When Lost debuted on ABC back in 2004, audiences were plunged into the lives of a group of survivors on a strange island following the wreck of Oceanic Flight 815. One of those individuals was Ethan Rom, a quiet figure who soon revealed himself as one of the show’s earliest mysteries.

Portrayed by William Mapother, Ethan’s short yet unsettling time on screen made a lasting impression on the acclaimed survival drama. So, who is Ethan in the world of Lost, and what makes him stick in the minds of fans years later?

Who Is Ethan Rom in Lost?

Ethan Rom first appears in Lost Season 1, Episode 5, "White Rabbit," slipping effortlessly into the crowd of stranded passengers. What’s both clever and chilling about his arrival is how ordinary he seems at first — reserved, cooperative, and remarkably unremarkable. Still, there’s a faint whisper of something strange, which is a tension series creators J.J. Abrams,...