Daniel Gillies
Gillies at the 2014 PaleyFest
Born
Daniel Joshua Gillies

(1976-03-14) 14 March 1976
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • New Zealand
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active1998–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2021)​
Children2

Daniel Joshua Gillies is a Canadian-born 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".[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.[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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5][6] A potential nightmare existed for CW since Gillies was already under contract to play Dr. Joel Goran in the supernatural series, Saving Hope.[7][8] 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.[9] In 2012, Gillies wrote, directed and starred with then wife Rachael Leigh Cook in Broken Kingdom.[1]

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.[10] He was also cast as Charlie Tate in the second season of ABC series The Newsreader in 2022.[11]

Personal life

Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004.[12][13] Together they have a daughter, born in September 2013, and a son, born in April 2015.[14][15] In an interview in 2017, he revealed he pursued a vasectomy to prevent a third child from being brought into the family citing concerns about his age and energy levels, saying, "I want to be able to give these two my love and my attention and my care. I would like to stop now."[16]

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.[17] On 10 July 2020 Gillies filed for divorce from Cook.[18] Their divorce was finalized on 10 March 2021.[19]

Since 2021, Gilles has been in a relationship with cellist Julia Misaki.[20]

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 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".[21]

References

  1. 1 2 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". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  3. ↑ RAE, FIONA. "Axe hovering over Street Legal's core cast". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mary Jane Watson and John Jameson (Daniel Gillies)". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley (22 January 2013). "Daniel Gillies Joins CW's 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Daniel Gillies Joining 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals'". MTV. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Naoreen, Nuzhat. "'Vampire Diaries' Daniel Gillies on his new drama 'Saving Hope'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "Vampire Diaries Star Daniel Gillies Reveals Where He's Headed, and the Elena Scene We Never Saw!". E! Online. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Daniel Gillies on Saving Hope, Originals". Digital Spy. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Virgin River star Daniel Gillies just gave a huge update about season 4". Cosmopolitan. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (25 July 2022). "'The Vampire Diaries' Star Daniel Gillies To Join Roku Original And ABC Australia Drama 'The Newsreader' As Series Regular". Deadline. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies". People. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby". People. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  14. ↑ Webber, Stephanie (29 September 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl". Us Weekly. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  15. ↑ Chen, Joyce (4 October 2013). "Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals Baby Name: Charlotte Easton Gillies!". Us Weekly. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Gillies Gushes Over 'Beautiful' Wife Rachael Leigh Cook, Reveals If Baby No. 3 Could Happen!". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  17. ↑ Stone, Natalie (13 June 2019). "Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Announce Split After Nearly 15 Years of Marriage". People.
  18. ↑ Stone, Natalie (16 July 2020). "Rachael Leigh Cook's Husband Daniel Gillies Files for Divorce 1 Year After Separating". People.
  19. ↑ "Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Finalize Divorce Nearly 2 Years After Split". People. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021. a Los Angeles judge signed off on the actors' divorce on March 10, nearly two years after the couple split in June 2019.
  20. ↑ "From 'Vampire Diaries' to 'Virgin River' Catch Up With Actor Daniel Gillies + Find Out What He's Doing Now". Yahoo Life. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Highfill, Samantha. "'The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies on Directing: 'I Got the Best Episode of the Season'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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