Tim Choate was a Dallas-born actor who initially considered himself more suited for the stage than the screen. With a solid background in stagecraft, he had performed on Broadway, including 300 shows in the Pulitzer Prize-winning production of "Crimes of the Heart", and at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, where he starred in "The Philanthropist".
He also appeared alongside Stacy Keach in Peter Sellars's 1986 New York production of Robert E. Sherwood's "Idiot's Delight", playing a French communist with an impenetrable "nouvelle" accent, according to a New York magazine reviewer.
On screen, Tim had a long association with Merchant/Ivory films, making his debut in "The Europeans" in 1979. However, it was in television that he had a significant impact. In an interview, he explained that he felt comfortable in heavy makeup and using diverse accents, citing Paul Muni and Robert De Niro as among his role models. He added that by becoming chameleon-like, it became easier to "take risks" with his performances.
As a result, he developed the character of Zathras in the TV series "Babylon 5" in 1993, a pivotal recurring role with full prosthetic makeup, which greatly illuminated the complex story arc of the series between seasons one and three. According to Tim, he "channeled" the accent of Zathras within minutes of the audition while waiting in a parking lot.
Zathras was also played with a wonderful sense of impromptu humor, which endeared the character to audiences worldwide. Sadly, Tim Choate died at the age of 49 as a result of a motorcycle accident while on his way to rehearsals for the play "Macbeth" at the Globe Playhouse.
