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Daniel Gillies
Daniel Gillies at PaleyFest 2014.jpg
Gillies at the 2014 PaleyFest
Born
Daniel Joshua Gillies

(1976-03-14) 14 March 1976 (age 49)
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
Occupation
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2004; div. 2021)
Children 2

Daniel Joshua Gillies is an actor, producer, director, and writer. He was born in Canada but also has New Zealand citizenship. You might know him best as Elijah Mikaelson from the TV shows The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals. He also played Dr. Joel Goran in Saving Hope. Daniel even wrote and directed a movie called Broken Kingdom in 2012.

Early Life and Beginnings

Daniel Gillies was born in Winnipeg, Canada. When he was five years old, his family moved to New Zealand. His parents worked in the medical field. His father was a doctor and his mother was a nurse. But Daniel found his passion in acting. He felt it was the one thing he was truly good at.

He started acting in plays in New Zealand. Later, he moved to Australia and Canada to find more acting opportunities. Eventually, he decided to move to Los Angeles, USA, to follow his acting dreams.

Acting Career Highlights

Daniel Gillies began his TV career in New Zealand. He had a main role in the TV show Street Legal. After moving to Los Angeles, he quickly got roles in big movies. These included Bride and Prejudice and Spider-Man 2.

Since 2002, Daniel has worked on many films and TV shows in North America. He appeared in popular shows like Masters of Horror, NCIS, and True Blood.

Playing Elijah Mikaelson

In 2010, Daniel was cast in the hit TV show The Vampire Diaries. He played a character named Elijah Mikaelson. Elijah was an "Original" vampire. His role became very popular.

Because of this, the CW network created a spin-off show in 2013. It was called The Originals. This show focused on the lives of the first vampires. Daniel's role as Elijah became a main character in The Originals.

At the same time, Daniel was also playing Dr. Joel Goran in the show Saving Hope. This show was popular in Canada. Daniel managed to work on both shows at once!

Other Notable Roles

In 2012, Daniel Gillies wrote, directed, and starred in a movie called Broken Kingdom. His wife at the time, Rachael Leigh Cook, also starred in it.

From 2019 to 2022, Daniel played Mark Monroe in the Netflix romantic drama Virgin River. He was in the show for four seasons. In 2021, he starred in a thriller movie called Coming Home in the Dark. He also joined the cast of the Australian TV series The Newsreader in 2022. In 2024, he started a main role in the TV series Sight Unseen.

Personal Life

Daniel Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook in 2004. They had two children together: a daughter born in 2013 and a son born in 2015. In 2019, they announced they were separating. Their divorce was finalized in 2021. Since 2021, Daniel has been in a relationship with cellist Julia Misaki.

Filmography

Film Roles

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 Roles

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 Monroe Main (season 1) Guest (seasons 2–4)
2022 The Newsreader Charlie Main role (season 2)
2024- Sight Unseen Jake Campbell Main (Season 1)

Voice Acting Roles

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".

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Daniel Gillies para niños

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