Stargate News: Don S. Davis: 1942-2008

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Veteran actor and Stargate SG-1 co-star Don S. Davis passed away on June 29, 2008.

 

 

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Don Sinclair Davis (August 4, 1942 - June 29, 2008[1][2]) was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.

 

Career

He is perhaps best known for playing Major General/Lieutenant General George S. Hammond in the science fiction television series Stargate SG-1 (1997–2004), and earlier for playing Major Garland Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). In the TV show MacGyver, he was the stunt/photography double for Dana Elcar. He was often mistaken for Elcar, and vice-versa. Davis did appear in two episodes of MacGyver, as a different character each time. His first appearance was as a cement truck driver in the episode "Blow Out", and his second appearance was as the poacher Wyatt Porter in "The Endangered".[4] He also played Scully's father in the series The X-Files. Canadian audiences may also be familiar with Davis thanks to his appearance in one of the famous Heritage Minutes, in which he played an arrogant American gold prospector who pulls a gun on Mountie Sam Steele.

 

Personal life

Davis was born in Aurora, Missouri, a town in the Ozark Mountains. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in theater and art from Southwest Missouri State College. He received a master's degree in theatre from the Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1970. He taught for several years before returning to SIU to complete a Ph.D. in theatre. He began working in the film industry in the 1980s, while teaching at the University of British Columbia. In 1987 he stopped teaching in order to pursue acting full-time.

 

Not satisfied with just acting, he was also a visual artist, spending most of his free time painting or carving. Davis grew up painting, sculpting and drawing. He has continued to pursue these crafts his entire life, supplementing his income with design commissions and art sales.

 

Davis died on June 29, 2008.[1] Cause of death was reported as a "massive heart attack."

 

Filmography

Burn Up (2008)

Beyond Loch Ness (2008) — Neil Chapman

Far Cry (2008)

Stargate: Continuum (2008) – Lieutenant General George Hammond

The Unquiet (2008) — Bud Rollins

Stargate SG-1 (1997 – 2007) — Maj. Gen./Lt. Gen. George Hammond

Psych (2006)

The West Wing — Reverend Don Butler

G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom (2004) — Wild Bill (voice)

Meltdown (2004) — NRC Carl Mansfield

Miracle (2004) — Bob Fleming

NCIS (2004) — MTAC Control Officer

Andromeda (2004) — Avineri

Stargate Atlantis (2004) — Maj. Gen. George Hammond

Savage Island (2003) — Keith Young

G.I.Joe: Spy Troops the Movie (2003) — Wild Bill (voice)

The Twilight Zone (2003) — Dr. Tate

The Chris Isaak Show (2002) — Del

Just Cause (2002) — Thornton

Deadly Little Secrets (2001) — The Chief

Hostage Negotiator (2001) — Alexander Daniels

The 6th Day (2000) — Cardinal de la Jolla

Best in Show (2000) — Mayflower Best in Show Judge Everett Bainbridge

Suspicious River (2000) — Golf shirt man

Atomic Train (1999) — General Harlan Ford

Con Air (1997) — Man in Car

Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. (1996) — Colonel Zapf

The Fan (1996) — Stook

Alaska (1996) — Sergeant Grazer

Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996) — Harold Taggart

The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky (1995) — Mr. Smith

The Outer Limits (1995) — Army General

The Outer Limits (1995) — Detective

The X-Files (1994) — Captain William Scully

Needful Things (1993) — Reverend Willie Rose

Cliffhanger (1993) — Stuart

Highlander: The Series (1993) — Palance

Columbo: A Bird in the Hand (1992) — Bertie

A League of Their Own (1992) — Charlie Collins (Racine coach)

Hook (1991) — Dr. Fields

The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) — Rodeo announcer

Omen IV: The Awakening (1991) — Jake Madison

Look Who's Talking Too (1990) — Dr. Fleischer

Twin Peaks (1990–1991) — Major Garland Briggs

Cadence (1990) — Haig

Look Who's Talking (1989) — Dr. Fleischer

MacGyver (1985–1991) — Stunt Double for Dana Elcar

Joanie Loves Chachi (1982) — Benny

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This hits home for me. Besides having enjoyed many of his peformances over the years, particularly as Hammond, and having seen him at a Stargate convention in Chicago, I was just diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat this last week. While being hopefully far more treatable than Davis' condition, it does make you stop and think about what is important and how quickly things can change in life. RIP Don S. Davis and Hammond of Texas!