Michael Shanks was born on the 15th December 1970, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is an actor, writer, and director, probably best known for his role as Dr. Daniel Jackson in series “Stargate SG-1” (1997-2007). Shanks has also played in such movies as “Stargate: Continuum” (2008), “Elysium” (2013), and currently in the series “Saving Hope” (2012- ). His career started in 1993.
Have you ever wondered how rich Michael Shanks is, as of late 2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Shanks’ net worth is as high as $2 million, an amount earned through his successful acting career. In addition to being an actor, Shanks also works as a director and writer, and these have improved his wealth too.
Michael Shanks Net Worth $2 Million
Michael Shanks grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia and went to the University of British Columbia, where he was in the BFA Acting Program from 1990 to 1994. After graduating, Shanks served an apprenticeship at the Stratford Festival in Ontario.
Shanks’ career started in episodes of “Highlander” and “The Commish” in 1993. He continued with brief roles in “Madison” (1994), “University Hospital” (1995), and in the TV movie “A Family Divided” (1995) starring Faye Dunaway and Stephen Collins. In 1997, Shanks started appearing in the series “Stargate SG-1”, in which he starred as Dr. Daniel Jackson in 198 episodes until 2007. The series received nine Primetime Emmy’s nominations, and helped Shanks to earn a considerable amount towards his net worth.
He later appeared in “The Call of the Wild: Dog of the Yukon” (1997) starring Rutger Hauer, and in “Escape from Mars” (1999). In the early 2000’s, Shanks had roles in “Suspicious River” (2000), “Suddenly Naked” (2001), and also in “All Around the Town” (2002) alongside Nastassja Kinski, in the Golden Globe-nominated movie “Door to Door” (2002) starring William H. Macy and Kyra Sedgwick, and in an episode of “The Twilight Zone” (2002). In the mid-2000’s, he appeared in such series as “Stargate: Atlantis” (2004-2008), “CSI: Miami” (2005), “Eureka” (2007), and “24” (2007), but also starred in such movies as “Swarmed” (2005), “Under the Mistletoe” (2006), and in “Mega Snake” (2007). Shanks ended the decade with roles in “The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon” (2008), and in four episodes of “SGU Stargate Universe” (2009-2010), all of which added a substantial amount to hi net worth.
Shanks was quite busy in the early 2010’s and had roles in numerous series and movies such as “Supernatural” (2010), “Smallville” (2010), “Red Riding Hood” (2011), “Tactical Force” (2011), and “Faces in the Crowd” (2011) starring Milla Jovovich. Also in 2011, Shanks starred in “Christmas Lodge” (2011) and “The Pastor’s Wife” (2011) before started to play Dr. Charlie Harris in series “Saving Hope” which is running since 2012. Most recently, Shanks had parts in “The Bouquet” (2013), “13 Eerie” (2013), “Mr Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story” (2013), “Elysium” (2013) with Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, and Sharlto Copley, and in “Hearts of Spring” (2016).
Regarding his personal life, Michael Shanks married actress Lexa Doig in 2003, and they have two children together. He also has an older daughter Tatiana (born in 1998) from his relationship with model and actress Vaitiare Bandera. Shanks is a big fan of ice hockey and the Vancouver Canucks, and considered playing professionally before pursuing an acting career.
Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Stargate: Continuum, Tactical Force, Christmas Lodge, Arctic Blast, Mega Snake, Faces in the Crowd, Red Riding Hood, 13 Eerie, The Pastor's Wife, Judicial Indiscretion, Suspicious River, The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon, Sumuru, Mr Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story, Sudd...
[about his character Daniel's relationship with his love interest Janet began] "There seems to be this funny beat that they seemed to have this off-camera familiarity with each other. So we started playing with it. And it became an ongoing thread throughout the show. So whenever we did a scene together, we'd throw in an extra look or an extra glance. I'll let you guys fill in the blank of where it went from there."
Auditioned for the part of Praetor Shinzon in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002).
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His Stargate SG-1 (1997) character Daniel Jackson is close to six years older than he actually is.
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Grew up as a huge Star Wars and Star Trek fan. Michael was also a fan of the cult television series, Xena: Warrior Princess.
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Coincidentally enough, there is another Michael Shanks (no relation) who is a real life archaeologist, while Michael Shanks the actor portrays an archaeologist on the television show Stargate SG-1.
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Had an emergency appendectomy when his appendix ruptured the day before filming was to begin on Stargate SG-1 Season 3 episode "Nemesis". The script had to be rewritten to explain his character's reduced role. The writers decided to have the character recovering from an appendectomy as well.
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Wife Lexa Doig gave birth to their second child together, a son named Samuel David on March 19, 2007. Michael announced it at a Vancouver Convention on March 24th.
His character, Dr. Daniel Jackson (and various versions of him), was killed in four different episodes during the eighth season of Stargate SG-1 (1997) alone: "Avatar", "Reckoning Part 2" and "Moebius Part 2", He was also shot several times, severely injured and tortured during the season.
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Met his wife, Lexa Doig when he guest starred in the Andromeda (2000) Season One episode "Star-Crossed".
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His character, Remiel, killed Hector, played by Christopher Judge, in the Andromeda (2000) episode "Day of Judgement, Day of Wrath". In the Stargate SG-1 (1997) episode "Moebius Part 2", his character, Dr. Daniel Jackson, was killed by Judge's character, Teal'c.
Played three different characters in a single episode of Stargate SG-1 (1997): Dr. Daniel Jackson, Thor and Penegal in the second half of the Season Eight premiere 'New Order Part II'.
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Daughter, Mia Tabitha Shanks, with Lexa Doig, born 13 September 2004.
He was born in Vancouver and grew up in Kamloops, BC, Canada.
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Favorite hockey team is the Vancouver Canucks.
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Bears a resemblance to his Stargate (1994) feature film counterpart James Spader, whose character, Dr. Daniel Jackson, he portrays on Stargate SG-1 (1997).
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Eldest child is a daughter, Tatiana (born late 1998) with Vaitiare Hirshon.