Zaphod Beeblebrox is a fictional character in the humorous science fiction radio series, books, computer game, television series, and movie The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.
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 three of them at one sitting. He was voted "Worst Dressed Sentient Being in the Known Universe" for seven years in a row. He's been described as "the biggest Bang since the Big One" and one hoopy frood. 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, which is a role Zaphod was perfectly suited for). 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, and has no clue as to what it is and is unable to do anything but follow the path that he laid out for himself. He was forced to section off the part of his brain that stored the plan so that scans of his mind, which would be necessary for him to become president, wouldn't reveal his plan, which included his being president of the galaxy. Zaphod is essentially the only main character still alive at the end of "Mostly Harmless".
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.
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