The Elder, real name 'Thbbbbbbbth' also known as The Ancient One, (played by Vidal Peterson) is the most knowledgeable of all Orkan Elders who comes to Earth (Putting the Ork Back in Mork, Part 1) to try and see if it's possible to restore Mork's Orkan-ness after Mork is infected by Observers Syndrome which has made him more Earthling than Alien.
Character summary[]
The Elder, is the oldest and greatest of the Orkan Elders. Exceptionally knowledgeable and skillful, he is also an Eggs-orcist, capable of undertaking the highly dangerous task of extracting alien spirits from Orkans. At Orson's request, he makes the journey to Earth to see if Mork's Orkan nature can be restored so he can avoid being recalled, painted purple, and ostracized from Orkan society. As Orkan's age backwards he has the appearance of a 10 year old boy, but is the equivalent of 86 Earth Years of age (though it should be noted he's not actually 86, but a great deal older than that, it's just the equivalence). As his name, Thbbbbbbbth, awkwardly sounds like a blown raspberry, means both Mindy and Mork generally refer to him as Sir or Your Eminence.
The Elder is curt, short tempered and used to being obeyed. A harsh taskmaster, he does not at first appreciate in anyway how Earthlike Mork has become, nor does he see any reason for Mork's attachment to Mindy and feels they could construct a better version of her for Mork back on Ork (with a power seat). But by the end of his first visit, after interacting with Mork & Mindy, he has come to realize how such an attachment has formed, and that in order for Mork to not stand out on Earth the way he would, Mork must have *some* Earthlike qualities so he can do his job for Ork properly. He also finds he likes the more tactile aspects of Earth, and has himself come to form an attachment to the pair (though especially to Mindy) wanting to know if he can return at a later point.
Which he does, on his Birthday, notably especially to see Mindy again, disappointed at her being absent, and discovering that his contention that he could build Mork a 'better Mindy' was also false, and that "A Mindy" is more than the sum of her apparent parts .
Personality[]
Thbbbbbbbth is, as Orkans are supposed to be, relatively emotionless, though he does exhibit signs of irritation and impatience with both Mork & Mindy. Supremely confident in his own judgement and pronouncements, as an Elder who is used to deferential treatment he does not take being questioned lightly and is sure he is never wrong. However, his exposure to Earth, and to Mindy, begins to alter his perception that he knows everything.
Her concern for his welfare and willingness to help him when he collapses, even after he has threatened to take Mork away from her, causes him to question his own understanding of how things are and should be done, and he shows that he is willing to adapt his thinking and begins to show signs of affection and attachment himself. Furthermore when he later (Mindy, Mindy, Mindy), in collaboration with Mork, tries to clone Mindy, he comes to realize that human's are not simple creatures and toys, and are far more complex then he realized. Accepting his limitations on this score, he chooses to take the clones back with him to further study and enhance his own knowledge.
Relationships[]
Friendship with Mork[]
The Elder's relationship with Mork is one of deference on the part of Mork, who is always super respectful to 'his fogeyness' in a way he is not to Orson. But the Elder is happy enough for Mork to address him by his given name, and appreciative of Mork's attempts to entertain him, as well as sharing a collective desire to spend some time with Mindy.
Friendship with Mindy[]
Starting off with a rivalry over the best interests of Mork, especially after he blames her for what's happened to Mork and starts ordering her about in her own house, Mindy and the Elder's relationship softens when she assures him all she wants to do is help get him back to who he was (and she lays hands on him, which gets his hearts going). It improves further when she helps him with the Eggsorcism on Mork. But the real turning point occurs when he collapses and she helps, cradling his head on her lap, concerned for his welfare, even while he was still going to take Mork away from her back to Ork, for good, something which both confuses him, and garners her the name 'The Soft Lapped One' from him, making him keen for a return journey. And Mindy is in fact a prime reason for his return on his birthday, hoping to spend further time with them, and her, coming away from that visit with the knowledge that Mindys and Humans are not the simple creatures they appear.