Cult Times Article
"Beyond the Stargate"

Richard Dean Anderson (Jack O'Neill)

As if it weren't enough to be both executive producer and leading actor on Stargate SG-1, the accomplished Mr. Anderson has yet another major role to play with no time off for good behavior--this time as real-life proud father to 18-month-old Wylie. "Right now we're doing that balancing act between me coming home late and spending time with my daughter and getting involved in her daily routine--that whole scenario, which is a challenge," he shrugs, "but apparently traditional for working parents." He insists that he loves being a dad: "Although I'm also a pretty good mother. I love doing everything. There isn't an aspect of parenthood that I don't like... cleaning poop, mopping up spit, bathing, feeding, getting up in the middle of the night--all that stuff... In fact, that's pretty much what my next job is going to be. Once we're through with the run of the show, I'm going to take some time off and concentrate on being a dad." Don't panic gang, there's at least two years to go before then and Showtime's unparalleled syndication means that we'll be journeying through Stargates with Colonel O'Neill and the others from a long time to come.

Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson)

When we meet Michael Shanks, in the middle of the location filming for Deadman Switch, he is much in demand, since that particular episode focuses on his character. It's just as well then that the characteristically mercurial actor joined the series third season creatively refreshed, having spent a large amount of his break from SG-1 struting the boards as Hamlet. "It was great--a lot of fun to get back to a theatrical medium. I needed it artistically and creatively and it was a very positive experience to have the rehearsal process, the live audience and just get back to where I began. It was very exciting and frightening but I had a really good time. Modestly proclaiming he feels he could have made a better job of it, "because I'm a little young and it's a challenging role...but I wanted to play it the age that it was written. Hamlet is supposed to be 30 years old and I'm 28 and I wanted to see what the truth of that age bracket could bring to the character." He's been invited to join the cast of Tennesse William's play A Streetcar Named Desire during the next hiatus but will have to wait and see how much time is available. Stanley or not Stanley, that is the question.

Amanda Tapping (Samantha Carter)

"I want to be in Coronation Street!" she shouts. "I'm totally addicted to it and want to come to England and appear as a long-lost Canadian cousin or something--anything--I don't mind so long as I get to stand at the bar in the Rovers Return." Laughing that she tells everyone she meets that her dream is to make some sort of contribution to the long running British Soap Opera, she finally admits that is a more achievable goal immediately in sight, hopefully for the next hiatus. "For some time now, I've been planning to team up with the other members of the comedy troupe I used to work with and it looks as if that collaboration might be imminent. I just heard from one of the group yesterday and we are getting together to try to make it happen very soon." Other than that, she'd like to try her hand at writing an episode of Stargate SG-1. "My brother wrote a script entitled 'SG-1 - the Musical', which is a truly wonderful piece of work." Launching into a musical number excerpt from the piece (it borrows a lot from Bohemian Rhapsody) Tapping says she may try her hand at writing a comedic episode but not for some time yet. "Creatively, I've just had a really challenging episodes so I'm feeling really satisfied right now."

Christopher Judge (Teal'c)

Ask the ever-bubbly Christopher Judge what he'd be doing if he wasn't on Stargate SG-1 and the answer is very simple. No--it's not quite what you might think: "I'd be playing golf," he states. Mr. Judge, it would seem, is one of those individuals for whom wielding a long stick thing to belt the stuffing out of a little ball is seen as one of life's essentials. "I only started playing recently but I'm totally hooked. I'd really like to work my way round all the classic courses in the world and maybe join in some of those Pro-Am tournaments--with the emphasis clearly on the amateur in my case." Teal'c's alter-ego is so addicted to the sport that he often leaves work as soon as his 'call' is over to rush over to the driving range without even removing his make-up. "I have had some strange looks from golfers who've approached a hold and met this odd-looking creature with a big gold emblem on his forehead... It's amazing how many times they let me take my shot first."

Don S. Davis (General Hammond)

As General Hammond, commander of the SG teams, actor Don S. Davis plays everything 'by the book,' thereby tempering the more hotheaded decisions of his elite SG-1 group. "Hammond is a sincere individual who cares deeply for these people and whose duty it is to take care of them. That's the mark of a good leader." Davis should know. He was a captain in the United States Army for three years before he took up acting and theatre studies. He left Southern Illinois University with not only a Masters degree but a doctorate in theatre and taught at the University of British Columbia, a position he truly enjoyed, before venturing into acting on a professional basis. However if he wasn't trying to save the Stargate program from demise at the hand of the Government, or striving to protect his unruly SG-1 crew, Davis the person might just be persuaded to spend more time in the artist's studio as opposed to the actor's studio. "I paint and sculpt and carve wood." He modestly admits. In fact this accompished individual has had work exhibited nationally across Canada and currently has pieces on display in small museums, at large company premises and in several private collections. A definite case of believing and seeing if you were asked up to view his etchings.

Cult Times Magazine: Beyond the Stargate
Issue #47, August 1999
By: Thomasina Gibson