his team; during filming of the episode, the naturally right-handed Grodénchik played left-handed, as it was the only way he could convincingly play baseball poorly.
Grodénchik played Sovak and Par Lenor in ''
Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episodes "
Captain's Holiday" and "
The Perfect Mate
"The Perfect Mate" is the 21st episode of the fifth season of the American science fiction television series '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', the 121st overall. The episode was credited to Gary Percante and Michael Piller from a story by Per ...
", respectively. He is famous for being an expert on the
Rules of Acquisition and can quote them by memory. He played Gint, the writer of those rules and the first Grand Nagus, in a dream sequence involving Quark.
In spring 2007, Grodénchik attended the annual
Vulcan
Vulcan may refer to:
Mythology
* Vulcan (mythology), the god of fire, volcanoes, metalworking, and the forge in Roman mythology
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* Vulcan (''Star Trek''), name of a fictional race and their home p ...
Spockdays ceremony.
Voice work
In summer 2018, Grodénchik reprised the roles of Rom and Sovak in ''
Star Trek Online''s ''Deep Space Nine''-themed
expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game or collectible card game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, characters, or ...
''Victory Is Life''.
Personal life and family
Max Grodénchik lives with his wife and daughter in Austria, in the small hamlet of Nußbach in the county
Kirchdorf an der Krems
Kirchdorf an der Krems is a town in the Austrian state of Upper Austria on the river Krems, in the district of Kirchdorf an der Krems. Apparently settled by the year 903, it has 4,104 inhabitants in a relatively small area of 3 km.
Population
...
.
Grodénchik's brother
Barry Grodenchik is a former
New York State Assemblyman
and Deputy Borough President of
Queens
Queens is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located on Long Island, it is the largest New York City borough by area. It is bordered by the borough of Brooklyn at the western tip of Long ...
.
In December 2015, Barry was inaugurated to the
New York City Council, representing District 23.
Episodes in ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''
* "
Emissary
Emissary may refer to:
* Ambassador
* Apostle (disambiguation)
* Diplomat
* ''Emissaries'' (album), a 2006 album by black metal group Melechesh
* Emissary (hydraulics), channel by which an outlet is formed to carry off any stagnant body of wate ...
"
* "
A Man Alone"
* "
The Nagus"
* "
Vortex
In fluid dynamics, a vortex ( : vortices or vortexes) is a region in a fluid in which the flow revolves around an axis line, which may be straight or curved. Vortices form in stirred fluids, and may be observed in smoke rings, whirlpools in ...
"
* "
The Homecoming
''The Homecoming'' is a two-act play written in 1964 by Harold Pinter and first published in 1965. Its premières in London (1965) and New York (1967) were both directed by Sir Peter Hall. The original Broadway production won the 1967 Tony A ...
"
* "
Rules of Acquisition"
* "
Necessary Evil
A necessary evil is an evil that someone believes must be done or accepted because it is necessary to achieve a better outcome—especially because possible alternative courses of action or inaction are expected to be worse. It is the "lesser evi ...
"
* "
The House of Quark"
* "
Heart of Stone"
* "
Prophet Motive
"Prophet Motive" is the 62nd episode of the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and is the sixteenth episode of the third season. In the episode, Grand Nagus Zek comes to the station to present Quark with a revised copy of the Rules ...
"
* "
Through the Looking Glass
''Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There'' (also known as ''Alice Through the Looking-Glass'' or simply ''Through the Looking-Glass'') is a novel published on 27 December 1871 (though indicated as 1872) by Lewis Carroll and the ...
"
* "
Little Green Men"
* "
Our Man Bashir"
* "
Bar Association"
* "
Body Parts"
* "
The Assignment"
* "
The Ascent"
* "
Facets
A facet is a flat surface of a geometric shape, e.g., of a cut gemstone.
Facet may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Facets'' (album), an album by Jim Croce
* ''Facets'', a 1980 album by jazz pianist Monty Alexander and his tri ...
"
* "
Doctor Bashir, I Presume?
"Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" is the 114th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 16th episode of the fifth season. This episode guest stars actor Robert Picardo, who played the r ...
"
* "
Ferengi Love Songs
"Ferengi Love Songs" is an episode of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the twentieth episode of the fifth season.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the space station Deep Space Nine near the planet Bajor. ...
"
* "
Call to Arms"
* "
Behind the Lines"
* "
Favor the Bold"
* "
Sacrifice of Angels
"Sacrifice of Angels" is the sixth episode from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (season 6), sixth season of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', 130th episode overall. The episode's plot details the efforts of the United Federation of Planets to retake ...
"
* "
You Are Cordially Invited..."
* "
The Magnificent Ferengi
"The Magnificent Ferengi" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 134th episode overall, originally aired in syndication on December 29, 1997. It was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, and direct ...
"
* "
Profit and Lace
"Profit and Lace" is the 147th episode of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the 23rd episode of the sixth season. It was first broadcast on May 11, 1998.
Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on the spac ...
"
* "
Take Me Out to the Holosuite"
* "
Treachery, Faith, and the Great River"
* "
The Siege of AR-558
"The Siege of AR-558" is the 158th episode of the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', the eighth episode of the seventh season, first aired the week of November 16, 1998. It was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, and direc ...
"
* "
It's Only a Paper Moon
"It's Only a Paper Moon" is a popular song published in 1933 with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose.
Background
It was originally titled "If You Believed in Me", but later went by the more popular title "It's On ...
"
* "
The Emperor's New Cloak
"The Emperor's New Cloak" is the 162nd episode of the television series '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. The 12th episode of the seventh season. It premiered the week of February 1, 1999 to Nielsen ratings of 4.6.
Set in the 24th century, the se ...
"
* "
The Dogs of War"
* "
Family Business
A family business is a commercial organization in which decision-making is influenced by multiple generations of a family, related by blood or marriage or adoption, who has both the ability to influence the vision of the business and the willingn ...
"
Filmography
* ''
Chu Chu and the Philly Flash'' (1981) .... Frankie
* ''
Out'' (1982) .... Arnold / Boy
* ''
Night Court
''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portray ...
'' (TV) Episode: "The Cop and The Lady" (Airdate: October 18 1989) .... Norman Snite
* ''
Barton Fink
''Barton Fink'' is a 1991 American period black comedy psychological thriller film written, produced, edited and directed by the Coen brothers. Set in 1941, it stars John Turturro in the title role as a young New York City playwright who is hir ...
'' (1991) .... Clapper boy
* ''
The Rocketeer
The Rocketeer is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books originally published by Pacific Comics. Created by writer/artist Dave Stevens, the character first appeared in 1982 and is an homage to the Saturday matinee serial heroes ...
'' (1991) .... Wilmer, Wounded Robber
* ''
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw'' (1991, TV Movie) ....
Bailiff
* ''
Sister Act
''Sister Act'' is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Emile Ardolino and written by Paul Rudnick (as Joseph Howard). It stars Whoopi Goldberg as a lounge singer forced to join a convent after being placed in a witness protection program. I ...
'' (1992) .... Ernie
* ''
Rising Sun'' (1993) .... Club Manager
* ''
Doorways'' (1993, TV Movie) .... Roth
* ''
Apollo 13'' (1995) .... FIDO Gold
* ''
Here Come the Munsters
''Here Come the Munsters'' is a television film that aired on Fox October 31, 1995. It stars Edward Herrmann, Christine Taylor and Veronica Hamel. The film tells the story of the Munster family's arrival in the US from Transylvania. This is an ...
'' (1995, TV Movie) .... Norman Hyde
* ''
Rumpelstiltskin
"Rumpelstiltskin" ( ; german: Rumpelstilzchen) is a German fairy tale. It was collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of '' Children's and Household Tales''. The story is about a little imp who spins straw into gold in exchange for a ...
'' (1996) ....
Rumpelstiltskin
"Rumpelstiltskin" ( ; german: Rumpelstilzchen) is a German fairy tale. It was collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of '' Children's and Household Tales''. The story is about a little imp who spins straw into gold in exchange for a ...
* ''
Star Trek: Insurrection'' (1998) ....
Trill
TRILL (Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links) is an Internet Standard implemented by devices called TRILL switches. TRILL combines techniques from bridging and routing, and is the application of link-state routing to the VLAN-aware cus ...
Ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
(scenes deleted)
* ''
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle'' (2000) .... Horse Spy
* ''
ER'' Episode 9:18 Finders Keepers (2003) ..... Street Vendor
* ''
Bruce Almighty'' (2003) .... Control Room Operator
* ''
King of California'' (2007) .... Leonid
* ''
CSI'' Season 11, Episode 21: Cello and Goodbye (2011) .... Pawnbroker
* ''
Glossary of Broken Dreams'' (2018) .... Biological Male
* ''Strawberry Moments'' (2019) .... Filmstar
* ''
Unbelievable!!!!!
''Unbelievable!!!!!'' is a 2016 American film written and directed by Steven L. Fawcette, which parodies ''Star Trek''. The film stars over forty Star Trek cast members. The film follows the exploits of four astronauts (one of whom is a marione ...
'' (2020) .... Paramedic Yacky
* ''
Masking Threshold'' (2021) .... Officer 2
* ''Tycho'' (TBA) .... Jeppe Sorensen (Pre-production)
References
External links
*
Biography on StarTrek.com*
"Der Außerirdische aus der Bronx" interview with Max Grodénchik in the Austrian Jewish Culture magazine ''NU'' with information about his personal backstory (in German)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grodenchik, Max
American male stage actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
Jewish American male actors
People from the Bronx
People from Queens, New York
1952 births
Living people
University at Buffalo alumni
21st-century American Jews