Mr. Gold

"Magic always comes with a price!" — his iconic catchphrase.

Mr. Gold, also known as Rumplestiltskin, is a major character in ABC's Once Upon a Time. He is known for making many deals, and is the owner of Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer. Gold is portrayed by skilled actor Robert Carlyle.

Before the Curse
When Snow White and Prince Charming become worried about the Queen's threat, they go to visit Rumplestiltskin in his cell, as he can see the future. Rumplestiltskin makes a deal with Snow, that he'll tell them the Queen's plan, if he knows the name of Snow and Charming's baby. The deal is struck, and Rumplestiltskin reveals that the Queen plans to enact the dark curse, which will consume them all. However, if they get their baby to safety, in 28 years that child will grow up to save them all. In return, Snow reluctantly informs Rumplestiltskin that the baby's name is "Emma".

He is visited again, this time by the evil Queen, who reveals that he created the dark curse. She complains that her attempt to cast it didn't work. However, it is revealed that she used the heart of her childhood steed, which angers Rumplestiltskin. Regina and he make a deal, he will tell her the ingredient, if - in the dark curse - she must obey his very request as long as she says "please", to which she agrees. He tells her that in order to enact the curse, she has to rip out the heart of the thing she loves most - the Queen's father. Regina's lust for revenge overtakes her need for love and she ends up releasing the dark curse, and he is one of the many people that are consumed by it.

Season 1
He, in his cursed state, is later seen collecting rent from Granny's Bed and Breakfast, when he sees a new woman in town checking in, a certain Emma Swan. Gold points out that Emma is a lovely name, suddenly the curse lifts on him and he remembers his past life.

Mr. Gold later visits Regina, and drops subtle hints that he isn't cursed anymore. It is revealed that Gold was one who gave baby Henry to Regina, but Regina begins to think it isn't an accident. She becomes very curious about who this Emma Swan is, and Gold says that if she wanted to get rid of Emma, she should have gone to him. Regina attempts to interrogate him, but he dodges her with a well-placed "please", shocking Regina as he walks off.

Relationships

 * Milah Gold
 * Cora Mills
 * Belle French

Appearances

 * S1, E1: "Pilot"
 * S1, E2: "The Thing You Love Most"
 * S1, E4: "The Price of Gold"