Michael Shanks

Michael Shanks Headshot

Actor • Writer • Director

Birth Date: December 15, 1970

Age: 54 years old

Birth Place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Spouses: Lexa Doig

Michael Shanks is a Canadian-born TV actor, writer, and director best known for his role as archeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson on the popular science fiction series "Stargate SG-1." A Vancouver native, Shanks earned his BFA in theater from the University of British Columbia and apprenticed at Ontario's famed Stratford Shakespearean Festival. In the early 1990s, as Shanks entered the film and television industry, many syndicated and cable television series were filmed in Canada as a result of the country's comparatively low production costs; Shanks soon began appearing on Canadian-made TV series like "Highlander," based on the popular 1986 action film and its sequels, and reboots of the classic science-fiction anthologies "The Outer Limits" and "The Twilight Zone" before gaining his breakout role on "Stargate SG-1" in 1997.

Shanks's character, Dr. Daniel Jackson, was an Egyptologist who joined the Stargate team as an archaeologist and translator. A major character for the show's first five seasons, Shanks left the series in 2002, but returned as a full cast member after only one season off and continued in the role until the show finally ended in 2007. Following the end of "Stargate SG-1," Shanks appeared as a corrupt Washington lobbyist in the sixth season of the action drama "24" and as an antagonist to disgraced former spy Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan) in the stylish espionage series "Burn Notice."

Credits

Time CutStream

Actor
Gil
Movie
2024

Saving Hope S5 - Movies & Series Special

Actor
Dr. Charles
Show
2021

UnspeakableStream

Actor
Will Sanders
Miniseries
2019

The College Admissions ScandalStream

Actor
Rick Singer
Movie
2019

Christmas HomecomingStream

Actor
Master Sergeant Jim Mullins
Movie
2017

The Wizards of Aus

Actor
Jack
Show
2016

The Wizards of Aus

Director
Show
2016

Hearts of SpringStream

Actor
Andy Sommers
Movie
2016

etalk Presents: Saving Hope

Guest
Show
2014

The Bouquet

Actor
Sam
Movie
2013

Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story

Actor
Gordie Howe
Movie
2013

Saving Hope

Actor
Charles Harris
Show
2012

Saving Hope

Director
Show
2012

The Marilyn Denis Show

Guest
Show
2011

Red Riding HoodStream

Actor
Adrien Lazar
Movie
2011
10%

Tactical Force

Actor
Demetrius
Movie
2011

Faces in the Crowd

Actor
Bryce
Movie
2011

The Pastor's Wife

Actor
Matthew Winkler
Movie
2011

Christmas Lodge

Actor
Jack
Movie
2011

The Good GuysStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Arctic Blast

Actor
Jack Tate
Movie
2010

Stargate UniverseStream

Guest Star
Series
2009
70%

Desperate Escape

Actor
Michael Coleman
Movie
2009

Living Out Loud

Actor
Brad Marshall
Movie
2009

SanctuaryStream

Guest Star
Jimmy
Series
2008

FlashpointStream

Actor
David Fleming
Series
2008

FlashpointStream

Guest Star
David Fleming
Series
2008

Stargate: The Ark of TruthStream

Actor
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Movie
2008

Stargate: ContinuumStream

Actor
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Movie
2008

Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon

Actor
Jacob Thain
Movie
2008

Burn NoticeStream

Guest Star
Victor Stecker-Epps
Series
2007
88%

Judicial Indiscretion

Actor
Jack Sullivan
Movie
2007

Megasnake

Actor
Les Daniels
Movie
2007

Under the Mistletoe

Actor
Kevin Harrison
Movie
2006

SupernaturalStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
93%

Swarmed

Actor
Kent Horvath
Movie
2005

Stargate AtlantisStream

Guest Star
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Series
2004

Sumuru

Actor
Adam Wade
Movie
2003

CSI: MiamiStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

The Twilight ZoneStream

Actor
Series
2002

Mary Higgins Clark's All Around the Town

Actor
Justin Donnelly
Movie
2002

Door to Door

Actor
John
Movie
2002

24Stream

Guest Star
Mark Bishop
Series
2001
87%

SmallvilleStream

Guest Star
Carter Hall
Series
2001
78%

Suddenly Naked

Actor
Danny Blair/Donny Blitzer
Movie
2001

AndromedaStream

Guest Star
Gabriel / Balance of Judgment
Series
2000

Escape From Mars

Actor
Bill Malone
Movie
1999

Behind the Scenes: Stargate SG-1

Actor
Show
1998

Stargate SG-1Stream

Actor
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Series
1997

Stargate SG-1Stream

Director
Series
1997

Stargate SG-1Stream

Guest Star
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Series
1997

Stargate SG-1Stream

Writer
Series
1997

Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods

Actor
Dr. Daniel Jackson
Movie
1997

The Outer LimitsStream

Actor
Melburn Ross
Series
1995

The CommishStream

Guest Star
Sean
Series
1991

News aboutMichael Shanks