Michael Hogan

A much-respected and award-winning actor in his native Canada, Michael Hogan gained his largest audience in the United States after he was cast as Colonel Paul (and later Saul) Tigh in The Sci Fi Channel's revamp of "Battlestar Galactica" (2004-08). Prior to that, he was a ubiquitous face on stage in Canada, and on television and in films on both sides of North America; most notably in a recurring role on "The L Word" (Showtime, 2004-09), which also featured his wife, actress Susan Hogan.

Though the exact date of Hogan's birth was a matter of private record, the actor was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario; some sources cited that his father was employed as a prospector, but these were unverified. He trained for his profession at the National Theatre School of Canada, where he met and fell in love with fellow aspiring performer Susan King. The couple married and eventually had three children, two of whom - daughter Jennie-Rebecca and son Gabriel - would follow in their parents' footsteps.

Hogan made a name for himself as a stage actor with appearances in "Death of a Salesman," starring as Biff. Ironically, 19 years later, he would return to the play to tackle Willy Loman. The actor also appeared in numerous Shakespeare productions -including a staging of "The Taming of the Shrew" opposite wife Susan - and even the play "Cowboy King," which was performed on horseback in the interior of British Columbia. His film career began in 1978 in the underrated trucker movie "High-Ballin'" (1978), starring Peter Fonda and Jerry Reed. More Canadian-lensed features and television soon followed, and in 1983, he was top-billed (along with Susan Hogan) in "Vanderberg" (CBC), a six-part drama about a ruthless businessman's climb to power. Three years later, the Hogans starred opposite acclaimed actors Michael Gough and Gert Frobe in "The Little Vampire" (1986), a 13-part family sitcom co-produced by West German television and based on the novels by Angela Sommer-Bodenburg.

Hogan was nominated for a Genie, the Canadian equivalent of the Academy Award, for playing a disillusioned Canadian government official in "Diplomatic Immunity" (1990). A year later, he won the Genie for "Solitaire" (1991), an acclaimed drama about tensions and friendships that arose during a Christmas family reunion. He continued to work steadily in Canadian film and television ("Gross Misconduct," 1992) as well as American series filmed above the border, such as "The Outer Limits" (Showtime, 1995-2002). More importantly, he eventually began to land roles stateside in U.S. television programs, including "Hearts Afire" (CBS, 1992-95) and "Millennium" (Fox, 1996-99). In 1998, he began a recurring role as a police detective on the acclaimed drama "Cold Squad" (CTV, 1998-2002)..

In 2003, Hogan appeared in the two-hour premiere of "Monk" (USA Network, 2002-09) before being cast as Col. Saul Tigh in Ronald Moore's revisionist take on "Battlestar Galactica." According to a rare interview with the publicity-shy Hogan, he initially rejected the series, but changed his mind after learning that Edward James Olmos was headlining the show as Admiral Adama. The two-part miniseries proved to be one of the most successful original broadcasts ever aired on The Sci Fi Channel. Not surprisingly, a series was soon ordered. Thankfully, Hogan returned to play Tigh - though for the first two years of the series - the very busy actor divided his time between "Galactica" and a recurring role (with wife Susan) as the conservative parents who reject the lifestyle choice of their daughter, lesbian tennis star Dana Fairbanks (Erin Daniels) on "The L Word."

In 2004, the network launched "Battlestar Galactica" as a series to much acclaim by critics, enjoyed by an initially small but loyal viewership. As with all of the characters on the new "Galactica," Hogan's Tigh - who was initially named Paul in an alleged clerical error, but renamed Saul for the series run - was given a rich and complex history and storyline. A gruff former fighter pilot who struggled with alcoholism and a marriage rocked by infidelity, Tigh's nature allows him to make unpleasant decisions - including the heartbreaking moment when a nuclear missile strikes the Galactica and he chooses to seal off the damaged section, killing the wounded located there rather than lose the entire ship. But he is less successful in interpersonal politics, most notably with ace pilot Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and Admiral Adama. Many of Tigh's decisions make him an unpopular figure among the colonists, which only worsens after he is revealed as a conspirator in an attempt to throw an election in favor of President Roslin (Mary McDonnell). Tigh later becomes a shadow of his former self after he is forced to execute his own wife (Kate Vernon) when she is accused of aiding the colonists' sworn enemies, the robotic Cylons. But in an ingenious twist in the show's third season cliffhanger, it is revealed that Tigh himself may actually be a Cylon. The answer to that question was among the many "Galactica" viewers were eager to learn when the series returned for its final season in 2008.