Mr. Gold

"I'm a villain.... and villains don't get happy endings."

- Mr. Gold to Malcolm

Mr. Gold is a character on ABC's Once Upon a Time. He débuts in the first episode of the first season. He is portrayed by starring cast member Robert Carlyle, and is the Storybrooke counterpart of Rumplestiltskin.

Trivia

 * The surname "Gold" is of Old English origin derived from the word "gold" that was often used as an endearment or show of affection.
 * His name is a reference to both the original fairytale and Mr. Gold's Enchanted Forest persona. In both, Rumplestiltskin is able to spin straw into gold after magic comes to Storybrooke.
 * On Twitter, episode writer Jane Espenson stated a first name has never been established for Mr. Gold.
 * Has a few gold teeth.
 * He has a noticeable limp and walks with a cane, much like he did before he was cursed with the Dark One's abilities. Being in a Land Without Magic, Mr. Gold is unable to use his powers to placate his disability. However, once magic was brought to Storybrooke in "A Land Without Magic", he no longer needed it, but chose to keep using it. Then, in "The New Neverland", he rejects the cane in order to move on from his past self.
 * Owns and operates a pawnshop where a number of objects from the Enchanted Forest are kept.
 * Like his son Neal and his grandson Henry, who both collect clocks, Mr. Gold's pawnshop is filled with them.
 * Like Rumplestiltskin, Mr. Gold treats names as important. In many cultures and some beliefs about magic, to know someone or something's "true name" gives you power over that person or thing.
 * He greatly dislikes nuns.
 * Mr. Gold is a licensed attorney, a quality which allows him to broker many of his Storybrooke deals. He alludes to having enough legal experience to represent Mary Margaret in a criminal trial.
 * He has been called an imp in reference to the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.
 * Mr. Gold's name appears on the list Tamara has in "The Evil Queen".