Armin Shimerman is an American actor and author, best known for his portrayal of Quark, the Ferengi bartender and businessman in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Born on November 5, 1949, in Lakewood, New Jersey, Shimerman grew up in a Jewish family and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 15. His mother encouraged him to join a drama group to help him socialize, which sparked his interest in acting. He attended Santa Monica High School, where he performed in school productions of Hamlet, The Crucible, and The Skin of Our Teeth. After graduating in 1967, he pursued further studies at UCLA, later earning an apprenticeship at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego.

     Shimerman began his career in theater, performing in New York City as part of the Impossible Ragtime Theater before transitioning to television. His early TV roles included appearances in Beauty and the Beast, Remington Steele, L.A. Law, and Who’s the Boss?. His first involvement with Star Trek came in Star Trek: The Next Generation, where he played Letek, one of the first Ferengi characters introduced in The Last Outpost (1987). He later appeared as Bractor in Peak Performance (1989).

     In 1993, Shimerman was cast as Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a role that would define his career. Quark was a shrewd businessman who ran a bar on Deep Space Nine, often engaging in schemes and conflicts with Starfleet officers. Despite his greed, Quark was a deeply layered character, showing moments of loyalty, vulnerability, and unexpected morality. Shimerman’s performance made Quark one of the most beloved characters in Star Trek, and he appeared in all seven seasons of the series. He also reprised the role in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Lower Decks.

     Beyond Star Trek, Shimerman played Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–1999), a strict and often antagonistic school administrator. He also appeared in Stargate SG-1, Charmed, Seinfeld, and Leverage. His voice acting work includes roles in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, Ratchet & Clank, and BioShock, where he voiced Andrew Ryan.

     Shimerman is also an author, co-writing The 34th Rule, a Star Trek novel centered on Quark, and a series of historical fiction books. He has been married to actress Kitty Swink since 1981, and he remains active in the Star Trek community, frequently attending conventions and engaging with fans.