Dominor Rygel XVI is the deposed ruler of the Hynerian Empire - the "beloved" royal of over 600 billion subjects. Raised in opulence and wealth, his every wish catered to by beautiful females, Rygel would hardly seem prepared for the realities of life as a fugitive. But this little creature has been a political prisoner for many decades. He has learned how to massage the system to get what he can and steal everything else.

Rygel is also an accomplished negotiator. His negotiating prowess is made evident by bribing the guards making his escape, just prior to The Premiere, possible. He also negotiated with the Drak monarch(alien bug queen) in EFG quite effectively and to good fortune for the crew.

Rygel has also displayed extraordinary loyalty and heroics, as long as he is the beneficiary of the loyalty and heroics.

Which is the problem with Rygel. He is a greedy, shallow, and untrustworthy little creep who would sell out his own mother for a box of trinkets if given the chance. Poor John, always trying to give Rygel the benefit of the doubt. Doesn't John know you can't teach a old Hynerian new tricks? To Rygel, John is a primitive, short lived, and naive little creature whose words and loyalty must seem silly. Rygel is the way he is and nobody will change his character.

Fortunately, Rygel does tend to get into difficult situations. Who didn't enjoy seeing Rygel get his butt stuck in Moya's hull in Vitas Mortis - saving John and Chiana's life in the process? At least he does, inadvertently, help the crew from time to time.

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Dominor Rygel XVI operated by Sean Masterson, Tim Mieville, Matt McCoy, Mario Halouvas and Fiona Gentile.

Voiced by classically trained New Zealand actor Jonathan Hardy, who also played Kahaynu, Moya's builder in the Look At The Princess trilogy.

Jonathan's credits are extensive, including television projects All Saints, Mission:Impossible, The Thornbirds: The Missing Years, among others. Strangely, I didn't find The Water Rats listed among Jonathan's credits. Film credits include Mad Max, Devil's Playground, The Mango Tree, Moulin Rouge and the list goes on.

Jonathan's professional talents extend beyond acting, he is a playwright and screenwriter, including his Oscar nominated film, Breaker Morant.

Jonathan was born on September 20, 1940 in Wellington, New Zealand.