I Had Lunch With Commander Sinclair

Or rather I had lunch with the actor Michael O’Hare. To me he was Commander Jeffrey Sinclair from Babylon 5.

I was going through some old things and came across a signed photo. It was from 1999. I must’ve been 18 at the time.

I had a part-time job at the big Jessops camera shop on New Oxford Street. There was a comic book shop nearby, around the back of the Centre Point building. Can’t remember its name. Not Forbidden Planet, that was next door (then moved to Shaftesbury Avenue).

A different shop. Doesn’t matter now. The whole area has changed.

Anyway, they were holding a signing with Michael O’Hare. Commander Sinclair from Babylon 5.

Babylon 5 was a science fiction television series set aboard a space station which ran between 1993–1998, spanning five seasons. Heavily serialised with long running character/story arcs. That was uncommon at the time, most shows were “episode of the week”, everything neatly wrapped up and reset by the end. Babylon 5 was different, envisaged and planned as a novel for the screen.

The showrunner, J. Michael Straczynski (JMS), wrote a staggering 92 of the 110 episodes and was involved in every aspect of production. It showed. Tight plotting and satisfying pay offs. Didn’t feel like it was being made up as they went along.

Influences from the greats of science fiction: Asimov, Clarke, Herbert and others. Tolkien too. Great worldbuilding and mythmaking, blending elements of real world mythology and history.

It wasn’t a utopian vision of the future. More grounded and “gritty” than anything else at the time (Deep Space Nine plagiarism debates notwithstanding). Didn’t pull its punches, not afraid to challenge viewers or pose difficult questions (see Believers, season one). The Earth government (“the good guys”) slow slide towards authoritarianism (nods to Orwell) is jarring and more relevant now than it was when it was written during the optimism of the 90s.

I’d never seen anything so well planned out and sustained over a five year period. And haven’t since. I was gripped. I’d tape episodes to rewatch and later bought many on VHS.

Highly recommended. Still holds up if you can overlook the early CGI (rendered on Amiga).

A novel for the screen. Except with the realities and complications of a complex television production. Like the departure of its lead. Michael O’Hare.

Back to the signing.

I found out about it late. I wanted to go but was working and couldn’t get a lunch break to line up with the event. Went later anyway hoping to catch the end.

Shop was quiet, no queue. Babylon 5 had only recently finished and had a sizeable following, so absence of people meant I’d missed it.

Went inside and asked. I was over but Michael was still there. Upstairs having lunch. They asked if I wanted to join him. Surprised and nervous, I said “yes!” They checked with him and then took me upstairs. I had my own lunch with me.

He was sitting at a table eating a salad. And then there I was. Sat down opposite Commander Sinclair. He smiled at me.

We talked but I can’t really remember anything. I’m sure I asked some character and plot related questions. A bit awestruck.

All I remember is that he was nice. Kind and warm. And clearly fine having lunch with a fan, even after what must’ve been a long session.

Like other fans I’d wondered why he’d left the show so suddenly. It had felt unexpected and unplanned. Within the narrative it was well handled later and eventually the character’s departure (with a couple of guest appearances) was tied up beautifully.

Many had assumed studio interference. That he’d been fired or let go.

I hadn’t asked about any of that. It felt a bit too personal.

We had lunch. We chatted. I got a signed photo. I left happy and didn’t think much about it.

It would be another 13 years before I found out why he’d left.

Michael O’Hare passed away in 2012. He was 60.

Afterwards JMS opened up about the severe mental illness Michael had faced. Paranoia and delusions. He had decided to leave Babylon 5 voluntarily before things got too bad, before it affected the other actors, the show and the fans. He continued to support the show after his departure. Like at the event I went to.

This affected me deeply when I read about it. Not as severe, but I’ve struggled with my own mental health issues. But mostly it just made me sad because I’d met the man. Sat down, talked and shared lunch with him. Connected, even if it was only briefly.

I’d gone to other signings with actors from Babylon 5. They were on a big circuit promoting the post series TV movies around 1999. Sadly many of them are no longer with us either.

Mira Furlan, Andreas Katsulas, Richard Biggs, Jerry Doyle and others. “Passed beyond the rim.” RIP.

But it’s my lunch with Commander Sinclair I’ll always remember.

No, my lunch with Michael O’Hare.

I’m more interested in the man than the character. His courage and dignity in stepping down and then continuing to support the show. His fight against mental illness. His love for the fans.

I’m glad I got to meet him.

RIP Michael O’Hare.

Babylon 5 is due a rewatch.