Ralph Offenhouse was a male Human financier born in 1939.

In the late 20th century, he was diagnosed with terminal cardiomyopathy that was inoperable. He had himself cryogenically frozen in 1994, hoping that when he awoke, science would have found a cure. He was placed in a cryonics satellite which was launched into Earth orbit.

The satellite drifted away in space for almost four hundred years, reaching the Kazis binary system, where it was detected by the USS Enterprise-D in 2364. Only three of the inhabitants' booths had survived: Offenhouse's, Clare Raymond's, and L.Q. Clemonds'. Offenhouse was unfrozen and his condition cured.

As a financier, Offenhouse was shocked by the fact that humanity no longer used money. Despite extensive plans to provide for himself in the future financially, he was unable to locate his bank accounts. Offenhouse was frustrated by his new surroundings and his apparent lack of control of the situation.

Offenhouse complained to the crew and criticized the ship before being scolded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard for inappropriate use of the ship's communications system. During negotiations with the Romulans, Offenhouse made his way to the bridge and offered Picard unsolicited advice, annoying Picard. Picard then conceded that Offenhouse had given insight into the situation.

Along with the other two survivors from the 20th century, Offenhouse was later transported to Earth aboard the USS Charleston. Before he left, Picard urged him to use his new lease on life to improve and enrich himself. (TNG: "The Neutral Zone")

Background information

Ralph Offenhouse was played by Peter Mark Richman.

Offenhouse also appears in the novel Debtors' Planet, where he has parlayed his financial expertise – all but obsolete within the Federation – into a new career as an ambassador to the Ferengi Alliance.

In the Eugenics Wars novel The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Volume One, he funded the scientists responsible for the creation of Khan Noonien Singh in 1970.

Furthermore, he is depicted as the Federation Secretary of Commerce at the time of the Borg Invasion of 2381 in Mere Mortals.

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