Rumplestiltskin

"All magic comes with a price!"

- Rumplestiltskin's iconic phrase

Rumplestiltskin, also known as Rumple, the Dark One, the Crocodile and Mr. Gold, is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He debuts in the first episode of the first season. He is portrayed by starring cast member Robert Carlyle and guest star Wyatt Oleff. He is the Enchanted Forest counterpart of Mr. Gold, and the main reality version of Rumplestiltskin.

Rumplestiltskin is based on the character of the same name from the "Rumpelstiltskin" fairytale. He also takes the place of the Beast from the "Beauty and the Beast" fairytale, as well as the Crocodile from Peter Pan story.

Trivia

 * -|Character Notes=

Character Notes

 * Rumplestiltskin appears in the title card for "In the Name of the Brother".
 * Rumplestiltskin treats names as important, and describes them as his "stock and trade". In many cultures and some beliefs about magic, to know someone or something's "true name" gives you power over that person or thing.
 * Rumplestiltskin once transformed a butcher into a pig.
 * Before he was imprisoned, Rumplestiltskin fought Cora and won. It is implied Cora came close to winning.
 * During his lifetime, Rumplestiltskin owned some sheep dogs.
 * He once made a deal with Don Juan.
 * Rumplestiltskin is known as Mr. Gold since long before the Dark Curse was cast. He is referred to in this way in some of his contracts, including the one he has Anna sign and the one Fendrake the Healer gives him.
 * According to Hades, Rumplestiltskin killed more than Regina over the years to the point he's called the supplier. Additionally, Hades implied that Rumple is his favorite Dark One.
 * Rumplestiltskin speaks French, something that he briefly demonstrates for the Count of Monte Cristo.

Storybook Notes

 * Henry's storybook contains a retelling of a scene from "Desperate Souls":

R     umpelstiltskin was a mild- mannered and curiously unremarkable man who lived a rather unremarkable life. Along with his wife and young son, Baelfire, he lived in a modest wooden hut on the outskirts of the village, making his living by spinning wool into the thread that he would barter or sell to the people thereabouts. Rumplestiltskin's fortunes were to change that beautiful day that the Duke’s soldiers rode into the village They were rounding up all men and children of a serviceable age, garnering recruits to fight in terrible, never-ending Ogre Wars. Young Baelfire saw a young girl, a cherished childhood companion being wrestled from her parents. Not [obscured] he ran home to tell his father. "Papa, Papa," Baelfire gasped, out of breath, [obscured] come to take Morraine away!" [obscured] rose from the spinning stool; [obscured] he limped outside.There

was a commotion down the land, past his neighbour's stable. The soldiers were dragging a young girl from the arms of her distraught and pleading parents. "Please do not take our Morraine," the mother beseeched, her arms outstretched. The guard was unshakable. "Your daughter is strong and will make a fine soldier!" "But there must be a mistake," her father responded. "She is only thirteen…" "I am under orders from the Duke", replied the guard. "The wars have taken a turn-for-the worst and the age of those we seek has been lowered – by decree!" As the guard was about to hoist the young girl onto his horse, her father pulled out a knife from his [illegible word]. "Stop! You cannot have her!" he bellowed, thrusting the blade aimlessly into the air. All of a sudden, the father ceased wavering and [illegible word] motionless, like a statue, bound as if by some [illegible word] and abysmal power. Everyone gathered thereabouts gaped and looked towards to the [two illegible words] over to where a dark hooded man on a black horse was enacting a diabolical spell.


 * -|Production Notes=

Production Notes

 * The role of Rumplestiltskin was written specifically for Robert Carlyle.
 * Rumplestiltskin's voice is inspired by Robert Carlyle's son. According to Robert, his son was wandering though the house making high-pitched voices and sounds. The actor thought this voice would fit Rumplestiltskin, because there is a childlike quality to the character, and Rumplestiltskin enjoys gleefully tricking people.
 * According to Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, every time we meet Rumplestiltskin in Fairy Tale Land, he is in a slightly different time period, and therefore Robert actually uses a slightly different voice every single time.
 * There have been a few hints about Rumplestiltskin's age on the show. According to Robert Carlyle, Rumplestiltskin is three-hundred years old by the time the Dark Curse is cast. However, the show itself has hinted that Rumplestiltskin is just a couple hundred years old: In "Going Home", his father says, "What are you now? A couple hundred?". In "Family Business", Hook (who knew Rumplestiltskin from before he became the Dark One) refers to himself as approximately two hundred years old.


 * -|Cultural References=

Popular Culture

 * His spoken phrase, "Tick-tock, dearie, tick-tock!", is a reference to the crocodile who swallowed a clock from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan".
 * The scene where Rumplestiltskin teaches young Cora to spin straw into gold is an homage to the famous clay sculpting scene between Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in the movie Ghost.


 * -|Set Notes=

Costume Notes

 * For the "Pilot", Rumplestiltskin's costume was originally going to be a medieval costume with an elaborate hood. However, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis felt that he needed to look more sexy, like a rock star, so the costume was redesigned with crocodile skins, high boots and tight pants, an evil rock star kind of look.
 * It takes approximately two hours to dress Robert Carlyle in Rumplestiltskin's costume, twenty minutes of which is spent on his boots. It takes about one hour to remove the costume.


 * -|Goofs=

Goofs

 * On his contract with Fendrake the Healer, Rumplestiltskin's name is misspelled as "Rumpelstiltskin".

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.