Zaphod Beeblebrox
fictional character in the humorous science fiction radio series, books, computer game, and television series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. According to the books, he is "one hell of a guy".
He has had an extra head and arm attached, meaning he now has two heads and three arms (the radio series hints that he later acquires a fourth arm). He invented the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, and is the only person able to drink more than two of them at one sitting. He is from a planet in the vicinity of Betelgeuse, and is a "semi-cousin" of Ford Prefect (with whom he 'shares three of the same mothers').
He was briefly the President of the Galaxy (a role that involves no power whatsoever, and merely requires the incumbent to attract attention so no-one wonders who's really in charge). He is the only man to have survived the Total Perspective Vortex, although it may only have been a replica of the real Vortex.
Throughout the story, Zaphod is busy carrying out some grand scheme, only he has no clue what it is. This is because he has had the section of his brain where the plan is stored blocked so that telepaths will not be able to find out what he is up to. The fact that he is still working on the plan although he has no clue about it is just one of the many absurdities in the story.
In both the radio and television versions of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Zaphod was played by Mark Wing-Davey. In the television version he wore a false arm (when the arm was required to gesture it was replaced by the arm of someone else standing behind Wing-Davey) and a radio-controlled second head with an eyepatch. Unfortunately the second head's mechanics seldom worked properly and so for most of the time it just sits on his shoulder looking inanimate, although in one scene it manages to have a brief conversation with Wing-Davey's real head.
Zaphod is played by Sam Rockwell in the film version of the story due to be released in 2005.
Zaphod Beeblebrox is also the name of a popular Byward Market nightclub in Ottawa, Canada.
See also
Zaphod is the originator of the famous saying, "I'm so hip, I can barely see over my pelvis!"
