| T-1000 | |
|---|---|
| Terminator character | |
 | |
| First appearance | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) |
| Last appearance | Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) |
| Created by | James Cameron William Wisher Jr. |
| Portrayed by | Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) Lee Byung-hun (Terminator Genisys) |
| In-universe information | |
| Species | Android |
| Occupation | Terminator |
| Manufacturer | Skynet |
| Model | T-1000 |
The T-1000 is a fictional character in the Terminator franchise, debuting as the main antagonist in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The character was originally portrayed by Robert Patrick, marking his breakout role.
In the franchise, the T-1000 is a Terminator, a line of android assassins created by the artificial intelligence Skynet. In the future, Skynet is engaged in a war against humans, who are led by John Connor. In Terminator 2, the T-1000 is sent back in time to kill young John.
The T-1000 is made up of a liquid metal, known in the film as mimetic polyalloy, which allows it to shapeshift into other people or objects that come into contact with it. The liquid metal effects were created through computer-generated imagery by Industrial Light & Magic, and through practical effects by Stan Winston.
The character, including Patrick's performance and the visual effects, were praised by critics. Since then, the T-1000 has been parodied or referenced in other media. The shapeshifting abilities have also been re-used for subsequent machines in the Terminator franchise, including the T-X, the T-1001, and the Rev-9.
Patrick briefly reprised the role for T2-3D: Battle Across Time, a 1996 theme park attraction. The T-1000 also briefly returns in the 2015 film Terminator Genisys, a reboot of the series, with Lee Byung-hun in the role.