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Daniel Gillies
Daniel Gillies at PaleyFest 2014.jpg
Gillies at the 2014 PaleyFest
Born (1976-03-14) 14 March 1976 (age 48)
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
Occupation
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2004; div. 2021)
Children 2

Daniel John Gillies is a New Zealand 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.

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 he is descended from 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".

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.

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 North American film and television productions. 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's 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 then wife Rachael Leigh Cook in Broken Kingdom.

From 2019 to 2022, Gillies portrayed the role of Mark Monroe in the Netflix's 2019 romantic drama television series, Virgin River. He was in the show for four seasons. He was also cast as Charlie Tate in the second season of ABC series The Newsreader in 2022.

Personal life

Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004. Together they have a daughter, born in September 2013, and a son, born in April 2015.

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. On 10 July 2020 Gillies filed for divorce from Cook. Their divorce was finalized on 10 March 2021.

Since 2021, Gilles has been in a relationship with cellist Julia Misaki.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Soldier's Sweetheart, AA 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 Sensation of Sight, TheThe 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 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 Seasons 1–3
2013–2018 The Originals Elijah Mikaelson Director for episodes: "Phantomesque",
"There in the Disappearing Light"
2017 SEAL Team Nate Massey Episode: "Pilot"
The Lost Wife of Robert Durst Robert Durst Television film
2019–2022 Virgin River Mark Main (season 1)
Recurring (seasons 2–4)
2022 The Newsreader Charlie

Voice acting

Year Title Role Notes
2019–2020 Thor: Metal Gods Various/all Episodes 1-15

As a director

  • The Originals (2017–2018), 2 episodes: "Phantomesque", "There in the Disappearing Light".

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Daniel Gillies para niños

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