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The Skeleton Helmsman is a character who originated from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attractions. Hence his name, he is a deceased sailor controlling the helm.

History[]

Background[]

The helmsman was once a sailor (likely a pirate) aboard a sailing ship in the 18th century. While sailing of the coast of Isla Tesoro's Hurricane Lagoon in the Caribbean, their ship was beached within the island's Ghostly Grotto. It was here that the helmsman would die in the wreck.

The helmsman's skeleton would remain intact for years to come, doomed to sail through an endless storm for all eternity. It is believed that like so many of the grotto's residents, the helmsman is haunted by the ghost of its mortal self.

Development History[]

The Skeleton Helmsman was designed by Marc Davis and slated to appear in Pirates of the Caribbean since it was being developed as a walk-through wax-museum in Disneyland. The helmsman would appear in the final ride and become one of the staples of the attraction's iconography.

Originally, the helmsman was to have dialogue play for his scene, recorded by Paul Frees, about his braving through the storm. According to this cut dialogue, the ship he was steering contained The Royal Fortune and was headed for the Spanish Main. The Royal Fortune being the name historically given to the ships of pirate Captain Bartholomew Roberts who was featured in old scripts for the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Originally it was represented with an authentic human-skeleton due to the lacking quality of fake skeletons of the day. The original skeletons were eventually phased out for more realistic props however it is noted that parts of the original bones are apparently still present in the current figures.

Due to the success of the attraction at Disneyland, the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was later constructed in Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris where it features the same scene with the helmsman.

Appearances[]

Pirates of the Caribbean[]

The helmsman was seen in the Dead Man's Cove sequence where he is seen controlling a helm hence his name on a stormy sea located on Hurricane Lagoon before guests pass through the Crew's Quarters.

In Walt Disney World, the helmsman is found nearby the Talking Skull before guests go over a waterfall and into the golden-age of piracy. When the skull's eyes flash red they are taking a photo of guests in-front of the helmsman which can be obtained after the ride ends. In Disneyland Paris, the helmsman is seen alongside an undead Captain Barbossa who chuckles and slashes at guests at they pass by the beached vessel.

Battle for the Sunken Treasure[]

The scene where the riders pass through Hurricane Harbor was recreated and redesigned where the helmsman transforms into Jack Sparrow.

Other Appearances[]

Video games[]

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End[]

In the Davy Jones' Locker segment of this video-game, one of the damned sailors is a skeleton helmsman who disappears when encountered by Jack.

Kinect: Disneyland Adventures[]

The helmsman is one of the skeleton enemies in the Dead Man's Cove level of this video-game, attacking the player and Black Barty. The helmsman is seen in the cutscene introducing the skeletons and has the difference in adaptation of having a hook-hand.

Disney Crossy Road[]

The Skeleton Helmsman is a playable character in this movie game. His model has him permanently standing on a wooden platform while holding a helm as Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) plays.

Trivia[]

  • While the helmsman himself never appeared in any of the film series, he was featured in the first official poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
  • Originally, the helmsman was to have dialogue play for his scene, recorded by Paul Frees, about his braving through the storm. According to this cut dialogue, the ship he was steering contained the Royal Fortune and was headed for the Spanish Main. The Royal Fortune being the name historically given to the ships of pirate Captain Bartholomew Roberts who was featured in old scripts for the Pirates of the Caribbean.
  • During development of the original Pirates of the Caribbean before it become a log-flume attraction, the helmsman was named, "Jolly Roger" according to Marc Davis and Walt Disney. However, the helmsman was not given a proper name in recent merchandise inspired by the franchise. "Jolly Roger" would later be the name of the main villain in the discontinued video game Pirates of the Caribbean Online.
  • It is sometimes theorized he might have been helmsman for the crew of the Wicked Wench due to their appearances as skeletons in the scene proceeding the helmsman's wreck. The truth to this remains a mystery.

Gallery[]

External links[]


v - e - d
Pirates-of-the-caribbean-collection-logo
Media
Films: The Curse of the Black Pearl (video/soundtrack) • Dead Man's Chest (video/soundtrack) • At World's End (video/soundtrack) • On Stranger Tides (video/soundtrack) • Dead Men Tell No Tales (video/soundtrack)

Short Films: Tales of the Code: Wedlocked
Books: Jack Sparrow prequel novels • Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide • Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Ultimate Sticker Book)
Video Games: Pirates of the Caribbean • The Legend of Jack Sparrow • Pirates of the Caribbean Online • Disney Universe • Kingdom Hearts II • Pirates of the Caribbean Multiplayer Mobile • LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End • Pirates of the Caribbean (pinball) • Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest • Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas • Disney Infinity • Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Kingdom Hearts III • Disney Sorcerer's Arena • Sea of Thieves: A Pirate's Life • Disney Speedstorm

Disney Parks
New Orleans Square • Treasure Cove • Pirateland • Pirate Takeover • A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas • El Teatro Fandango • Jungle River Cruise: Pirate Takeover! • Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island • Pirates of the Caribbean • Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure • Shipwreck Shore • Siren's Revenge • The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow • Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for Buccaneer Gold • Bilge Rat Bill's Explorer Canoes

Entertainment: Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial • Eye of the Storm: Captain Jack's Stunt Spectacular • Fantasmic! • Pirates Summer Battle "Get Wet!"
Restaurants: Blue Bayou Restaurant • Pintel & Ragetti's Grub to Grab • The Snackin’ Kraken • Tortuga Tavern • Tortuga Treats
Shops: Doubloon Market • Jolly Gypsy • Pirates League • Pirate Treasure
Fireworks: Celebrate the Magic • Disney Enchantment • Disney Movie Magic • Fantasy in the Sky • Happily Ever After • Ignite the Dream: A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light • Magic, Music and Mayhem • The Magic, the Memories and You • Remember... Dreams Come True • World of Color
Halloween: Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade • Pirates of the Caribbean Ghost Trail • The Nightmare Experiment

Characters
The Curse of the Black Pearl: Jack Sparrow • Hector Barbossa • Joshamee Gibbs • Will Turner • Elizabeth Swann • James Norrington • Governor Weatherby Swann • Pintel and Ragetti • Jack the Monkey • Cotton • Marty • Murtogg and Mullroy • Theodore Groves • Anamaria • Cotton's Parrot • Gillette • Giselle • Scarlett • Bo'sun • Jacoby • Koehler • Twigg • Mallot • Grapple • Weatherby • Executioner of Port Royal

Dead Man's Chest: Davy Jones • Cutler Beckett • Ian Mercer • Tia Dalma • Kraken • Bootstrap Bill • Maccus • Clanker • Penrod • Angler • Ratlin • Koleniko • Hadras • Palifico • Ogilvey • Crash • Wyvern • Greenbeard • Jimmy Legs • Leech • Bellamy • Prison Ravens • Pelegostos Tribe
At World's End: Sao Feng • Tai Huang • Lian and Park • Steng • Eduardo Villanueva • Sri Sumbhajee • Capitaine Chevalle • Ammand the Corsair • Jocard • Mistress Ching • Captain Teague • Morey • Greitzer • Davy Jones' Locker Crabs
On Stranger Tides: Angelica • Blackbeard • Philip Swift • Syrena • Garheng • Salaman • Scrum • Derrick • Ezekiel • Gunner • Quartermaster • Cook • Marina • Mermaids • Tamara • Spaniard • King Ferdinand • King George II • John Carteret • Henry Pelham • Redcoats
Dead Men Tell No Tales: Captain Salazar • Lesaro • Henry Turner • Carina Smyth • Uncle Jack • Scarfield • Shansa • Mayor Dix • Ghost Sharks • Ghost Seagulls
Tales of the Code: Mungard • Marquis d'Avis
Attraction: Redd • Auctioneer • Pirate Captain • Captain X • Prison Dog • Tiny • Seedy Prisoners • Hook Hand Pirate • Skeleton Helmsman • Barker Bird • Beacon Joe • The Pooped Pirate • Old Bill • Shy Albert • Carlos • Fortune Red • Captain Gore • Jean Lafitte • Tom Sawyer • Carlos' Wife • Skeleton Pillager • Skeleton Pirate Captain • Treasure Skeleton • Pirate Robber • Treasure Octopus • Hungry Pirate • Scalawag • Coote • Thurl • Billie How • Taliban Pirate • Pirate Assistant • Captive Guards • Sword Skeleton Pirate • Hook Hand Skeleton Pirate • Alligators
Video Games: Black Barty • Jolly Roger
Books: Montezuma • James the Mysterious • Arabella Smith • Silver

Organizations
Crew of the Black Pearl • Cursed Crew • Crew of the Flying Dutchman • East India Trading Company • Brethren Court • Spaniard's crew • Blackbeard's Zombie Officers • Crew of the Silent Mary • Crew of the Wicked Wench
Locations
Isla Tesoro • Dead Man's Cove • Blue Bayou Lagoon • Port Royal, Jamaica • Fort Charles • Tortuga • Rumrunner's Isle • Isla de Muerta • Pelegostos • Isla Cruces • Pantano River • Singapore • Sao Feng's Bathhouse • Davy Jones' Locker • Shipwreck Cove • London, England • Spain • Whitecap Bay • Fountain of Youth • Saint Martin • Poseidon's Tomb
Ships/Boats
Wicked Wench • Black Pearl • Flying Dutchman • Queen Anne's Revenge • HMS Interceptor • HMS Dauntless • HMS Endeavor • Jolly Mon • Silent Mary • The Sailing Ship Columbia
Objects
Jack Sparrow's hat • Jack Sparrow's sword • Jack Sparrow's compass • Cursed Treasure • Treasure of Cortés • Elizabeth Swann's gold medallion • Ragetti's wooden eye • Jar of Dirt • Davy Jones' pipe organ • Key to the Dead Man's Chest • Dead Man's Chest • Mao Kun Map • Pirata Codex • Jack Sparrow's Pirate Beads • Sword of Triton • Jack Sparrow Voodoo Doll • Chalices of Cartagena • Dark Magic • Voodoo • Davy Jones and Calypso's Lockets • Trident of Poseidon
Music
"Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" • Theme park soundtrack • Soundtrack Treasures Collection • Pirates of the Caribbean and Other Villains • Swashbuckling Sea Songs • 1966 soundtrack • The Medallion Calls • He's a Pirate • Pirates Remixed • Hoist the Colours • My Jolly Sailor Bold
See Also
Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game • Liar's Dice • Pirates of the Scareibbean • Swashbucklers • Calypso's Maelstrom


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Media
Disney Crossy Road • Soundtrack
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The Lion King: Simba • Nala • Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed • Ostrich • Gazelle • Rhino • Hippo • Zebra • Blue Beetle • Grub • Zazu • Rafiki • Timon • Pumbaa • Mufasa • Scar
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Wreck-It Ralph: Ralph • Vanellope • Felix • Sgt. Calhoun • King Candy • Taffyta Muttonfudge • Candlehead • Surge Protector • Gene • Nicelanders • Rancis Fluggerbutter • Other Sugar Rush Racers • Sour Bill • Blue Racer • General Hologram
Big Hero 6: Hiro Hamada • Baymax • Robert Callaghan • Go Go Tomago • Honey Lemon • Wasabi • Fred • Fred's Dad • Tadashi Hamada • Cass • Yama • Alistair Krei • Heathcliff • Abbigail Callaghan • Megabot • Sergeant Gerson • Cass
Zootopia: Judy Hopps • Nick Wilde • Flash • Clawhauser • Gazelle • Yax • Bogo • Mayor Lionheart • Bellwether • Doug • Finnick • Mr. Big • Mr. Otterton • Manchas • Gideon • Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. • Nangi • Priscilla • Mr. Hopps • Mrs. Hopps • Business Lemming • Duke Weaselton • Fru Fru • Kozlov • Officer McHorn • Wrangled • Wreck-It Rhino • Pig Hero 6
The Jungle Book: Mowgli • Kaa • Baloo • Akela • Raksha • Gray • Shere Khan • Colonel Hathi • King Louie • Bandar-Log Monkey • Flying Squirrel • Crocodile • Peacock • Vulture • Elephant • Bee Hive • Classic Baloo • Classic King Louie
Alice Through the Looking Glass: Alice Kingsleigh • Dormouse • Tweedledee and Tweedledum • Cheshire Cat • Bandersnatch • Bayard • White Queen • March Hare • White Rabbit • Mad Hatter • Absolem • Time • Wilkins • Humpty Dumpty • Red Queen • Borogrove • Frog Delivery Man • Gentleman Fish • Vegetable Soldier • Vegetable Servant • Vegetable Executioner • Armored Chess Piece
Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow • Will Turner • Elizabeth Swann • Joshamee Gibbs • Tia Dalma • James Norrington • Marty • Cotton • Bootstrap Bill • Pintel • Ragetti • Angelica • Blackbeard • Prison Dog • Maccus • Davy Jones • Helmsman • Philip Swift • Syrena • Captain Salazar • Ghost Lesaro • Shansa • Henry Turner • Carina Smyth • The Redhead • Murtogg • Mullroy • Treasure Chest • Stray Cat • Tiny • Pirate With Pigs • Ghost Shark • Ghost Seagull • Auctioneer
Aladdin: Aladdin • Jasmine • The Sultan • Prince Achmed • Gazeem • Razoul • Rajah • Iago • Abu • Genie • Jafar • Magic Carpet • Pink Flamingo • Beggar Jafar • Golden Scarab Beetle • Magic Lamp • Snake Charmer • Golden Camel
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Jack Skellington • Sally • Lock, Shock, and Barrel • Oogie Boogie • Santa Claus • Behemoth • Wolfman • Corpse Family • Vampires • Mummy Boy • Mayor of Halloween Town • Dr. Finkelstein • Jewel • Harlequin Demon • Zero • Creature Under the Stairs • Hanging Tree • Helgamine and Zeldaborn • Melting Man • Skeletal Reindeer • Easter Bunny • Mr. Hyde • Igor • Winged Demon • Devil • Cyclops • Mummy Boy • Accordion Player, Bass Player, and Saxophone Player • Zombie Toy Duck • Vampire Teddy
Mulan: Mulan • Yao, Ling, and Chien Po • Fa Li • Fa Zhou • Hayabusa • Khan • Cri-Kee • Little Brother • Mushu • Shan Yu • Captain Li Shang • The Emperor of China • The Matchmaker • General Li • Grandmother Fa • First Ancestor Fa • Chi-Fu • Great Stone Dragon
Moana: Moana • Sina • Frigatebird • Chief Tui • Gramma Tala • Pua • Frigatebird • Kakamora Chief • Maui • HeiHei • Ghost Matai • Eel • Tamatoa • Frog Monster • Sloth Monster • Eight Eyed Bat • Chicken Feed • Maui's Hook • The Ocean
Beauty and the Beast: Belle • Maurice • Chip Potts • Mrs. Potts • Gaston • LeFou • FrouFrou • Chapeau • Plumette • Beast • Cogsworth • Lumiere • The Enchantress
Lilo & Stitch: Lilo Pelekai • Nani Pelekai • David Kawena • Mrs. Hasagawa • Mertle Edmonds • Stitch
DuckTales: Scrooge McDuck • Donald Duck (Classic) • Huey, Dewey, and Louie • Webbigail Vanderquack • Mrs. Beakley • Beagle Boys (Big Time, Burger, and Bouncer) • Gyro • Darkwing Duck • Falcon Graves • Pixiu Chinese Dragon • Peghook's Ghost • Launchpad McQuack • Hack and Slash Smashnikov • Gizmoduck • Shadow Magica • Ma Beagle • Flintheart Glomgold • Pharaoh Toth-Ra • Headless Man-Horse

Pixar
Toy Story: Woody ��� Jessie • Buzz Lightyear • Hamm • Emperor Zurg • Rex • Slinky Dog • Mrs. Nesbit • Bo Peep • Wheezy • Babyhead • Bullseye • Lenny • The Prospector • Mint in the Box Prospector • Trixie • Big Baby • Green Army Men • Babyface • Janey Doll • Stretch • Bookworm • Rocky Gibraltar • Mr. Pricklepants • Chuckles • Buttercup

Inside Out: Joy • Sadness • Anger • Disgust • Fear • Bing Bong • Frank and Dave • Forgetters • Brain Workers • Jangles • Dream Director • Rainbow Unicorn
Finding Dory: Dory • Deb • Gurgle • Pearl • Sheldon • Tad • Gill • Bloat • Squirt • Nemo • Marlin • Jacques • Bubbles • Destiny • Bailey • Gerald • Fluke • Rudder • Hank • Crush • Mr. Ray • Becky • Jellyfish • AnglerFish • Otter • Charlie • Jenny • Philip Sherman
Monsters, Inc.: Boo • Needleman • Waxford • C.D.A. Agent • Mike Wazowski • Celia Mae • Flint • Mr. Waternoose • James P. Sullivan • Randall Boggs • Roz • Phlegm • Charlie • Simulation Kid • Garbage Cube • Harley • Spike
The Incredibles: Bob Parr • Helen Parr • Dash • Violet • Jack-Jack • Lucius Best • Syndrome • Edna Mode • Rick Dicker • Gilbert Huph • Kari McKeen • Bomb Voyage • Rusty McAllister • The Underminer • Omnidroid

Disney Parks
The Haunted Mansion: Professor Phineas Plump • Maid • Gargoyle • Caretaker and Dog • Butler • Sally Slater • Headless Knight • Executioner • Spider • Madame Leota • Raven • Constance the Bride • The Orator • The Cat Lady • The Medusa • The Muse • Armor • Doom Buggy
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