Michael Shanks grew up in Kamloops, BC. He played hockey (defense) andrugby (flyhalf then wing) in high school. He was inspired to pursue an acting careerwhile watching the filming of a "MacGyver" episode, starring his future "StargateSG-1" co-star Richard Dean Anderson. Michael had a daughter, Tatiana, in late 1998with Vaitiare Bandera, who played his wife on "Stargate SG-1". He met his real lifewife, Lexa Doig, when he guest starred on her show "Andromeda" in 2001. "Andromeda"has since been cancelled and Lexa Doig now plays a recurring character on "StargateSG-1". They were married August 2, 2003, and now have two children together: MiaTabitha Shanks, born September 13, 2004, and Samuel David Shanks, born March 19,2006.