Daniel Gillies


Daniel Gillies is a New Zealander actor. 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 New Zealand parents. 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, 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, USA.

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 Canadian and American film and television – at times simultaneously. 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 vampires. Gillies' once 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 wife Rachael Leigh Cook in Broken Kingdom.

Personal life

Gillies married American actress Rachael Leigh Cook on 8 August 2004. Together, they have a daughter, Charlotte born in September 2013, and a son, Theodore born in April 2015. In an interview in 2017, he revealed he took medical steps to prevent a third child being brought into the family citing concerns about his age and energy levels, "...no, that's the answer. I want to be able to give these two my love and my attention and my care. I would like to stop now." 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 July 10, 2020 Gillies filed for divorce from Cook.

Filmography

Film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Young HerculesAntosEpisode: "My Fair Lilith"
2000Cleopatra 2525Hot GuyEpisode: "Mind Games"
2000Street LegalTim O'ConnorMain role
2002MentorsKing ArthurEpisode: "Once and Future King"
2002JeremiahSimonEpisode: "The Long Road: Part 1"
2002Snow QueenDelfont ChalfontTelevision movie
2005Into the WestEthan BiggsMiniseries
2007Masters of HorrorJack MillerEpisode: "Dream Cruise"
2010Dave RollinsEpisode: "Doppelganger"
2010True BloodJonEpisode: "I Smell a Rat"
2010NCISRoyal Marine Major Peter MalloyEpisode: "Royals & Loyals"
2010–2014The Vampire DiariesElijah MikaelsonRecurring role
2012–2015Saving HopeDr. Joel GoranMain role
2013–2018The OriginalsElijah MikaelsonMain role;
Director for Episode: "Phantomesque",
"There in the Disappearing Light"
2017SEAL TeamNate MasseyEpisode: "Pilot"
2017The Lost Wife of Robert Durst Robert DurstTelevision film
2019Virgin RiverMarkRecurring Role