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, and is the Enchanted Forest counterpart of Mr. Gold.

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.

Magical Abilities
Rumplestiltskin gained immense magic and power by becoming the Dark One, with only the sorcerer Merlin surpassing him in terms of magic, knowledge and raw power. Since the source of the Dark One's power comes from drinking from the Holy Grail, which is also the same thing that granted Merlin's powers, the magic user is able to perform tasks beyond that of an ordinary magic practitioner, instantly becoming a master of dark magic and becoming immortal, with only the Dark One's dagger being the person's weakness.


 * Blood Magic - Use of his own blood as magical seal that can only be broken by someone who shares his bloodline.
 * Foresight - Ability to see the future, which was obtained by the seer.
 * Immortality - Eternal life, with no aging effect in appearance, which is one of the powers granted to a Dark One. The only weapon that can kill him is the Dark One's dagger, which if he is killed with it, his powers and status will transfer to the person who kills him.
 * Potioncraft - Ability to create potions with various effects.
 * Witchcraft - Rumplestiltskin is a master in all types of magic, particularly dark magic.

Trivia
|-|Character Notes=

Character Notes

 * 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.
 * 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.
 * 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".
 * Appears in the title card for "In the Name of the Brother".
 * 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.


 * -|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 child-like 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.

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.


 * -|Cultural References=

Popular Culture

 * 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.

Appearances
Note: "Archive" denotes archive footage.