Daniel Gillies

{{Short description|Canadian-born New Zealand actor and filmmaker}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Daniel Gillies

| image = Daniel Gillies at PaleyFest 2014.jpg

| caption = Gillies at the 2014 PaleyFest

| birth_name = Daniel Joshua Gillies

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|03|14}}

| birth_place = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

| citizenship = {{hlist|Canada|New Zealand}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|screenwriter|director|producer}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Rachael Leigh Cook|8 August 2004|10 March 2021|end=div}}

| children = 2

}}

Daniel Joshua Gillies{{fact|date=December 2023}} (born March 14, 1976) is a Canadian-born New Zealand actor, film producer, director and screenwriter. He played Elijah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals; Dr. Joel Goran on Saving Hope. 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 New Zealand, moving to Invercargill and then 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), Gillies became interested in acting because he said it was "the only thing [he] was ever any good at".{{cite web|last=Gallagher |first=Michael Aaron |url=http://stayfamous.net/daniel-gillies-releases-broken-kingdomkingdom-come-films/ |title=Daniel Gillies Releases Broken Kingdom/Kingdom Come Films |publisher=StayFamous.net |date=11 September 2012 |access-date=21 November 2012}}

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.{{cite web|last=Barry |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=3573447 |title=Spiderweb of fame |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=19 June 2005 |access-date=21 November 2012}}

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.{{cite web |last1=RAE |first1=FIONA |title=Axe hovering over Street Legal's core cast |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/axe-hovering-over-street-legals-core-cast/VJU2K2I5RVOVKMMRPZONMNLYX4/ |website=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=30 September 2023 |language=en-NZ}} 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.{{cite web |title=Mary Jane Watson and John Jameson (Daniel Gillies) |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/pictures/image/0,8545,-10304970001,00.html |website=The Guardian |access-date=30 September 2023}}

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, which chronicled the lives of the first vampires. Gillies's recurring part as Elijah from The Vampire Diaries became a lead part in The Originals.{{cite web |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |title=Daniel Gillies Joins CW's 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/daniel-gillies-vampire-diaries-spinoff-originals-414317/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=22 January 2013}}{{cite web |title=Daniel Gillies Joining 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals' |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/kpxcq8/daniel-gillies-the-originals |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002011439/https://www.mtv.com/news/kpxcq8/daniel-gillies-the-originals |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 October 2023 |website=MTV |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en}} A potential nightmare existed for CW since Gillies was already under contract to play Joel Goran in the supernatural series, Saving Hope.{{cite magazine |last1=Naoreen |first1=Nuzhat |title='Vampire Diaries' Daniel Gillies on his new drama 'Saving Hope' |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/06/07/daniel-gilles-saving-hope/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=20 September 2023 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Vampire Diaries Star Daniel Gillies Reveals Where He's Headed, and the Elena Scene We Never Saw! |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/295107/vampire-diaries-star-daniel-gillies-reveals-where-he-s-headed-and-the-elena-scene-we-never-saw |website=E! Online |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=17 February 2012}} 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.{{cite web |title=Daniel Gillies on Saving Hope, Originals |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a504201/daniel-gillies-on-saving-hope-the-originals-interview/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=7 August 2013}} 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 2019 romantic drama television series Virgin River. He was in the show for four seasons.{{cite web |title=Virgin River star Daniel Gillies just gave a huge update about season 4 |url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a37336869/virgin-river-season-4-daniel-gillies-character-update/ |website=Cosmopolitan |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=18 August 2021}} In January 2021, Gillies starred in the psychological thriller film Coming Home in the Dark, based on a 1995 short-story of the same name by Owen Marshall.{{cite web |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas |title='Coming Home In The Dark': Eerie First Teaser For Sundance Thriller Starring 'The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies |url=https://deadline.com/video/the-originals-daniel-gillies-new-movie-sundance-coming-home-dark-teaser/ |website=Deadline |access-date=29 October 2024 |date=26 January 2021}} In 2022, Gillies was cast as Charlie Tate in the second season of the ABC series The Newsreader.{{cite web |last1=Whittock |first1=Jesse |title='The Vampire Diaries' Star Daniel Gillies To Join Roku Original And ABC Australia Drama 'The Newsreader' As Series Regular |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/daniel-gillies-virgin-rivers-vampire-diaries-joins-star-roku-original-abc-australia-drama-the-newsreader-1235076507/ |website=Deadline |access-date=20 September 2023 |date=25 July 2022}}

Personal life

Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004.{{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/05/08/rachael-leigh-cook-pregnant-expecting-first-child-daniel-gillies/|title=Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies|date=8 May 2013|access-date=28 September 2013|work=People}}{{cite web|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2013/06/25/rachael-leigh-cook-pregnant-perception-premiere/|title=Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby|date=25 June 2013|access-date=28 September 2013|work=People}} Together they have a daughter, born in September 2013, and a son, born in April 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/rachael-leigh-cook-husband-daniel-gillies-welcome-baby-girl-2013299|title=Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl|date=29 September 2013|access-date=29 September 2013|work=Us Weekly|first=Stephanie|last=Webber}}{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/rachael-leigh-cook-reveals-baby-name-charlotte-easton-gillies-2013410|title=Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals Baby Name: Charlotte Easton Gillies!|date=4 October 2013|access-date=4 October 2013|work=Us Weekly|first=Joyce|last=Chen}} In an interview in 2017, Gillies revealed that he would undergo a vasectomy to prevent further births, citing concerns about his age and energy levels. He stated: "I want to be able to give these two my love and my attention and my care. I would like to stop now."{{Cite news|url=http://www.etonline.com/tv/215264_daniel_gillies_wife_rachael_leigh_cook_baby_number_3_the_originals_directoral_debut|title=EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Gillies Gushes Over 'Beautiful' Wife Rachael Leigh Cook, Reveals If Baby No. 3 Could Happen!|work=Entertainment Tonight|access-date=26 April 2018|language=en}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Stone|first1=Natalie|title=Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Announce Split After Nearly 15 Years of Marriage|url=https://people.com/tv/rachael-leigh-cook-daniel-gillies-split/|website=People|date=13 June 2019}} On 10 July 2020 Gillies filed for divorce from Cook.{{cite web|first=Natalie|last=Stone|title=Rachael Leigh Cook's Husband Daniel Gillies Files for Divorce 1 Year After Separating|url=https://people.com/tv/rachael-leigh-cook-husband-daniel-gillies-files-for-divorce/|website=People|date=16 July 2020}} Their divorce was finalized on 10 March 2021.{{cite web|title=Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Finalize Divorce Nearly 2 Years After Split|url=https://people.com/movies/rachael-leigh-cook-daniel-gillies-finalize-divorce/|date=18 March 2021|access-date=26 March 2021|website=People|quote=a Los Angeles judge signed off on the actors' divorce on March 10, nearly two years after the couple split in June 2019.}}

Since 2021, Gillies has been in a relationship with cellist Julia Misaki.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-07 |title=From 'Vampire Diaries' to 'Virgin River' Catch Up With Actor Daniel Gillies + Find Out What He's Doing Now |url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/vampire-diaries-virgin-river-catch-094704727.html |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Yahoo Life |language=en-US}}

Filmography

= Film =

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
rowspan=2\|1998 \|{{sortname\|A\|Soldier's Sweetheart}} \|Medic \|
Pleasantville \|Fireman #2 \|
2001 \|No One Can Hear You \|Dirk Mettcalfe \|
2002 \|Various Positions \|Marcel \|
rowspan=3\|2004 \|Spider-Man 2 \|John Jameson \|
Evil Remains \|Mark \|
Bride and Prejudice \|Johnny Wickham \|
2006 \|{{sortname\|The\|Sensation of Sight}} \|Dylan \|
rowspan=2\|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 \|

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

rowspan=2|1998

|{{sortname|A|Soldier's Sweetheart}}

|Medic

Pleasantville

|Fireman #2

2001

|No One Can Hear You

|Dirk Mettcalfe

2002

|Various Positions

|Marcel

rowspan=3|2004

|Spider-Man 2

|John Jameson

Evil Remains

|Mark

Bride and Prejudice

|Johnny Wickham

2006

|{{sortname|The|Sensation of Sight}}

|Dylan

rowspan=2|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=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1999 \|Young Hercules \|Antos \|Episode: "My Fair Lilith"
rowspan=2\|2000 \|Cleopatra 2525 \|Hot Guy \|Episode: "Mind Games"
Street Legal \|Tim O'Connor \|Seasons 1 & 2
rowspan=3\|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"
rowspan=3\|2010 \|data-sort-value="Glades, The" \| 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 \|data-sort-value="Vampire Diaries, The" \| The Vampire Diaries \|Elijah Mikaelson \|Recurring role (seasons 2–5)
2012–2015 \|Saving Hope \|Dr. Joel Goran \|Seasons 1–3
2013–2018 \|data-sort-value="Originals, The" \| The Originals \|Elijah Mikaelson \|Also director (2 episodes){{cite magazine \|last1=Highfill \|first1=Samantha \|title='The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies on Directing: 'I Got the Best Episode of the Season' \|url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/06/02/originals-daniel-gillies-directorial-debut-phantomesque/ \|access-date=28 September 2023 \|magazine=Entertainment Weekly \|language=en}}
rowspan=2\|2017 \|SEAL Team \|Nate Massey \|Episode: "Pilot"
data-sort-value="Lost Wife of Robert Durst, The" \| The Lost Wife of Robert Durst \|Robert Durst \|Television film
2019–2022 \|Virgin River \|Mark Monroe \|Main (season 1) Guest (seasons 2–4)
2022 \|data-sort-value="Newsreader, The" \| The Newsreader \|Charlie \| Main role (season 2)
2024-present	Sight Unseen	Jake Campbell	Main (Season 1)

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1999

|Young Hercules

|Antos

|Episode: "My Fair Lilith"

rowspan=2|2000

|Cleopatra 2525

|Hot Guy

|Episode: "Mind Games"

Street Legal

|Tim O'Connor

|Seasons 1 & 2

rowspan=3|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"

rowspan=3|2010

|data-sort-value="Glades, The" | 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

|data-sort-value="Vampire Diaries, The" | The Vampire Diaries

|Elijah Mikaelson

|Recurring role (seasons 2–5)

2012–2015

|Saving Hope

|Dr. Joel Goran

|Seasons 1–3

2013–2018

|data-sort-value="Originals, The" | The Originals

|Elijah Mikaelson

|Also director (2 episodes){{cite magazine |last1=Highfill |first1=Samantha |title='The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies on Directing: 'I Got the Best Episode of the Season' |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/06/02/originals-daniel-gillies-directorial-debut-phantomesque/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en}}

rowspan=2|2017

|SEAL Team

|Nate Massey

|Episode: "Pilot"

data-sort-value="Lost Wife of Robert Durst, The" | The Lost Wife of Robert Durst

|Robert Durst

|Television film

2019–2022

|Virgin River

|Mark Monroe

|Main (season 1) Guest (seasons 2–4)

2022