Daniel Gillies
Daniel Joshua Gillies (born March 14, 1976) is a New Zealand actor, film producer, director and screenwriter. He played the role of Elijah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals; Dr. Joel Goran on Saving Hope.
Also recorded as Daniel Joshua Gillies
Daniel Gillies

iDominick · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Name
- Daniel Gillies
- Birth Name
- Daniel Joshua Gillies
- Born
- 14 March 1976
- Birthplace
- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Occupation
- * Actor
- Full name
- Daniel Joshua Gillies.
- Nationality
- New Zealand and Canada.
- Education
- Southwell School and Hamilton Boys' High School.
- Honours
- Most Promising Male Newcomer of the Year.
- Languages
- English, Canadian English and New Zealand English.
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Documentary summary
Daniel Joshua Gillies (born March 14, 1976) is a New Zealand actor, film producer, director and screenwriter. He played the role of Elijah Mikaelson on The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals; Dr. Joel Goran on Saving Hope.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q512006 · wikipedia · Daniel Gillies
In this article
Biography
Biography
He wrote and directed the 2012 film, Broken Kingdom.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Daniel Gillies • Birth Name — Daniel Joshua Gillies • Born — 14 March 1976 • Birthplace — Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada • Citizenship — * Canada • New Zealand • Occupation — * Actor • screenwriter • director • producer • Years Active — 1998–present • Children — 2
Early life
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". 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
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, 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. A potential nightmare existed for CW since Gillies was already under contract to play 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 2019 romantic drama television series Virgin River. He was in the show for four seasons. 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. In 2022, Gillies was cast as Charlie Tate in the second season of the ABC series The Newsreader.
Personal life
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. 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." 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, Gillies has been in a relationship with cellist Julia Misaki.
Television
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 — 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) • 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) • 2024–2025 — Sight Unseen — Jake Campbell — Main (Season 1)
Voice acting
Voice acting
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2019–2020 — Thor: Metal Gods — Various/all — Episodes 1-15
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Daniel Gillies was recorded at birth as Daniel Joshua Gillies. The authorities additionally record the heading Daniel Joshua Gillies. His recorded languages were English, Canadian English and New Zealand English. He married Rachael Leigh Cook.
Identity
Identity
Daniel Gillies is recorded as actor, film editor, film director, television director and film screenwriter.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1976
Daniel Gillies born at Winnipeg.
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1998 — A — Medic • Pleasantville — Fireman #2 • 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 — 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
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q512006: Daniel Gillies
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
- “Daniel Gillies”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
scholarly index
- OpenAlex author record A5032629295 for Daniel Gillies.
Unverified · OpenAlex
authority file
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Gallagher, Michael Aaron. Daniel Gillies Releases Broken Kingdom/Kingdom Come Films. StayFamous.net. 11 September 2012.
- 2.Barry, Rebecca. Spiderweb of fame. The New Zealand Herald. 19 June 2005.
- 3.RAE, FIONA. Axe hovering over Street Legal's core cast. The New Zealand Herald.
- 4.Mary Jane Watson and John Jameson (Daniel Gillies). The Guardian.
- 5.Goldberg, Lesley. Daniel Gillies Joins CW's 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals'. The Hollywood Reporter. 22 January 2013.
- 6.Daniel Gillies Joining 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff 'The Originals'. MTV.
- 7.Naoreen, Nuzhat. 'Vampire Diaries' Daniel Gillies on his new drama 'Saving Hope'. Entertainment Weekly.
- 8.Vampire Diaries Star Daniel Gillies Reveals Where He's Headed, and the Elena Scene We Never Saw!. E! Online. 17 February 2012.
- 9.Daniel Gillies on Saving Hope, Originals. Digital Spy. 7 August 2013.
- 10.Virgin River star Daniel Gillies just gave a huge update about season 4. Cosmopolitan. 18 August 2021.
- 11.Wiseman, Andreas. 'Coming Home In The Dark': Eerie First Teaser For Sundance Thriller Starring 'The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies. Deadline. 26 January 2021.
- 12.Whittock, Jesse. 'The Vampire Diaries' Star Daniel Gillies To Join Roku Original And ABC Australia Drama 'The Newsreader' As Series Regular. Deadline. 25 July 2022.
- 13.Baby on the Way for Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies. People. 8 May 2013.
- 14.Rachael Leigh Cook: I'm Happy We Waited to Have a Baby. People. 25 June 2013.
- 15.Webber, Stephanie. Rachael Leigh Cook, Husband Daniel Gillies Welcome Baby Girl. Us Weekly. 29 September 2013.
- 16.Chen, Joyce. Rachael Leigh Cook Reveals Baby Name: Charlotte Easton Gillies!. Us Weekly. 4 October 2013.
- 17.EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Gillies Gushes Over 'Beautiful' Wife Rachael Leigh Cook, Reveals If Baby No. 3 Could Happen!. Entertainment Tonight.
- 18.Stone, Natalie. Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Announce Split After Nearly 15 Years of Marriage. People. 13 June 2019.
- 19.Stone, Natalie. Rachael Leigh Cook's Husband Daniel Gillies Files for Divorce 1 Year After Separating. People. 16 July 2020.
- 20.Rachael Leigh Cook and Daniel Gillies Finalize Divorce Nearly 2 Years After Split. People. 18 March 2021.
- 21.From 'Vampire Diaries' to 'Virgin River' Catch Up With Actor Daniel Gillies + Find Out What He's Doing Now. Yahoo Life. 2023-08-07.
- 22.Highfill, Samantha. 'The Originals' Star Daniel Gillies on Directing: 'I Got the Best Episode of the Season'. Entertainment Weekly.
References
Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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