David Hewlett

David Ian Hewlett (born 18 April 1968) is a British-born Canadian[2] actor, writer, and director known for his role as Dr. Rodney McKay in the Stargate science-fiction franchise. He first gained fame for his roles as Grant Jansky in the Canadian TV series Traders (1996—2000) and as David Worth in the Canadian psychological horror film Cube (1997). He had earlier appeared in the horror film Pin (1988) and the science-fiction film Scanners II: The New Order (1991).

David Hewlett
Hewlett at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con
Born
David Ian Hewlett

(1968-04-18) 18 April 1968 (age 56)[1]
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Canada
USA
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • writer
Years active1984–present
Spouses
  • (m. 2000; div. 2004)
  • Jane Loughman
    (m. 2008)
Children1
RelativesKate Hewlett (sister)

More recently, Hewlett had a prominent supporting role in Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), portraying bad-tempered airplane pilot Douglas Hunsiker opposite John Lithgow and Andy Serkis. Hewlett played the character Fleming in the multi-Academy Award winning film The Shape of Water (2017).[3]

Early life

Hewlett was born in Redhill, England, and moved with his family to Canada at the age of four.[4] Hewlett received his first computer in his mid-teens and became a self-described "computer nerd". While attending high school in Toronto, he launched his acting career, starring in student films by Vincenzo Natali.[5] He dropped out of high school in his senior year to pursue careers in acting and computing, at the beginning of his acting career in 1984 at the age of sixteen.[6]

Before his acting career took off, Hewlett ran Darkyl Media, a web site design firm,[4] and also founded Fusefilm.com, a now defunct internet community for filmmakers.[7]

Career

Hewlett has appeared in many low-budget horror films, such as The Darkside and the minor cult favourites Scanners II: The New Order and Pin. He also guest starred in several television series. In 1996, he landed one of his better-known roles, as Grant Jansky on Traders. In 1997, Hewlett worked with Natali again, starring in his critically acclaimed thriller Cube as Worth the architect. The low budget Canadian film was commercially successful.

Hewlett in the conference room at Bridge Studios, 2008

Hewlett, an avid science fiction fan, has been quoted saying that Doctor Who, a sci-fi program made in his native Britain, is what first sparked his love for the genre,[8] and that he made science fiction with his friends when he was younger in Britain, on his 8 millimetre camera. Hewlett had his early dreams of working in science fiction made into a reality, when he first had a four-episode guest role on the Canadian/American sci-fi series Stargate SG-1, as the Stargate expert Rodney McKay, which eventually grew into his starring role on Stargate Atlantis.[9]

In 2007, Hewlett appeared as a guest star in the first episode of the TV series Sanctuary, a show produced by and starring Stargate actress Amanda Tapping. He played Larry Tolson, a patient suffering from a form of psychosis who is shot and wounded before being taken into police custody as a murder suspect.[10]

In 2006, he wrote and directed A Dog's Breakfast starring himself, his sister Kate Hewlett, his dog Mars, and his Stargate Atlantis costars Paul McGillion, Christopher Judge and Rachel Luttrell.[11] In July 2006, Hewlett created a YouTube channel named Fanatical.[12]

In 2014, Hewlett directed the supernatural horror-science fiction film Debug with Jason Momoa, who starred alongside Hewlett in Stargate Atlantis. Jeananne Goossen and Adrian Holmes played the lead roles in the film.[13]

In 2015, Hewlett appeared in the Syfy TV series Dark Matter, which is based on the comic book of the same name.[14] He played a recurring role as Tabor Calchek, a merchant who also serves as the team's handler. Hewlett continues his interest in filmmaking.

In 2017, he made "HEWLOGRAM," a sci-fi comedy short showcasing the filmmaking and special effects tools of Red Giant.[15]

David is active on David Hewlett's channel on YouTube.

Personal life

Hewlett married actress Soo Garay in 2000; they divorced in 2004. He married Jane Loughman in 2008. They have one child. Hewlett's younger sister is actress Kate Hewlett. [16]She has appeared on Stargate Atlantis as Rodney McKay's sister, Jeannie Miller, multiple times in the series. [17]When he's not filming, Hewlett volunteers as a parent sponsor of a school PC/Tech club for kids interested in 3D printing, programming and repurposing tech equipment.[18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987The DarksideChuckie
1988PinLeon
1989The PenthouseJoe DobsonTV film
Dead Meat
1990Where the Heart IsJimmy
Deep SleepTerry
Desire and Hell at Sunset MotelDeadpan Winchester
1991Scanners II: The New OrderDavid Kellum
The First Circle'Ruska' RostislavTV film
1992A Savage Christmas: The Fall of Hong KongWalter Jenkins
Quiet KillerMyles Chapman
Split ImagesGary HammondTV film
1993Blood BrothersDetective Trayne
The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years LaterSteven Lunney age 25
1996Joe's WeddingRob Fitzgerald
1997CubeDavid Worth, the Architect
On the 2nd Day of ChristmasMelTV film
ElevatedHankShort
Bad Day on the BlockAndrew
1998ClutchMartyn
MilkmanMartin/Soldier'sVoice
1999SurvivorLe médecinTV film
The Life Before ThisNick
BlindThe VictimShort
AutoeroticaGordShort
Amateur NightD.J.Short
2001Chasing CainBud
And Never Let Her GoGerry CapanoTV film
The TriangleGus GruberTV film
Century HotelMichael
Treed MurrayMurrayaka Get Down
2002Made In Canada, Volume 1: Best of the CFCHimself
CypherVirgil Dunn
Father LeftyFather GregoryTV film
2003NothingDaveStory writer
FoolproofLawrence Yeager
Friday NightRogerShort
2004Boa vs. PythonDr. Steven Emmett
Ice MenBryan
DarklightAnders RaeborneTV film
2006A Dog's BreakfastPatrickDirector and story writer
2008HelenFrank
2009SpliceWilliam Barlow
2010The WhistleblowerFred Murray
2011Rise of the Planet of the ApesHunsiker
MorlocksDr. RadnorTV film
Rage of the YetiMillsDirector
2013HaunterOlivia's Father
2014DebugDirector
2017The Shape of WaterFleming
2019MidwayHusband E. Kimmel
2019Lie ExposedBrian
2021Nightmare AlleyDr. Elrood
2022The Swearing JarBill

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984The Edison TwinsHowardEpisode: "The Delinquent"
1988Friday the 13th: The SeriesCalEpisode: "Tales of the Undead"
My Secret IdentityRockEpisode: "A Walk on the Wild Side"
1987Night HeatGilEpisode: "Simon Says"
1988–1989T. and T.Detective Jones/RonnieEpisodes: "Black and White" & "Thicker Than White"
1990The CampbellsCaptain Henderson / Ned KaneEpisodes: "And in the Spring" & "Live by the Sword"
1988–1994Street LegalDave Lister / Tim WoolrichEpisodes: "Murder by Video" & "Persons Living or Dead"
1991–1992Katts and DogThe Strangler3 episodes
1992Forever KnightMatthew ReedEpisode: "Dead Air"
1992–1993Beyond RealityTom2 episodes
1993Shining Time StationTed Typo2 episodes
Tropical Heat (AKA Sweating Bullets)GleasonEpisode: "Object of Desire"
1993–1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesDr. Nicholas Elder13 episodes
1994Monster ForceLance McGruder (voice)13 episodes
1996–2000TradersGrant Jansky73 episodes
1999Twice in a LifetimeMr. GreenEpisode: "O'er the Ramparts We Watched"
2001ERMr. SchudyEpisode: "Never Say Never"
2001–2007Stargate SG-1Dr. Rodney McKay7 episodes
2003Mutant XHector FriemarkEpisode: "The Taking of Crows"
2004Without a TraceFred WatkinsEpisode: "Hawks and Handsaws"
The DistrictFrederickEpisode: "Family Values"
2004–2009Stargate: AtlantisDr. Rodney McKay100 episodes
2009The CloserFBI Special Agent Jerry MooreEpisode: "Walking Back the Cat"
2010–2011HellcatsDr. Thurston Eagan2 episodes
2011Stargate: UniverseDr. Rodney McKayEpisode: "Seizure"
2013DarknetLewisEpisode: "Darknet 1"
State of SynAslin Kane6 episodes
2015–2016Dark MatterTalbor Calchek4 episodes
2016SuitsNathan BurnesEpisode: "Back on the Map"
IncorporatedChad Peterson4 episodes
2016–2017Murdoch MysteriesDilbert Dilton2 episodes
2019Hudson & RexNelson DwyerEpisode: "Man of Consequence"
2021ClariceAnthony Herman5 episodes
2021DepartureBill RatchRecurring role (season 2)
2021Private EyesEarl BaerEpisode: "Drop Dead Carny"
2021–2022SeeTormadaGuest role (season 2), main role (season 3)
2022Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of CuriositiesMassonEpisode: "Graveyard Rats"

References

External links