(written from a Production point of view)
Benjamin Svetkey (born 1 April 1960; age 64) is a reporter for the Entertainment Weekly magazine who wrote a behind-the-scenes story, titled "Infiltrating Deep Space Nine", in 1992 and appeared as a background alien, a Peliar Zel native, in the I AM ERROR first season episode "Emissary".
The article which was published in issue #137, 25 September 1992, described Svetkey's set visit for "Emissary" and featured him prominently on the cover of the issue along with Armin Shimerman as Quark, Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn, and an unknown actress as an alien dabo girl. [1]
Svetkey, who was invited to visit the set arrived at 7 am at Paramount Stage 4 where make up artist Gil Mosko put his make up on. [2] According to Svetkey, he was too small to portray a Klingon and too tall to be a Ferengi so he ended up being a "5'9" asparagus spear". For the article he interviewed Armin Shimerman, Rene Auberjonois, and Avery Brooks.