Rumplestiltskin

"All magic comes with a price!"

- Rumplestiltskin's iconic phrase

Rumplestiltskin, also known as the Dark One and Crocodile, 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 guest star Wyatt Oleff, and is the Enchanted Forest counterpart of Mr. Gold.

Rumplestiltskin is based on a character of the same name from the fairytale, "Rumpelstiltskin". He also takes the place of the Beast from the fairytale, "Beauty and the Beast" and the crocodile from Peter and Wendy.

Trivia
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Character Notes

 * There have been a few hints about Rumpelstiltskin'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.
 * 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".
 * Rumpelstiltskin 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 dogs.
 * He once made a deal with Don Juan.
 * Throughout the show, he has called many characters "dearie": the Evil Queen (twenty-one times); Anna and Zelena (eleven times); Belle, Prince Charming and Snow White (nine times); Maleficent (four times); Cruella (three times); Cinderella, Cora, Emma, Hook, Ingrid, King George, Robin Hood, Ursula and Victor (twice); Honora, Milah and the Seer (once).
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Production Notes

 * The role of Rumplestiltskin was written specifically for Robert Carlyle.
 * Robert Carlyle revealed in an interview that it takes approximately two hours to dress him in Rumplestiltskin's costume, twenty minutes of which is spent on his boots. He also revealed that it takes about one hour to remove the costume.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.


 * Rumplestiltskin's name appears on the list Tamara has in "The Evil Queen".
 * Rumplestiltskin is mentioned on Lily's bulletin board in "Lily".