Ford Prefect

Played by: Geoffrey McGivern (Radio); David Dixon (TV); Mos Def (Film)
Real Name: Can only be pronounced in an obscure Betelgeusian dialect which has been extint since the Great Collapsing Hrung Disaster of Gal./Sid/Year 03758.
Nickname: Ix ("boy who is not able to satisfactorily explain what a Hrung is, or why it should choose to collapse on Betelgeuse Seven").
Home planet: Betelgeuse Five.
Occupation: Researcher for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Claimed Occupation (on Earth): Out of work actor.
Claimed Hometown (on Earth): Guilford.
Known Relatives: Zaphod Beeblebrox (semi-cousin); Father/Unlce (now dead of shame)
Skills: Flagging down flying saucers and hitching a lift on passing spacecrafts; Pheromone Control; good with a towel.
Disposition: Hoopy; Eccentric; Has a good time.

Originally from a planet somewhere in the vacinity of Betelgeuse, Ford Prefect's job as a researcher for The Guide takes him far across the Galaxy and back. One of his latest investigations took place on an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet in the Western Spiral Arm of the Galaxy known as The Earth, where he befriends an ape descendent named Arthur Dent. He chose the name "Ford Prefect" because he thought it would be nicely inconspicuous. This is due to the fact that he skimped on his preliminary research and believed cars to be the dominant life form. This investigation on Earth took slightly longer than he had anticipated, and he remained on this planet for 15 years until it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. While inhabitting this planet, he collected much useful information for The Guide about Earth. Unfortunately, the editors cut it down to two words: mostly harmless. This was, however, still an improvement from it's previous entry: harmless. When the Earth gets destroyed, Ford saves his friend and the two then hitch hike across the Galaxy. Ford shares with Arthur a great deal of wisdom that he has picked up in his travels, doing his best to help his friend cope with the loss of his home planet and making sure they both survive to see their next destination. He is never without a sense of wonder an adventure and generally enjoys drinking, attending parties, having a good time, and always knows where his towel is (and how to use it).

---

Back to Main Characters