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- "Korben, my man? I have no fire."
- ―Ruby Rhod standing at Fire [src]
Ruby Rhod is a famous host of a two-hour radio show featured on Radio Cosmos from 5 to 7 p.m. The show's sponsor is Gemini Croquettes, with over fifty billion people — roughly a quarter of the Federated Territories population — listening to his show. He has a very unorthodox wardrobe and an exotic fashion sense. In many ways, his effeminate manner rises to the surface either when he is exposed to danger, or when he is simply annoyed by your presence.
Biography
Ruby is very high strung and is easily annoyed. He tends to treat those he considers beneath him with disdain and in a haughty manner. Despite appearances, he does have an aggressive sexual nature and behaves very seductively. In many instances, he is shown flirting with every woman he sees, no matter their status, causing them to either faint or give into his flattery. This is most evident with the stewardesses of the space airport. With one he gets up in her face and speaks very suggestively, causing her to swoon. Another stewardess, who works in zone 2 of the Fhloston Paradise space shuttle, was trying to do her job and get the passengers into sleep stasis. She puts up a token resistance, but he pursues her aggressively. He appears to be performing oral sex on her, causing her to become pliant, and she submits to his seduction after he tells her he never felt this way before... with a human.
He ends up sticking with Korben after the Mangalore warriors disrupt the opera. Although he's not a great help, he does end up documenting the whole affair when his mic stays live throughout. Ruby stays with Korben, even helping to activate the Elemental Stones, but once it's all over and Evil is stopped cold, his final nerve finally snaps, and he storms out of the temple and exits stage left.
Trivia
- Rhod is portrayed by comedic actor, Chris Tucker, who costarred with actor Tommy Lister Jr. in the 1995 stoner comedy Friday. Tucker portrayed Smokey, while Lister portrayed the intimidating Deebo. A year after the release of The Fifth Element, Tucker went on to portray LAPD Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour trilogy, costarring with Jackie Chan.
- Luc Besson had originally cast the famed musician and actor Prince to play Ruby Rhod, but according to Besson, scheduling conflicts prevented Prince from taking the role. Tucker was ultimately cast because, again according to Besson, he would make Bruce Willis appear bigger in comparison. Jamie Foxx was also auditioned, but he lost out to Tucker for being too buff.
- In the original script and novelization, Ruby Rhod was named Loc Rhod. He was also the one to discover how to open the elemental stones rather than David.