Daniel Gillies

Daniel Gillies (born 14 March 1976) is a Canadian-born New Zealander actor, film producer, director and screenwriter. He played the role of 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, a medical-themed show with a mystical, paranormal twist. He wrote and directed the 2012 film, Broken Kingdom.

Daniel Gillies
Gillies at the 2014 PaleyFest
Born (1976-03-14) 14 March 1976
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
NationalityCanadian, New Zealander
Occupation
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active1998–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 2004; sep. 2019)​
Children2

Early life

Gillies was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to parents from New Zealand. 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 because he said it was "the only thing I was ever any good at".[1]

Frustrated with the lack of opportunities in New Zealand, he moved to Sydney, Australia for six weeks in 2001 before going to 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 and 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 Originals. 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 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 wife Rachael Leigh Cook in Broken Kingdom.[1]

Personal life

Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004.[3][4] Together they have a daughter, Charlotte, born in September 2013, and a son, Theodore born in April 2015.[5][6] In an interview in 2017, he revealed he took medical steps to prevent a third child from being brought into the family citing concerns about his age and energy levels, "...no, that's the answer. I want to be able to give these two my love and my attention and my care. I would like to stop now."[7] On 13 June 2019, both Cook and Gillies announced on Instagram that they mutually decided to separate and they also said that they wanted it to be as discreet as possible for the sake of their kids.[8] On 10 July 2020 Gillies filed for divorce from Cook.[9]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1998 A Soldier's Sweetheart Medic
Pleasantville
2001 No One Can Hear You Dirk Mettcalfe
2002 Various Positions Marcel
2004 Spider-Man 2 John Jameson
Evil Remains Mark
Bride and Prejudice Johnny Wickham
2006 The Sensation of Sight Dylan
2007 Captivity Gary Dexter
Matters of Life and Death Jimmy Short film
2008 Uncross the Stars Troy
2012 Broken Kingdom Jason '80' Also director and producer
2020 Occupation: Rainfall Wing Commander Hayes
2021 Coming Home in the Dark Mandrake

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Young Hercules Antos Episode: "My Fair Lilith"
2000 Cleopatra 2525 Hot Guy Episode: "Mind Games"
Street Legal Tim O'Connor Main role (seasons 1–2)
2002 Mentors King Arthur Episode: "Once and Future King"
Jeremiah Simon Episode: "The Long Road: Part 1"
Snow Queen Delfont Chalfont Television movie
2005 Into the West Ethan Biggs Miniseries
2007 Masters of Horror Jack Miller Episode: "Dream Cruise"
2010 The Glades Dave Rollins Episode: "Doppelganger"
True Blood Jon Episode: "I Smell a Rat"
NCIS Royal Marine Major Peter Malloy Episode: "Royals & Loyals"
2010–2014 The Vampire Diaries Elijah Mikaelson Recurring role (seasons 2–5)
2012–2015 Saving Hope Dr. Joel Goran Main role (seasons 1–3)
2013–2018 The Originals Elijah Mikaelson Main role;
Director for Episode: "Phantomesque",
"There in the Disappearing Light"
2017 SEAL Team Nate Massey Episode: "Pilot"
2017 The Lost Wife of Robert Durst Robert Durst Television film
2019–present Virgin River Mark Recurring Role (season 1–2)

References
  1. Gallagher, Michael Aaron (11 September 2012). "Daniel Gillies Releases Broken Kingdom/Kingdom Come Films". StayFamous.net. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  2. Barry, Rebecca (19 June 2005). "Spiderweb of fame". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  3. "Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies". People. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  4. "Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby". People. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  5. Webber, Stephanie (29 September 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl". Us Weekly. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  6. Chen, Joyce (4 October 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals Baby Name: Charlotte Easton Gillies!". Us Weekly. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. "EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Gillies Gushes Over 'Beautiful' Wife Rachael Leigh Cook, Reveals If Baby No. 3 Could Happen!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  8. Stone, Natalie (13 June 2019). "Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Announce Split After Nearly 15 Years of Marriage". People.
  9. Stone, Natalie (16 July 2020). "Rachael Leigh Cook's Husband Daniel Gillies Files for Divorce 1 Year After Separating". People.
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