Michael Shanks

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Michael Shanks
Birth name Michael Garrett Shanks
Born December 15, 1970 (age 36)
Vancouver, British Columbia Flag of Canada Canada
Spouse(s) Lexa Doig (2003 - present)
Notable roles Daniel Jackson in
Stargate SG-1

Michael Garrett Shanks (born December 15, 1970 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a Canadian actor who achieved fame for his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson on the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1. He also provided the voice of the recurring character Thor on the same series.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

After graduating from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1994, Shanks played in several stage productions, serving a two year apprenticeship with the prestigious Stratford Festival in Ontario. He made guest appearances on TV series like Highlander, University Hospital, and The Outer Limits. He also played in the TV movie A Family Divided and The Call of the Wild before accepting his role in Stargate SG-1.

[edit] Career

Shanks played Daniel Jackson throughout the first five seasons of the series before leaving the show, apparently citing creative differences concerning the underuse of his character. He made several guest appearances throughout the sixth season (also working with wife Lexa Doig on Andromeda), playing his own character and voicing the Asgard character Thor. A fan campaign (Save Daniel Jackson) followed. He returned for the seventh and subsequent seasons. He only signed up for 16 of the 20 episodes in the tenth season, taking some time off in late March 2006 for the birth of his third child (second with fellow actress Lexa Doig).

Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson in Stargate SG-1
Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson in Stargate SG-1

In 2002, he starred in the German/UK/South African co-production Sumuru, a science fiction movie, as the astronaut Adam Wade. He also auditioned for the role of Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis and was a fan favorite to play the role of Tobin Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (although it is unknown if he was ever actually approached for the role). He made a crossover appearance in the Stargate Atlantis pilot.

On March 12, 2007, it was announced that he had joined the Fox Network show 24 as Michael Bishop in a 4 episode arc for season 6.

[edit] Private life

On August 2, 2003, Shanks married actress Lexa Doig, and on September 13, 2004 they welcomed a daughter, Mia Tabitha. In March 2006, they welcomed a son, Samuel David. Shanks also has another daughter, Tatiana, born in 1998 from his relationship with model and actress Vaitiare Bandera.

His best friend is also his Stargate SG-1 co-star Christopher Judge who plays the role of the Jaffa teammate, Teal'c.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Starring roles

Year Title Role Other notes
1995 A Family Divided Todd
1997 The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon Fellow Gambler #1
1997 Stargate SG-1 Dr. Daniel Jackson / Voice of Thor 1997-2002, 2003-2007
1999 Escape from Mars Bill Malone, Mission Architect
2000 Suspicious River Ball cap man
2000 Mr. Fortune's Smile James
2000 The Artist's Circle Artist
2001 Suddenly Naked Danny Blair/Donny Blitzer
2002 All Around the Town Justin Donnelly
2002 Door to Door John Brady
2003 Sumuru Adam Wade
2005 Swarmed Kent TV
2005 Stargate SG-1: The Alliance (Cancelled) Dr. Daniel Jackson (voice) Video Game - cancelled

[edit] Guest-starring roles

Year Title Role Episode
1993 "Highlander" Jesse Collins 2.6 "The Zone"
1993 "The Commish" Sean 3.6 "Rising Sun"
1994 "Madison" Gordon 2.5 "Junior Partner"
1995 "University Hospital" Jake 1.9 "Shadow of a Doubt"
1998 "The Outer Limits" Melburn Ross 4.15 "Mary 25"
2000 "The Outer Limits" Dr. Will Olsten 6.4 "Manifest Destiny"
2001 "Andromeda" Gabriel 1.20 "Star-Crossed"
2002 "The Chris Isaak Show" Trevor 2.14 "The Hidden Mommy"
2002 "The Twilight Zone" Donnie 1.3 "Shades of Guilt"
2003 "Andromeda" Remiel/Balance of Judgment 3.21 "Day of Judgement, Day of Wrath"
2004 "Andromeda" Gabriel (archive footage) 4.19 "A Symmetry of Imperfection"
2004 "Stargate: Atlantis" Dr. Daniel Jackson 1.1 "Rising: Part 1"
2005 "CSI: Miami" Doug Stets 4.11 "Payback"
2007 24 Michael Bishop

[edit] Director

Year Title Other Notes
2001 "Stargate SG-1" TV Series (episode 4.21 "Double Jeopardy")

[edit] Writer

Year Title Other Notes
2003 "Stargate SG-1" (TV Series) (story) (episode 7.11 "Evolution: Part 1")
2004 "Stargate SG-1" (TV Series) (episode 7.19 "Resurrection")

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Shanks, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Canadian actor
DATE OF BIRTH December 15, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH Kamloops, British Comlumbia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH