Don S. Davis

Don Sinclair Davis, PhD (August 4, 1942 – June 29, 2008) was an American character actor best known for playing General George Hammond in the television series Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007), and earlier for playing Major Garland Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). He was also a theater professor, painter and United States Army captain.
== Early life ==
Davis was born and raised in Aurora, Missouri.Don Davis Biography He earned a B.Sc. degree in theater and art from Southwest Missouri State College. He said that "during the Viet Nam era" he "was with the 7th Infantry in Korea" and at another point was "a personnel and administration officer; I ran records branches." He was a captain at Fort Leonard Wood by the time he left the U.S. Army, "and worked with General Officers, so I've been able to use that in Hammond and other characters."
In 1970 he received a Master's Degree in Theatre from the Southern Illinois University Carbondale with a thesis entitled Design and Construction of Stage Settings for Black Comedy and The Two Executioners. He taught for several years before returning to SIU to complete a Ph.D. in Theatre, with a dissertation entitled The Evolution of Scenography in the Western Theater. 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.
== Career ==
He got the role of Major Briggs, he said, when "I was living in Vancouver and doing local work. But because of my accent in the '80s I couldn't play a Canadian in commercials. So someone suggested that I get an agent in Seattle. I did and was able to get commercial work and acting jobs there. I had a good resume. So when they were casting the Twin Peaks pilot my agent sent me out of the audition. I met [series creator] David [Lynch] and didn't actually read for him — we just visited. ... David liked me and started writing for me. He liked the chemistry I had with other players. I did three days on the pilot and then went on to the series. That was the luckiest break I could have had. There are at least a dozen people from that show who are lifelong friends because of that show. It was a life-changing experience."
In the TV show MacGyver, Davis 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". He also played Dana 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. He also played the role of the Racine Belles' manager in the movie A League of Their Own. He also had a guest-starring role in the pilot episode of the comedy-drama television series Psych, playing the character of Mr. McCallum.
== Later life and death ==
Davis, who was living in Gibsons, Canada, died on June 29, 2008, of a heart attack. The writers of Stargate Atlantis paid him homage by mentioning the death of his character in the same manner, and naming a starship after him, in the final episode of Stargate: Atlantis, which aired on January 9, 2009. He was again honored in October 2009, with the appearance of the starship Hammond in the pilot episode of Stargate Universe. Coincidentally, in episode 16 of season 4 of SG-1, (an episode set in the future which originally aired in January 2001), it is stated that Gen. Hammond had died of a heart attack. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.
== Personal life ==
Davis married Ruby Fleming in 2003, by which time he had a son from a previous marriage. He was also a visual artist, spending most of his free time painting or carving. Davis grew up painting, sculpting and drawing. He continued to pursue these crafts his entire life, supplementing his income with design commissions and art sales. On the DVD commentary track for Stargate SG-1 season 6 episode 17 (), Davis said he once worked carving wooden cigar store Indians that were sold at Silver Dollar City. He also said his PhD is in "dramatic theory and criticism."
== Involvement in the Stargate universe ==
=== Actor ===
* Major General/Lieutenant General George Hammond (Stargate SG-1)
** See the list of appearances
* Alternate realities:
** Colonel George Hammond (SG1: )
** George Hammond (SG1: )
** Major General George Hammond (SG1: )
* Alternate timelines:
** Brigadier General George Hammond (SG1: , )
** Lieutenant General George Hammond ()
* Hallucination:
** Major General George Hammond, an hallucination from energy beings from M5S-224 (SGA: )
== Filmography ==
 Film, Television and Video Games
Year 	Title 	Role 	Notes
2010 	Woodshop 	Principal Jamison 	Film
2009 	Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods - Final Cut 	Major General George Hammond 	Video
2009 	Wyvern 	Colonel Travis Sherman 	TV movie
2009 	The Uninvited 	Mr. Henson 	Film
2008 	To Love and Die 	Hal 	TV movie
2008 	Far Cry 	General Roderick 	Film
2008 	Vipers 	Dr. Silverton 	TV movie
2008 	Stargate: Continuum 	Major General George Hammond 	Video
2008 	Burn Up 	The Man 	TV mini-series, 1 episode
2008 	The Guard 	Chuck 	TV series, 1 episode
2007-2008	Flash Gordon 	Mr. Mitchell 	TV series, 2 episodes
2008 	The Unquiet 	Bud Rollins 	TV movie
2008 	Beyond Loch Ness 	Neil Chapman 	TV movie
2007 	Supernatural 	Trotter 	TV series, 1 episode
2007 	Beneath 	Joseph 	Film
2007 	Seed 	Davis 	Film
1997-2007	Stargate SG-1 	Major General/Lieutenant General George Hammond 	TV series, 160 episodes
2006 	Psych 	Mr. McCallum 	TV series, 1 episode
2005-2006	The Dead Zone 	Senator Harlan Ellis 	TV series, 3 episodes
2006 	The Still Life 	Mr. Fernot 	Film
2005 	Child of Mine 	Police Chief 	TV movie
2005 	Passing Darkness 	Will 	Short
2005 	The West Wing 	Reverend Don Butler 	TV series, 1 episode
2004 	NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service 	MTAC Control Officer 	TV series, 1 episode
2004 	Andromeda 	Avineri 	TV series, 1 episode
2004 	G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom 	Wild Bill (voice, as Don Davis) 	Video
2004 	Stargate: Atlantis 	Major General George Hammond 	TV Series, 1 episode
2004 	Meltdown 	NRC Carl Mansfield 	TV movie
2004 	Savage Island 	Keith Young (as Don Davis) 	Film
2004 	Has played in::Stargate SG-3000 	Computer Representation of George Hammond (voice)	Pinball game
2004 	Miracle 	Bob Fleming 	Film
2003 	G.I.Joe: Spy Troops the Movie 	Wild Bill (voice, as Don Davis) 	TV movie
2003 	The Twilight Zone 	Dr. Tate 	TV series, 1 episode
2002 	Deadly Little Secrets 	The Chief 	Film
2002 	Just Cause 	Thorton 	TV series, 2 episodes
2002 	The Chris Isaak Show 	Del 	TV series, 1 episode
2001 	Hostage Negotiator 	Alexander Daniels 	TV movie
2000 	The Artist's Circle 	 	Short
2000 	The 6th Day 	Cardinal de la Jolla 	Film
2000 	Best in Show 	Mayflower Best in Show Judge 	Film
2000 	Suspicious River 	Golf Shirt Man 	Film
1999 	Atomic Train 	General Harlan Ford 	TV movie
1998 	Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show 	Mr. Washington 	TV series, 1 episode
1998 	The Escape 	Warden (as Don Davis) 	TV movie
1998 	The Sentinel 	Wilton Fisker 	TV series, 1 episode
1997 	Tricks 	Man 	TV movie
1997 	The Diary of Evelyn Lau 	Man at Book Launch 	TV movie
1997 	Con Air 	Man in Car (as Don Davis) 	Film
1997 	The Stepsister 	Detective Church 	TV movie
1997 	Dad's Week Off 	Hank 	TV movie
1997 	Volcano: Fire on the Mountain 	Mayor Bob Hart (as Don Davis) 	TV movie
1996 	The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue 	Dewey 	Film
1996 	Viper 	Lloyd 	TV series, 1 episode
1996 	In Cold Blood 	Roy Church (as Don Davis) 	TV movie
1996 	The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. 	Colonel Zapf 	TV movie
1996 	Poltergeist: The Legacy 	Harold Taggart 	TV series, 1 episode
1996 	The Fan 	Stook 	Film
1996 	Alaska 	Sergeant Grazer 	Film
1996 	The Limbic Region 	Chief Payne 	TV movie
1996 	Kidz in the Wood 	Principal 	TV movie
1996 	Profit 	Former Sheriff Crew 	TV series, 2 episodes
1996 	Brothers of the Frontier 	Byron Holcomb 	TV movie
1994-1996	Madison 	Mr. Winslow 	TV series, 7 episodes
1995 	Shadow of a Doubt 	Kevin Carroll Sr. 	TV movie
1995 	A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story	Glen Holt 	TV movie
1995 	Beauty's Revenge 	Sheriff 	TV movie
1995 	The Outer Limits 	General Callahan / Detective Wilson 	TV series, 2 episodes
1995 	Black Fox: The Price of Peace 	 	TV movie
1995 	Black Fox 	 	TV movie
1995 	The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky 	Mr. Smith 	TV movie
1995 	She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal 	 	TV movie
1995 	Hideaway 	Dr. Martin 	Film
1995 	The Marshal 	Tiger Larkin 	TV series, 1 episode
1995 	A Family Divided 	Det. Larson 	TV movie
1994 	Max 	Earl Pomerance 	Film
1994 	Someone Else's Child 	Sherwin Francis 	TV movie
1994 	The X Files 	Captain William Scully 	TV series, 2 episodes
1994 	Avalanche 	Whitney 	TV movie
1994 	M.A.N.T.I.S. 	Admiral Farallon 	TV series, 1 episode
1994 	Northern Exposure 	Lloyd Hillegas 	TV series, 1 episode
1994 	One More Mountain 	Franklin Graves 	TV movie
1994 	Cobra 	Sgt. Brock Thorne 	TV series, 1 episode
1994 	Birdland 	Birdwell 	TV series, 1 episode
1993 	Highlander 	Palance 	TV series, 1 episode
1993 	Final Appeal 	Judge Gray 	TV movie
1993 	Needful Things 	Reverend Rose 	Film
1993 	Cliffhanger 	Stuart (as Don Davis) 	Film
1993 	Without a Kiss Goodbye 	Mr. Harper 	TV movie
1993 	Miracle on Interstate 880 	Dave 	TV movie
1993 	Street Justice 	Sargeant Pritchard 	TV series, 1 episode
1992 	Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster 	Bill Stevens - Exxon 	TV movie
1992 	Columbo 	Bertie 	TV series, 1 episode
1992 	Hero 	Probation Officer 	Film
1992 	A League of Their Own 	Charlie Collins, Racine Coach (as Don Davis) 	Film
1992 	Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story 	McCann 	TV movie
1992 	Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me 	Maj. Garland Briggs (scenes deleted) 	Film
1992 	Knots Landing 	Warden Vernon Howard 	TV series, 1 episode
1992 	Nightmare Cafe 	Sheriff Dan Filcher 	TV series, 1 episode
1992 	Kuffs 	Police Gun Instructor 	Film
1991 	Hook 	Dr. Fields 	Film
1991 	Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories 	Philip Baywood 	TV movie
1991 	The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw 	Rodeo announcer 	TV movie
1991 	Captive 	Deputy Mack 	TV movie
1991 	Mystery Date 	Doheny 	Film
1991 	Chaindance 	Sergeant 	Film
1990-1991	Broken Badges 	Chief Sterling 	TV series, 4 episodes
1990-1991	Twin Peaks 	Maj. Garland Briggs 	TV series, 16 episodes
1991 	Omen IV: The Awakening 	Jake Madison 	TV movie
1991 	Monkey House 	Major Sutherland 	TV series, 1 episode
1991 	Blood River 	Congressman Howard K. Apples 	TV movie
1987-1991	21 Jump Street 	Lt. Donnelly / Chapman / Warden / ... 	TV series, 6 episodes
1990 	Look Who's Talking Too 	Dr. Fleischer 	Film
1990 	Cadence 	Haig (uncredited) 	Film
1990 	Memories of Murder 	 	TV movie
1989-1990	Booker 	Judge / Sheriff 	TV series, 2 episodes
1990 	L.A. Law 	Judge Richard Bartke 	TV series, 1 episode
1990 	Waiting for the Light 	Dr. Norman (as Don Sinclair Davis) 	Film
1990 	Rescue Force 	Commando (as Don Davis) 	Video
1989 	Top of the Hill 	 	TV movie
1989 	The Lady Forgets 	Dr. Bennett 	TV movie
1989 	Look Who's Talking 	Dr. Fleisher 	Film
1989 	Matinee 	Earle Gardner 	TV movie
1989 	Unsub 	Congressman Rodolski 	TV series, 1 episode
1989 	Beyond the Stars 	Phil Clawson (as Don Davis) 	Film
1989 	Bordertown 	Josiah Richmond 	TV series, 1 episode
1989 	Wiseguy 	Dr. Morris 	TV series, 1 episode
1989 	The Beachcombers 	Howard Usher 	TV series, 1 episode
1988 	Watchers 	Veterinarian 	Film
1987-1988	MacGyver 	Wyatt Porter / Cement Truck Driver 	TV series, 2 episodes
1988 	Body of Evidence 	Gun Salesman 	TV movie
1987 	The New Adventures of Beans Baxter 	Agent Ruck 	TV series, 1 episode
1987 	Stakeout 	Prison Gate Guard 	Film
1987 	Malone 	Buddy (as Don Davis) 	Film
1987 	Sworn to Silence 	Jury Foreman 	TV movie
1987 	Deadly Deception 	Coroner's assistant 	TV movie
1986 	That Secret Sunday 	Customer 	TV movie
1986 	Spot Marks the X 	Mr. Haskell (as Don Davis) 	TV movie
1986 	Disneyland 	Capcom / Surgeon 	TV series, 2 episodes
1985 	Danger Bay 	Richard 	TV series, 1 episode
1985 	The Journey of Natty Gann 	Railroad Brakeman (as Don Davis) 	Film
1982 	Joanie Loves Chachi 	Benny 	TV series, 1 episode
== Award and nomination ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Work 	Result
2003	Fright-Fest Director's Award	Best Supporting Actor 	Savage Island 	
2004	 	Dramatic Series: Best Supporting Performance by a Male	Stargate SG-1:	
== Notes ==
* Following his death, Stargate Atlantis writers named the last Daedalus-class ship, intially named Phoenix, after him as an hommage. This 304 is seen in Stargate Universe, commanded by Colonel Samantha Carter.
== References ==
fr:Don S. Davis