Michael Shanks

Michael Garrett Shanks (born December 15, 1970) is a Canadian actor, writer and director. He is known for playing Dr. Daniel Jackson in the long-running Canadian–American military science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 and as Dr. Charles Harris on the Canadian medical drama Saving Hope.

Michael Shanks
Shanks in 2009
Born
Michael Garrett Shanks

(1970-12-15) December 15, 1970
Occupation
  • Actor
  • writer
  • director
Years active1993–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2003)
Children3

Early life

Shanks was born in Vancouver, and grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia. He attended the University of British Columbia and was in the BFA Acting Program from 1990 to 1994 and later appeared 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 and University Hospital, appeared in the TV movie A Family Divided and had a small role in The Call of the Wild, before winning the role of Daniel Jackson on Stargate SG-1.

Career

Stargate franchise

Shanks played archaeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson throughout the first five seasons of Stargate SG-1 before leaving the show at the end of its fifth season, citing creative differences concerning the under-use of his character and the direction of the show as a whole.[1] He made several guest appearances throughout the sixth season playing his own character, as well as voicing the Asgard character Thor. Shanks returned for the seventh and subsequent seasons, winning the Leo Award for Best Lead Performance By A Male in a Dramatic Series in 2004 for the seventh season episode "Lifeboat".[2] During the series' tenth and final season, he signed up for 16 of the 20 episodes, taking some time off in March 2006 for the birth of his third child (second with wife and occasional co-star Lexa Doig).

He appeared in both direct-to-DVD Stargate films released in 2008, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, and won the 2009 Leo Award for Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama for Continuum.[3]

In 2004, Shanks made a crossover appearance (as Daniel Jackson) in the Stargate Atlantis pilot, "Rising". He also appeared in the tenth and eleventh episodes of Atlantis' fifth and final season,[4] and made a cameo appearance in the pilot of the third Stargate series Stargate Universe. He also appeared in the episodes "Human" and "Subversion".[5]

Other appearances

In 2001, Shanks guest starred in the episode "Star-Crossed" in the Sci-Fi series Andromeda, during which he met his future wife, Lexa Doig. Coincidentally, they played two androids who fell in love with each other. In 2002, Shanks starred in the German/UK/South African co-production Sumuru, a science fiction B-movie, as astronaut Adam Wade. He also auditioned for the role of Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis.

In 2007, Shanks joined the Fox Network series 24, guest-starring as lobbyist Mark Bishop in a three-episode arc for season 6. In 2008–2009, Shanks had a recurring role on the second season of the USA Network spy series Burn Notice, playing Victor Stecker-Epps, a fellow burned spy and maniacal counterpoint to series lead Jeffrey Donovan's character. In 2008, Shanks had a guest starring role in one episode of the SciFi Channel series Eureka, as an alchemist somewhat responsible for the near destruction of the town due to a student's mixing chemicals in his lab and thereby creating the "Alchemist curse". He appeared in the episode "All That Glitters...", with a mention of his character in the episode "A Night At Global Dynamics".

Shanks was featured in a lead role in the SciFi Channel's adventure film, The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon as Jacob Thain opposite Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed alumna Shannen Doherty. The film premiered on the cable network on December 20, 2008. In 2010, Shanks appeared in an episode of Sanctuary, which stars fellow Stargate actor Amanda Tapping. In the same year he starred in the film Arctic Blast, a disaster film, as physicist Jack Tate.

Shanks' latest television guest roles were as archaeologist Carter Hall, DC Comics' superhero Hawkman, in the Smallville episode "Absolute Justice".[6] He later reprised the role in the final episode of the ninth season, and then in guest spots during the tenth season episodes "Shield" and "Icarus" as well as appearing in Supernatural season 5 episode "99 Problems". Shanks stars in the Canadian thriller Faces in the Crowd.[7]

Shanks has also starred in the Fox comedy The Good Guys as the pompous leader of the Strike Force. In 2011, Shanks was the guest star in the third episode of the Showcase show Endgame, where he plays an amnesiac.

In 2012, Shanks returned to primetime as Dr. Charles "Charlie" Harris on Saving Hope, reuniting with Stargate SG-1 and Smallville co-star Erica Durance.

In 2019, Shanks played the role of Horace Axley on the second season of the Netflix science-fiction series Altered Carbon.[8]

Personal life

Shanks' eldest daughter, Tatiana Shanks,[9] (b. Aug 10 1998)[10] is from his relationship with model and actress Vaitiare Bandera, who portrayed Sha're, his character's wife on Stargate SG-1.[11]

On August 2, 2003, Shanks married actress Lexa Doig, whom he met in 2001 while guest-starring on the series Andromeda, in which she starred. (They would also work together on Stargate SG-1, when Doig was cast as Dr. Carolyn Lam, a recurring character in seasons nine and ten). They have two children.[12]

Shanks enjoys playing ice hockey, and once considered playing professionally. He was on the Stargate SG-1 hockey team, competing against the teams of other Vancouver-based productions such as Smallville, and also displayed his aptitude for the sport in the 2006 television film Under the Mistletoe, in which he played the part of a school hockey coach. This aptitude was also highlighted in his 2013 role as the title character in the television film Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story.[13]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Highlander: The Series Jesse Episode: "The Zone"
1995A Family DividedToddTelevision film
1997The Call Of The Wild: Dog Of The YukonA gamblerTelevision film
1997–2007Stargate SG-1Dr. Daniel Jackson / Voice of Thor / MachelloMain role
1998, 2000The Outer LimitsMelburn Ross / Dr. Will OlstenEpisode: "Mary 25" / Episode: "Manifest Destiny"
1999Escape from MarsBill Malone, Mission ArchitectTelevision film
2001AndromedaBalance of Judgment/GabrielEpisode: "Star-Crossed", "Day of judgement, Day of Wrath"
2002All Around the TownJustin DonnellyTelevision film
Door to DoorJohn BradyTelevision film
2004Stargate AtlantisDr. Daniel Jackson3 episodes
2005SwarmedKent HorvathTelevision film
2006Under the MistletoeKevin HarrisonTelevision film
2007Mega SnakeLes DanielsTelevision film
24Mark Bishop3 episodes
EurekaChristopher DactylosEpisode: "All That Glitters..."
2008The Lost Treasure of The Grand CanyonJacob ThainTelevision film
Stargate: The Ark of TruthDr. Daniel JacksonTelevision film
Stargate: ContinuumDr. Daniel JacksonTelevision film
Desperate EscapeMichael ColemanTelevision film
Burn NoticeVictor4 episodes
Living Out LoudBrad MarshallTelevision film
2009 Sanctuary Jimmy Episode: "Penance"
2010Tower PrepDr. LiteratureEpisode: "Book Report"
SmallvilleHawkman/Carter Hall4 episodes
SupernaturalRobEpisode: "99 Problems"
2011FlashpointDavid FlemingEpisode: "Blue on Blue"
Christmas LodgeJack RandTelevision film
The Pastor's WifeMatthew WinklerTelevision film
2012–2017Saving HopeCharlie HarrisMain role
2013Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe StoryGordie HoweTelevision film
2016Hearts of SpringAndyTelevision film
2017Christmas HomecomingSgt. Jim MullinsTelevision film
2018The DetectivesDet. Doug MorrisonEpisode: "The Last Fare"
2019UnspeakableWill Sanders8 episodes
Virgin RiverPaulEpisode: "Unexpected Ending"
The College Admissions ScandalRick SingerTelevision film
2020Altered CarbonHorace AxleyRecurring role
Project Blue BookAir vice-marshal Christopher ThomasEpisode: "Broken Arrow"

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2000Suspicious RiverBall cap man
Mr Fortune's SmileJames
2001The Artist's CircleArtistShort film
Suddenly Naked (aka Show and Tell)Danny Blair/Donny Blitzer
2002SF SeeksNot released
2003SumuruAdam Wade
2007Mega SnakeLes
Judicial IndiscretionJack Sullivan
2010Arctic BlastJack Tate
Red Riding HoodAdrien Lazar
2011Tactical ForceDemetriusDirect-to-video film; originally titled Hangar 14
Faces in the CrowdBryce
ElysiumTechnician #3
13 EerieProfessor Tomkins
2012The BouquetSam

Director

Year Title Notes
2001Stargate SG-1Episode 4.21: "Double Jeopardy"
2014Saving HopeEpisode 3.04: "Stand By Me"
2016Saving HopeEpisode 4.14: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
2017Saving HopeEpisode 5.14: "We Need to Talk About Charlie Harris"

Writer

Year Title Notes
2003Stargate SG-1Episode 7.11 "Evolution: Part 1"
2004Stargate SG-1Episode 7.19: "Resurrection"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2005Stargate SG-1: The AllianceDr. Daniel Jackson (voice)Cancelled

Theatre

The Directors "The Wild Boys" – Colin Cunningham, Shanks, and Peter DeLuise December 10, 2004

Stratford Festival

Year Title Character Production
1995 & 1996 The Merchant of Venice Lorenzo Stratford Festival, Stratford, Ontario
King Lear Cast
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Amadeus
Macbeth Mentieth

University of British Columbia

Play Role Location
Love's Labours Lost Don Armado Frederick Wood Theatre
Dombey & Son Walter Gray
Leonce & Lena Leonce
Love of the Nightingale Tereus
Translations Lt. Yolland
You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown Schroeder Summer Players, Dorothy Somerset Studio
Wait Until Dark Roat
Loot Dennis
Sure Thing Clarke Vancouver Men's Festival
Hopscotch Will
The Lion in Winter

Arts Club

Year Title Character Production
1998 Hamlet Hamlet Stanley Theatre Arts Club, Vancouver, B.C.

References

  1. Mary McNamara (February 13, 2002). "Fan rebellion threatens 'Stargate'". Salon.com.
  2. "2004 Leo Awards Nominees & Winners" (PDF). Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. Leo Awards, 2009 Winners Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Shanks set for mid-season Atlantis visit". February 20, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  5. "April 5, 2009: 3 000 000, All In, Dog Visit, and The Mailbag". April 6, 2009.
  6. Goldman, Eric (October 19, 2009). "Exclusive: Two of Smallville's Justice Society". IGN. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  7. Barton, Steve (May 11, 2010). "Faces in the Crowd Starts Shooting! Full Cast Announced!". Dread Central. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  8. "Michael Shanks To Appear On Netflix's Altered Carbon". GateWorld. July 13, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  9. MSOL. "Michael Shanks - MSOL Interview". www.michaelshanks-online.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  10. "Michael wishing Tatiana happy birthday on Twitter".
  11. "Sha're Shares: Interview with Vaitiare Bandera", Stargate SG1 Official Magazine No. 8, Jan/Feb 2006, Titan Magazines publishers.
  12. "Actors Michael Shanks and Lexa Doig on Great Kids Books". CBC/Radio-Canada. July 22, 2011.
  13. "Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, Played By Stargate's Michael Shanks In New Film". Huffington Post Canada. April 25, 2013.
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