Joe Flanigan (born Joseph Dunnigan III; January 5, 1967) is an American writer and actor best known for his portrayal of the character Major/Lt. Colonel John Sheppard in Stargate Atlantis.
Early life Flanigan was born in Los Angeles, California. He has said that his mother, Nancy, left his father soon after he was born and that his surname was changed to Flanigan after he was adopted by his stepfather, business executive John Flanigan.Reno Gazette Journal, March 9, 2008. When he was six years old, his family moved to a small ranch near Reno, Nevada.KTLA Morning Show interview, June 22, 2007.
From the age of 14, Flanigan attended a boarding school in Ojai, California, where he appeared in the school production of A Streetcar Named Desire. He later earned a history degree at the University of Colorado where he appeared in the play Coriolanus. On the advice of a friend, he took acting classes to overcome his shyness but did not plan to pursue a career in acting.Joe Flanigan, Burbank Stargate convention, July 2005. As part of the Junior Year Abroad program, Flanigan spent a year studying at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he learned French.Luba, Frank. "Stargate cast members ready for new portals." The Province, June 17, 2007.
Career After graduation, he pursued a writing career. He worked on Capitol HillJohn Sheppard Bio , SciFi.com; accessed May 18, 2015. on President George H. W. Bush's advance team, Dial the Gate Youtube channel interview Streamed live on Oct 11, 2020 and then briefly for several New York City publications, including Town & Country and Interview magazine. On the advice of some of his friends, he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse, was coached by Gerald Gordon,Gerald Gordon website; accessed May 18, 2015. and then moved back to Los Angeles in 1994 to pursue an acting career.
Flanigan had guest roles in numerous television series including Profiler, First Monday, and Sisters, until he got his breakthrough with his role on Stargate Atlantis as Lt. Colonel John Sheppard. He lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where the series was filmed during the week, and flew to Los Angeles during the weekends where his wife and children resided.KTLA Morning Show interview – June 22, 2007. He additionally wrote for the series and created the stories for the Stargate Atlantis second-season episode "Epiphany" and the fourth season episode "Outcast".
Flanigan appears in Brooks Institute photographer John A. Russo's book About Face.About Face (book), aboutfacebookproject.com; accessed May 18, 2015. Part of the proceeds are to be donated to Smile Train.The Smile Train: The World's Leading Cleft Charity. ; accessed May 18, 2015.
In 2019, Flanigan joined the cast of General Hospital as recurring character Dr. Neil Byrne.Joe Flanigan Books Role on General Hospital
In contemporary culture
Flanigan is featured in the contemporary public artwork, Metascifi (2015) by artist Martin Firrell. Metascifi presents social commentary and philosophical truths about living well, derived from observations of popular American science fiction television series. The project features performers and characters from Stargate, Star Trek, Farscape, Firefly and Warehouse 13.
As the 'meta' element of the title suggests, the artwork invites Flanigan to comment on the wider social and narrative significance of his Stargate Atlantis character John Sheppard. Most notably, he speaks about the sexual attraction of the archetypal action hero, suggesting it is the impression of the hero's agency in the world that underpins people's attraction to characters of John Sheppard's nature.
Personal life Flanigan married Katherine Kousi, an actress and painter, in 1996. They have three sons. In early 2014, it was announced they had separated.
Flanigan took two prizes in the Waterkeepers' Alliance downhill skiing competition at Lake Louise in January 2006, an event fellow Stargate lead Richard Dean Anderson has attended as well.Burroughs, Alexandra. "Avalanche of stars descends on Lake Louise" Calgary Herald, December 28, 2005. He currently resides in Malibu, California. On November 10, 2018, the Malibu home he was renting from a local family was lost in the Woolsey Fire.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1994Family AlbumLionel ThayerTV movie1995Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna BuchananScott CameronA Reason to BelieveEric Sayles1997Tell Me No SecretsAdam StilesTV movieThe First to GoPeter Cole1998Man MadeTom Trey PalmerTV movie1999The Other SisterJeff ReedThe ForceTV movie2000Sherman's MarchPete Sherman2002Farewell to HarryNick Sennet2003ThoughtcrimesNSA Agent Brendan Dean111 Gramercy ParkJack PhilipsTV movie2005Silent MenRegis2011Change of PlansJason DanvilleTV movieGood Day For ItDeputy Doug BradyFerocious PlanetColonel Sam SynnTV movie2012Six BulletsAndrew FaydenThe Secret Lives of WivesJaredTV movie2013FANomenonHimselfTV movie documentary2015The Bandit HoundTrevorTV movie2021Let Us InOfficer Wilton TV series Year Title Role Notes1994Family AlbumLionel Thayer2 episodes1995Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna BuchananScott CameronTV movie1995–1996SistersBrian Kohler-VossRecurring role (15 episodes)1997Tell Me No SecretAdam StilesTV movieMurphy BrownScott HamonEpisode: "From Here To Jerusalem"1998Dawson's CreekVincentEpisodes: "Tamara's Return" and "Full Moon Rising"CupidAlex DeMouyEpisodes: "Meat Market", "Pick-Up Schticks", "Heart of the Matter" and "End of an Eros"Man MadeTom Trey PalmerTV movie1999ProvidenceDr. David Marcus Episodes: "Blind Faith", "Taste of Providence", "You Bet Your Life" and "Pig in Providence"The Force2000ProfilerDr. Tom ArquetteEpisodes: "Besieged", "Proteus", "Paradise Lost" and "The Long Way Home"Sherman's MarchPete ShermanTV movie2002First MondayJulian LodgeMain role (13 episodes)Birds of PreyDetective Claude MortonEpisode: "Prey for the Hunter"Judging AmyTobin HayesEpisode: "Damage Control"2003Tru CallingAndrew WebbEpisode: "Brother's Keeper"2004CSI: MiamiMike SheridanEpisode: "Slow Burn"2004–2009Stargate AtlantisMajor/Lt. Col. John SheppardMain role (100 episodes)2006Stargate SG-1Lt. Col. John SheppardEpisode: "The Pegasus Project"2007–2008Women's Murder ClubFBI Agent John AshEpisodes: "To Drag & To Hold" and "FBI Guy"2009Warehouse 13Jeff WeaverEpisode: "Elements"2011FringeRobert DanzigEpisode: "Neither Here Nor There"2012Metal Hurlant ChroniclesHondoEpisode: "Master of Destiny"2013Major CrimesRick MarlowEpisode: "All In"2019SEAL TeamGeneral TraskEpisode: "What Appears To Be"2019–2020General HospitalNeil ByrneRecurring2021–2022SeeThe Military Writer Year Title Episode Notes2005Stargate AtlantisEpisode: "Epiphany"Story2008Episode: "Outcast" Other Year Title Role Notes1994Surgical StrikeReedVideo Game2013Army of Two: The Devil's CartelElliot Salem
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