Daniel Gillies
Daniel Gillies | |
|---|---|
 Gillies at PaleyFest 2014 for The Originals | |
| Born | 14 March 1976 |
| Nationality | New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Actor,screenwriter, director, producer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Daniel Gillies (born March 14, 1976) is a Canadian-born New Zealand actor. He is best known for his role as Elijah Mikaelson on the television series The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off The Originals, as well as Dr. Joel Goran on the Canadian series Saving Hope. He wrote and directed the 2012 film Broken Kingdom.
Early life
Gillies was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When he was five, his parents decided to return to their native New Zealand, and moved to Invercargill and then to Hamilton. Though born into a family of strong medical background (his father is a pediatrician, his mother a nurse, and his great-great-great-grandfather was the renowned ENT/plastic surgery pioneer Sir Harold Gillies), he became interested in acting and studied at theUnitec School of Performing Arts.[1]
Frustrated with the lack of opportunities in New Zealand, he moved to Sydney, Australia for six weeks in 2001, before returning to his native Canada for two months, where he worked as a waiter and dishwasher until deciding to move to Los Angeles, USA.[2]
Career
Gillies began his career starring in several Auckland Theatre Company productions, before landing a two season lead role in the television drama Street Legal. After deciding that his acting options in his native New Zealand were limited, Gillies explored his options in Sydney and Canada. Gillies then moved to Los Angeles and was soon cast in the movies Bride & Prejudice and Spider-Man 2.
Since 2002, Gillies has worked in Canadian and American film and television – at times simultaneously. Before landing lead roles in television series, Gillies landed guests spots on television shows such as Masters of Horror, NCIS, and True Blood. In 2010, he was cast on the hit The CW drama The Vampire Diaries as Elijah Mikaelson. In 2013, CW created a successful spin-off of The Vampire Diaries chronicling the lives of the first (aka "the Original") vampires. Gillies' once recurring part as Elijah from The Vampire Diaries became a lead part in The Originals. A potential nightmare existed for CW since Gillies was already under contract to play the playboy-ish Dr. Joel Goran in the supernatural series, Saving Hope. Saving Hope initially aired in the US on NBC, but the series was not renewed although it continued to run in Canada. He continued both shows. In 2012, Gillies wrote, directed and starred with his wife Rachel Leigh Cook in Broken Kingdom.[1]
Personal life
Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004, after less than a year of dating.[3][4] Together, they have a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2015.[5][6]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | A Soldier's Sweetheart | Medic | |
| 2001 | No One Can Hear You | Dirk Mettcalfe | |
| 2002 | Various Positions | Marcel | |
| 2002 | Snow Queen | Delfont Chalfont | |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | John Jameson | |
| 2004 | Trespassing aka Evil Remains | Mark | |
| 2004 | Bride and Prejudice | Johnny Wickham | |
| 2006 | The Sensation of Sight | Dylan | |
| 2007 | Captivity | Gary Dexter | |
| 2007 | Matters of Life and Death | Jimmy | Short film |
| 2008 | Uncross the Stars | Troy | |
| 2012 | Broken Kingdom | Jason '80' | Also Director and Producer |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Young Hercules | Antos | Episode: "My Fair Lilith" |
| 2000 | Cleopatra 2525 | Hot Guy | Episode: "Mind Games" |
| 2000–02 | Street Legal | Tim O'Connor | TV series |
| 2002 | Mentors | King Arthur | Episode: "Once and Future King" |
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Simon | Episode: "The Long Road: Part 1" |
| 2002 | Snow Queen | Delfont Chalfont | TV movie |
| 2005 | Into the West | Ethan Biggs | TV miniseries |
| 2007 | Masters of Horror | Jack Miller | Episode: "Dream Cruise" |
| 2010 | The Glades | Dave Rollins | Episode: "Doppelganger" |
| 2010 | True Blood | Jon | Episode: "I Smell a Rat" |
| 2010 | NCIS | Royal Marine Major Peter Malloy | Episode: "Royals & Loyals" |
| 2010–14 | The Vampire Diaries | Elijah Mikaelson | Recurring role |
| 2012–15 | Saving Hope | Dr. Joel Goran | Main role |
| 2013–present | The Originals | Elijah Mikaelson | Main role |
References
- ^ a b Gallagher, Michael Aaron (11 September 2012). "Daniel Gillies Releases Broken Kingdom/Kingdom Come Films". StayFamous.net. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ^ Barry, Rebecca (19 June 2005). "Spiderweb of fame". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- ^ "Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies". People. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ "Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby". People. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ Webber, Stephanie (29 September 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl". Us Weekly. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
- ^ Chen, Joyce (4 October 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals Baby Name: Charlotte Easton Gillies!". Us Weekly. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian people of New Zealand descent
- Canadian emigrants to New Zealand
- Living people
- New Zealand male film actors
- New Zealand male television actors
- Male actors from Winnipeg
- People educated at Hamilton Boys' High School