Editing Michael Shanks

{{short description|Canadian actor (born 1970)}}
{{about|the actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Michael Shanks
| image              = Michael Shanks at Gamefest 2023 Strasbourg.jpg
| caption            = Shanks in 2023
| birth_name         = Michael Garrett Shanks
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1970|12|15}}
| birth_place        = [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1993–present
| spouse             = {{marriage|[[Lexa Doig]]|2003}}
| children           = 3
}}
'''Michael Garrett Shanks''' (born December 15, 1970) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as [[Daniel Jackson (Stargate)|Daniel Jackson]] in the long-running  [[military science fiction]] television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' and as Dr Charles Harris in the Canadian medical drama ''[[Saving Hope]]''. He is also known for his work on low budget genre work filmed in Canada.

==Early life==
Shanks was born in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, and grew up in [[Kamloops, British Columbia|Kamloops]]. After witnessing [[Richard Dean Anderson]] prepare for a scene of [[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|''MacGyver'']], Shanks "decided to pursue [acting] a little further", opting to attend the [[University of British Columbia]]'s fine arts program until 1994.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Strachan |first=Alex |date=1997-07-28 |title=Vancouver lands Stargate |pages=20 |work=The Vancouver Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121813691/vancouver-lands-stargate/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He later appeared in several stage productions while serving a two-year apprenticeship with the prestigious [[Stratford Festival of Canada|Stratford Festival]] in [[Ontario]].''<ref name=":0" />'' His television career began with guest appearances on shows including ''[[Highlander: The Series|Highlander]]'' and ''[[The Commish]]''.''<ref name=":0" />'' Parts in the television movies ''A Family Divided''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mcalister |first=Nancy |date=2002-05-19 |title=Mary Higgins Clark's "All Around The Town" Airs Sunday on PAX |pages=61 |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121814564/mary-higgins-clarks-all-around-the/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and ''[[The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon|The Call of the Wild]]'' preceded his casting in his breakthrough role as Daniel Jackson in ''Stargate SG-1''.<ref name=":0" />

==Career==

=== ''Stargate'' franchise ===
Shanks played [[Archaeology|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2002/02/13/stargate_rebellion/|title=Fan rebellion threatens 'Stargate'|date=February 13, 2002|work=[[Salon.com]]|author=Mary McNamara}}</ref> He made several guest appearances throughout the sixth season playing his own character, as well as voicing the Asgard character [[Thor (Stargate)|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".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leoawards.com/past_winners/pdf/2004.pdf|title=2004 Leo Awards Nominees & Winners|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref> 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''.<ref>[http://leoawards.com/winners_2009.html Leo Awards, 2009 Winners] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200555/http://leoawards.com/winners_2009.html|date=2011-07-13}}</ref>

In 2004, Shanks made a crossover appearance (as Daniel Jackson) in the ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' pilot, "[[Rising (Stargate Atlantis)|Rising]]". He also appeared in the tenth and eleventh episodes of ''Atlantis''{{'}} fifth and final season,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gateworld.net/news/2008/02/shanks-set-for-mid-season-atlantis-visit/|title=Shanks set for mid-season Atlantis visit|date=February 20, 2008|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref> and made a cameo appearance in the pilot of the third Stargate series ''[[Stargate Universe]]''. He also appeared in the episodes "Human" and "Subversion".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2009/04/05/april-5-2009-3-000-000-all-in-dog-visit-and-the-mailbag/|title=April 5, 2009: 3 000 000, All In, Dog Visit, and The Mailbag|date=April 6, 2009}}</ref>

===Other appearances===
In 2001, Shanks guest starred in the episode "Star-Crossed" in the Sci-Fi series [[Andromeda (TV series)|''Andromeda'']], during which he met his future wife, [[Lexa Doig]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Michael D. |date=2007-05-27 |title=Jeans suit sci-fi star just fine |pages=15 |work=Times Colonist |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121815324/jeans-suit-sci-fi-star-just-fine/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 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 (2003 film)|Sumuru]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-02-20 |title=Movie highlights |pages=110 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121815457/movie-highlights/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> a science fiction [[B movie|B-movie]], as [[astronaut]] Adam Wade. He also auditioned for the role of [[Shinzon]] in ''[[Star Trek: Nemesis]]''.

In 2007, Shanks joined the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Network]] series ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', guest-starring as lobbyist [[Mark Bishop (24 character)|Mark Bishop]] in a three-episode arc for [[24 Season 6|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 (2006 TV 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... (Eureka)|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 [[Syfy|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 (Canadian TV series)|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' had a guest role as archaeologist [[Hawkman (Carter Hall)|Carter Hall]], DC Comics' superhero [[Hawkman (Carter Hall)|Hawkman]], in the ''[[Smallville]]'' episode "[[Absolute Justice]]".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/103/1036548p1.html|title = Exclusive: Two of Smallville's Justice Society|last = Goldman|first = Eric|publisher = IGN|date = 2009-10-19|access-date  = 2009-10-19}}</ref> He later reprised the role in the final episode of the ninth season.

Shanks then appeared in guest spots during the ''[[Smallville]]'' tenth season episodes "Shield" and "Icarus" as well as appearing in ''[[Supernatural (U.S. TV series)|Supernatural]]'' season 5 episode "99 Problems".

Shanks stars in the Canadian thriller ''[[Faces in the Crowd (2011 film)|Faces in the Crowd]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/37449/faces-crowd-starts-shooting-full-cast-announced|title      = Faces in the Crowd Starts Shooting! Full Cast Announced!|last = Barton|first = Steve|publisher = Dread Central|date = 2010-05-11|access-date = 2010-05-11}}</ref>

Shanks has also starred in the Fox comedy ''[[The Good Guys (2010 TV series)|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 (TV series)|Endgame]]'', where he plays an amnesiac.

In 2012, Shanks returned to primetime as Charles "Charlie" Harris on ''[[Saving Hope (TV series)|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 (TV series)|Altered Carbon]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gateworld.net/news/2019/07/michael-shanks-to-appear-on-netflixs-altered-carbon/|title=Michael Shanks To Appear On Netflix's Altered Carbon|work=GateWorld|date=July 13, 2019|access-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Shanks has a daughter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://twitter.com/michaelshanks/status/763372615113342977|title=Michael wishing Tatiana happy birthday on Twitter|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250125033042/https://x.com/michaelshanks/status/763372615113342977?mx=2|archive-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> from his relationship with model and actress [[Vaitiare Bandera]], who portrayed [[Miscellaneous alien characters in Stargate#Sha're|Sha're]], his character's wife on ''Stargate SG-1''.<ref>"Sha're Shares: Interview with Vaitiare Bandera", ''Stargate SG1 Official Magazine'' No. 8, Jan/Feb 2006, Titan Magazines publishers.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelshanks-online.com/archives/msol/msfeet.shtml|title=Michael Shanks - MSOL Interview|last=MSOL|website=www.michaelshanks-online.com|access-date=2017-09-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428164942/http://www.michaelshanks-online.com/archives/msol/msfeet.shtml|archive-date=2019-04-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 2, 2003, Shanks married actress [[Lexa Doig]], whom he met in 2001 while guest-starring on the series ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]''. (They would also work together on ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'', when Doig was cast as [[List of Tau'ri characters in Stargate SG-1#Carolyn Lam|Dr Carolyn Lam]], a recurring character in seasons nine and ten). They have two children.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cbc.ca/player/TD+Kids+Book+Club+Video/ID/2065793035/ |title = Actors Michael Shanks and Lexa Doig on Great Kids Books |work = CBC/Radio-Canada |date = 2011-07-22}}</ref>

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]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/25/gordie-howe-movie_n_3155316.html |title = Gordie Howe, Mr Hockey, Played By Stargate's Michael Shanks In New Film |work = Huffington Post Canada |date = 2013-04-25}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=2|2000 || ''[[Suspicious River]]'' || Ball cap man || 
|-
| ''Mr Fortune's Smile'' || James || 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001 || data-sort-value="Artist's Circle, The" | ''The Artist's Circle'' || Artist || Short film
|-
| ''[[Suddenly Naked]]'' (aka ''Show and Tell'') || Danny Blair/Donny Blitzer || 
|-
| 2002 || ''SF Seeks'' || || Not released{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}
|-
| rowspan=2|2003 || ''[[Sumuru (2003 film)|Sumuru]]'' || Adam Wade || 
|-
| ''Dismiss Yourself'' || Jonny Label ||
|-
| rowspan=2|2007 || ''Mega Snake'' || Les || 
|-
| ''Judicial Indiscretion'' || Jack Sullivan || 
|-
| rowspan=2|2010 || ''Arctic Blast'' || Jack Tate || 
|-
| ''[[Red Riding Hood (2011 film)|Red Riding Hood]]'' || Adrien Lazar || 
|-
|rowspan=4| 2011 || ''[[Tactical Force]]'' || Demetrius || Direct-to-video film; originally titled ''Hangar 14''
|-
| ''[[Faces in the Crowd (2011 film)|Faces in the Crowd]]'' || Bryce || 
|-
| ''[[Elysium (film)|Elysium]]'' || Technician #3 || 
|-
| ''[[13 Eerie]]'' || Professor Tomkins || 
|-
| 2013 || data-sort-value="Bouquet, The" | ''The Bouquet'' || Sam || 
|-
| 2024 || ''[[Time Cut]]'' || Gil Field || Post-production
|-
| {{TBA}} || ''Never Forget'' || Hook || Short film<br/> Filming
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1993
|''[[Highlander: The Series]]''
|Jesse 
|Episode: "The Zone"
|-
| 1995 || data-sort-value="Family Divided, A" | ''A Family Divided'' || Todd || rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| 1997 || data-sort-value="Call Of The Wild: Dog Of The Yukon, The" | ''The Call Of The Wild: Dog Of The Yukon''  || A gambler 
|-
| 1997–2007|| ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' || [[Daniel Jackson (Stargate)|Daniel Jackson]] / [[Machello]] / Voice of [[Thor (Stargate)|Thor]] || Main role
|-
| 1998, 2000 || data-sort-value="Outer Limits, The" | ''[[The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' || Melburn Ross / Dr. Will Olsten || Episode: "Mary 25" / Episode: "Manifest Destiny"
|-
| 1999 || ''[[Escape from Mars]]'' || Bill Malone, Mission Architect || Television film
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Andromeda (TV series)|Andromeda]]'' || Balance of Judgment/Gabriel || Episode: "Star-Crossed", "Day of judgement, Day of Wrath"
|-
| rowspan=2|2002 || ''All Around the Town'' || Justin Donnelly || rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| ''[[Door to Door (film)|Door to Door]]'' || John Brady 
|- 
| 2004 || ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' ||Daniel Jackson || 3 episodes
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Swarmed (film)|Swarmed]]'' || Kent Horvath || rowspan="3" | Television film
|-
| 2006 || ''Under the Mistletoe'' || Kevin Harrison 
|-
| rowspan=3|2007 || ''[[Mega Snake]]'' || Les Daniels 
|-
| ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'' || [[Mark Bishop (24 character)|Mark Bishop]] || 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[Eureka (2006 TV series)|Eureka]]'' || Christopher Dactylos || Episode: "All That Glitters..."
|-
| rowspan=6|2008 || data-sort-value="Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon, The" | ''[[The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon|The Lost Treasure of The Grand Canyon]]'' || Jacob Thain || rowspan="4" |  Television film
|-
| ''[[Stargate: The Ark of Truth]]'' || rowspan="2" | Daniel Jackson 
|-
| ''[[Stargate: Continuum]]''  
|-
| ''[[Desperate Escape]]'' || Michael Coleman 
|-
| ''[[Burn Notice]]'' || [[List of Burn Notice characters#Victor Stecker-Epps|Victor]] || 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Living Out Loud]]'' || Brad Marshall ||  Television film
|-
|2009
|''[[Sanctuary (Canadian TV series)|Sanctuary]]''
|Jimmy
|Episode: "Penance"
|-
|2009–2010 || ''[[Stargate Universe]]''  || Daniel Jackson || 3 Episodes
|-
| rowspan=3|2010 || ''[[Tower Prep]]'' || Dr. Literature || Episode: "Book Report"
|-
| ''[[Smallville]]'' || [[Hawkman (Carter Hall)|Hawkman / Carter Hall]] || 4 episodes
|-
| ''[[Supernatural (U.S. TV series)|Supernatural]]'' || Rob || Episode: "99 Problems"
|-
| rowspan=3|2011 || ''[[Flashpoint (TV series)|Flashpoint]]'' || David Fleming || Episode: "Blue on Blue"
|-
| ''Christmas Lodge'' || Jack Rand || rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| data-sort-value="Pastor's Wife, The" | ''[[The Pastor's Wife (film)|The Pastor's Wife]]'' || Matthew Winkler 
|-
| 2012–2017 || ''[[Saving Hope (TV series)|Saving Hope]]'' || Charlie Harris || Main role
|-
| 2013 || ''[[Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story]]'' || [[Gordie Howe]] || rowspan="3" | Television film
|-
| 2016 || ''Hearts of Spring'' || Andy 
|-
| 2017 || ''Christmas Homecoming'' ||Sgt. Jim Mullins 
|-
| 2018 || data-sort-value="Detectives, The" | [[The Detectives (2018 TV series)|''The Detectives'']] || Det. Doug Morrison || Episode: "The Last Fare"
|-
| rowspan="4" |2019 || ''[[Unspeakable (TV series)|Unspeakable]]'' || Will Sanders || 8 episodes
|-
| ''[[Virgin River (TV series)|Virgin River]]'' || Paul/Wes || 2 episodes
|-
| data-sort-value="College Admissions Scandal, The" | ''[[The College Admissions Scandal]]'' || Rick Singer || Television film
|-
|''Heritage Minutes: D-Day''
|Major Archie MacNaughton
|Canadian history short film
|-
| rowspan=2|2020 || ''[[Altered Carbon (TV series)|Altered Carbon]]'' || Horace Axley || Recurring role
|-
| ''[[Project Blue Book (TV series)|Project Blue Book]]'' || Air vice-marshal Christopher Thomas || Episode: "Broken Arrow"
|-
| 2022 || data-sort-value="Good Doctor, The" | ''[[The Good Doctor (American TV series)|The Good Doctor]]'' || Paul || Episode: "A Big Sign"
|}

===Director===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2001 || ''Stargate SG-1'' || Episode 4.21: "[[Double Jeopardy (Stargate SG-1)|Double Jeopardy]]"
|-
| 2014 || rowspan="3" | ''Saving Hope'' || Episode 3.04: "Stand By Me" 
|-
| 2016 || Episode 4.14: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" 
|-
|2017  || Episode 5.14:  "We need to talk about Charlie Harris" 
|}

===Writer===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 2003 || rowspan="2" | ''Stargate SG-1'' || Episode 7.11 "[[Evolution (Stargate SG-1)|Evolution: Part 1]]"
|-
| 2004 || Episode 7.19: "[[Resurrection (Stargate SG-1)|Resurrection]]"
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2005 || ''[[Stargate SG-1: The Alliance]]'' || Dr. Daniel Jackson (voice) || Cancelled
|}

==Theatre==
[[File:Directors-The Wild Boys.jpg|thumb|370px|right|The Directors "The Wild Boys" – [[Colin Cunningham]], Shanks, and [[Peter DeLuise]] December 10, 2004]]

=== Stratford Festival ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Character
! Production
|-
|rowspan=5|1995 & 1996
|''The merchant of Venice''
|Lorenzo
|rowspan=5|Stratford Festival, Stratford, Ontario
|-
|''King Lear''
|rowspan=3| Cast
|-
|''The merry wives of Windsor''
|-
|''Amadeus''
|-
|''Macbeth''
|Mentieth
|}

=== University of British Columbia ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Play
! Role
! Location
|-
|''Love's Labours Lost''
|Don Armado
|rowspan=5|Frederic 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
|rowspan=3|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===

{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
! Character
! Production
|-
|1998
|''Hamlet''
|Hamlet
|Stanley Theatre Arts Club, Vancouver, B.C.
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.michaelshanks-online.com/ Michael Shanks Online – The Official Michael Shanks Website]
*{{IMDb name|0788218}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070519102122/http://community.tvguide.com/blog/celebrity-blogs/michaels-24-38/800048552 Michael Shanks TV Guide Blog]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanks, Michael}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Canadian male film actors]]
[[Category:Canadian male television actors]]
[[Category:Canadian male voice actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Vancouver]]
[[Category:University of British Columbia alumni]]