Editing Martok (section)

==Concept and production==
[[File:JGH_b&w_cigar.jpg|thumb|left|[[J. G. Hertzler]] was cast in this role.]]
J. G. Hertzler made his first appearance in the franchise in the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' pilot episode, "[[Emissary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)|Emissary]]", as a [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] Captain who is killed when his vessel is destroyed. Following this, he made his first appearance as a [[Klingon]] in the video game ''[[Star Trek: Klingon]]'', directed by [[Jonathan Frakes]] and also starring [[Robert O'Reilly]] as Chancellor [[Gowron]].<ref name="dayinthelife">{{cite magazine |title=A Day in the Life... J.G. Hertzler |magazine=Star Trek Explorer |date=2011 |volume=3 |issue=1 |page=18 }}</ref> When the producers of ''Deep Space Nine'' were casting Martok, Hertzler auditioned after initially not considering the role but found himself getting angry during the interview due to a comment from the director which he felt was insulting. However, this response led to him gaining the role, and it was included as a character trait for Martok.<ref name="dayinthelife" /><ref name="hertzler-reflects">{{cite web |date=June 29, 2019 |author=STARTREK.COM STAFF |title=J.G. Hertzler Reflects on His Many 'Trek' Roles |url=https://www.startrek.com/article/general-martok-from-ds9-j-g-hertzler |website=StarTrek.com }}</ref>

It took around three hours each day for the make-up to be applied to Hertzler by David Quashnick, who was the "specialist" who did both Hertzler and O'Reilly's Klingon make-up. Hertzler did not mind the process, but stated that having the prostheses block the sight in his left side could sometimes make filming difficult as he could not see when turning that way. He felt it was important to the character to remind him of the time spent on the [[Dominion (Star Trek)|Dominion]] prison world, and turned down the opportunity to have Martok's sight restored when it was suggested by executive producer [[Ira Steven Behr]]. In particular, Hertzler felt it gave the same air to Martok as [[Christopher Plummer]]'s character in ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]''.<ref name="dayinthelife" /><ref name="hertzler-reflects" />

In 2020, Hertzler talked about developing the character: "As a stage actor you usually get some weeks to rehearse, if you get lucky, and then you go on. And with Martok, I was able to work on him for four years. Now I am still doing it 25 years later!"<ref name="Bennett">{{cite web |date=8 September 2020 |last=Bennett |first=Tara |title=Star Trek Online 'House Divided' trailer rattles the Klingon cosmos with more General Martok |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/general-martok-star-trek-online-house-divided-trailer |website=SYFY WIRE }}</ref>

In an interview with [[Heavy (website)|''Heavy'']] in 2021, Hertzler discussed how it was working with the cast of ''Deep Space Nine''. He found it was intimidating at first, because the regular cast had worked with each other for years, and the Martok character had to "boss people around." However, he found the other actors welcomed him and helped him feel like he belonged.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zabiegalski |first=Robin |date=2021-04-19 |title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: J.G. Hertzler Gives Behind the Scenes Info on Costars |website=Heavy.com |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/interview-jg-hertzler-favorite-costars/ |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210515154945/https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/interview-jg-hertzler-favorite-costars/ |archive-date=2021-05-15 |access-date=2021-05-15 |url-status=live }}</ref>