Battlestar Galactica Adama

"I'm getting my men!"

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S ACTUAL
Battlestar Galactica has a long history and holds a special place in the hearts of many science-fiction fans. Particularly, one character among all, Battlestar Galactica Adama has demonstrated a powerful strength of character, successful leadership and unshattered faith in the future of Mankind, while protecting the 50,000 survivors left against the Cylon threat.

Battlestar Galactica Adama, played by Lorne Greene in the 80s, started as president of the Quorum of the 12, the governing body of the Colonies, and Commander of the Battlestar Galactica, the only surviving battlestar after the deadly sneak attack by the rebelling Cylons. A similar character, William 'Bill' Adama, is portrayed by Edward James Olmos in the 2004 re-imagined series.

Adama is also the spiritual leader of the surviving colonists, leading the quest to Earth. As such, Battlestar Galactica Adama is central to the story arc of the series, and in some ways the saga revolves around him. Initially, Adama wears a blue velour suit (hey, it was the 70s), has a daughter Athena and a son Apollo. His wife Ila and his second son, Zak, were killed in the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies.

Battlestar Galactica Adama was born on Caprica, where he graduated from military academy. Early in his career flew with his executive officer Colonel Tigh, and later served with Commander Kronus aboard the battlestar Rycon.

From the very beginning, Battlestar Galactica Adama was mistrustful of the Cylons at the time of the Peace Conference to end the Thousand Yahren War. He was the only battlestar commander to keep his ship on battlestations drill, and as a result the Galactica was the only battlestar to survive the Cylon attack.

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
Two years after Zak's death, Adama was put to the ultimate test. The fifty-year-old Galactica was nearing the end of its service, destined to be converted into a museum ship. On the day following the ship's decommissioning ceremony, the Cylons launched a surprise attack on the Twelve Colonies, bombarding them with nuclear weapons and destroying the majority of the Colonial Fleet. The Fleet was unable to mount an effective counterattack due to Cylon infiltration of the ships' navigational program.

Because its systems were not networked, Battlestar Galactica was spared from the Cylon infiltration. Fortunately, as part of its museum display, the Galactica has forty older Mark II Vipers on board, which were capable of providing some defense in the days ahead. Since Galactica had been disarmed in anticipation of its decommissioning, Adama took the ship to an unmanned depot to rearm. While there, the Battlestar Galactica encountered a ragtag fleet of civilian vessels bearing around 50,000 survivors, including the new President of the Colonies, Laura Roslin, who implored Admiral Adama to abandon his plan to fight the Cylons and instead lead the survivors to safety. After some deliberation, he complied, deciding that the survival of the human race was more important than pursuing a counterattack against the Cylons.

ADAMA PERSONALITY
The Admiral of the Fleet and commanding officer of the Battlestar Galactica is an experienced, pragmatic leader who does not stand on ceremony. Above all, he considers his crew to be his family and earned their loyalty. During the mutiny, while some of the crew supported Gaeta and it was enough to take over the ship, an overwhelming number remained loyal to Adama. Adama also was able to get the men who were assigned to kill him to aid him just by stating his intent to retake the ship, which demonstrates incredible strength of character and, nevertheless, how much respect he has earned throughout the years leading the fleet.

In terms of his personal relationships, Galactica Adama's life is complicated at best. Although he tries to maintain a professional attitude to prevent his emotions from clouding his judgment, Battlestar Galactica Adama is nevertheless strongly devoted to his crew. Even if the relationship with his own son, Lee, has been particularly turbulent, and Lee's resignation from the military has the potential to widen the rift between them even further, Adama has stated more than once that he will never abandon Lee no matter what his son does. Continued here »

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* William Adama, Admiral of the Fleet

Continued...

Despite his vocal dislike of Cylons, Adama even managed to form a certain bond with Number Eight, growing to trust her despite the fact that Boomer shot him. Lately, Battlestar Galactica Adama growing friendship with Laura Roslin and the return of Kara Thrace from apparent death challenge him, as he struggles to keep the fleet safe and alive. We surely don't know Adama's future plans, but he's clearly off-course and tired. Most likely, Roslin's death will shake him to his core.

BACKGROUND CHECK
Actor, producer, director and community activist Edward James Olmos was born in 1947 and raised in Los Angeles. A veteran of the theater, throughout his extensive career he earned numerous nominations, including an Emmy, LA Drama Circle Award, two Alma Awards, an Academy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.

In 2004 Olmos won a Hugo Award for Best Actor on Battlestar Galactica, and a 2004 Family Television Award, and he was nominated for a SyFy Genre Award for Best Actor on Battlestar Galactica. The Alma Award won in 2007 was for Outstanding Actor on a Television Series (namely Battlestar Galactica).

PERSONAL LIFE
Olmos parents met in Mexico City, married and raised three children. They later divorced when he was eight, and Edward spent his leisure time playing baseball as a means of staying away from drugs and gang-life. Olmos taught himself to sing and play the piano, and in 1961 joined the band Pacific Ocean. In the mid '60s he attended California State University during the day and played music in the clubs at night. He began acting to become a better singer, but found a love for acting instead.

Edward James Olmos is currently a United States Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. He is also a national spokesperson for Southwest Voter Registration Project, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the AIDS Awareness Foundation. He also serves on the boards of Recruiting New Teachers, the Twentieth Century Fund, UCLA School of Film and Theater, UCLA Mentoring Program, Miami Children's Hospital, Los Angeles Children's Hospital, National Council on Adoption and Children's Action Network.

DID YOU KNEW?
Adama's name is a variation of the name Adam, the first man to be created according to the Bible in the Book of Genesis. Despite the origin of Adama's name, he functioned more like a Moses-type patriarch, as he led and defended the fleet against enemies time and time again.

PHOTOS OF BILL ADAMA
Couple of shots with the Admiral

Edward James Olmos has brown eyes, but when playing Battlestar Galactica Adama he wears contacts that make his eyes blue. This is done so that Olmos and actor Jamie Bamber, who plays his son Lee, would resemble each other. Reciprocally, Bamber dyes his hair darker to better match Olmos' coloring.