Daniel Gillies Biography: Wife, Age, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Movies & TV Shows, Divorce

Daniel Gillies is a Canadian-born New Zealand actor, film producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his role as Elijah Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off, The Originals.

His multifaceted career and charismatic presence have made him a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Profile

• Full Name: Daniel Joshua Gillies
• Stage Name: Daniel Gillies
• Born: March 14, 1976
• Age: 49 years old
• Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• Nationality: Canadian, New Zealand
• Occupation: Actor, Film Producer, Director, Screenwriter
• Height: 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m)
• Parents: Avid Gillies, Joanna Gillies
• Siblings: Fiona Gillies, Rachael Gillies
• Spouse: Rachael Leigh Cook (m.2004–2021) and Julia Misaki
• Children: Charlotte Easton Gillies, Theodore Vigo Sullivan Gillies
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $3 Million to $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Daniel Joshua Gillies was born on March 14, 1976, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to New Zealand parents. At age five, his family relocated to New Zealand, first settling in Invercargill and later in Hamilton.

Coming from a family with a strong medical background—his father, Avid Gillies, is a pediatrician, his mother, Joanna Gillies, a former newsreader and nurse, and his great-great-great-grandfather, Sir Harold Gillies, a pioneer in plastic surgery—Daniel pursued acting, which he described as “the only thing [he] was ever any good at.”

He attended Hamilton Boys High School and later studied at the Unitec Institute of Technology in Auckland, earning a degree in Performing and Screen Arts. His early acting experiences included school plays, such as playing Mrs. Peter Rabbit, and productions with the Auckland Theatre Company.

Career

Daniel Gillies began his acting career with the Auckland Theatre Company, starring in productions like The Godboy, where he won a Chapman-Tripp Theatre Award for Best Actor as Jimmy Sullivan. He landed a lead role as Tim O’Connor in the New Zealand drama Street Legal (2000–2003).

Frustrated by limited opportunities in New Zealand, he moved to Sydney, Australia, for six weeks in 2001, then briefly returned to Canada, working as a waiter and dishwasher before relocating to Los Angeles.

His Hollywood breakthrough came with roles in Spider-Man 2 (2004) as John Jameson and Bride & Prejudice (2004) as Johnny Wickham. He gained international fame as Elijah Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries (2010–2017) and its spin-off, The Originals (2013–2018).

Concurrently, he played Dr. Joel Goran in Saving Hope (2012–2017).

Other notable roles include Mark Monroe in Virgin River (2019–2022), Wing Commander Hayes in Occupation: Rainfall (2020), and Charlie Tate in The Newsreader (2022). Gillies also wrote, directed, and starred in the 2012 film Broken Kingdom with his then-wife Rachael Leigh Cook and directed the short film Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop (2019).

Awards and Nominations

• 1997: Chapman-Tripp Theatre Award – Best Actor (The Godboy) – Won
• 2014: Georgia Television Award – Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (The Originals) – Won

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @mr.danielgillies
• Facebook Handle: Daniel Gillies
• Twitter Handle: @danieljgillies

Personal Life

Daniel Gillies, 49, is in a relationship with cellist and model Julia Misaki since 2021. He was previously married to actress Rachael Leigh Cook from August 8, 2004, until their divorce was finalized on March 10, 2021.

They have two children: daughter Charlotte Easton Gillies (born September 28, 2013) and son Theodore Vigo Sullivan Gillies (born April 4, 2015). The couple announced their separation on June 13, 2019, prioritizing privacy for their children.

Gillies holds dual Canadian and New Zealand citizenship and is of mixed Italian, Irish, Scottish, and English descent.

Filmography

Film:

• No One Can Hear You (2001) – Role unknown
• Spider-Man 2 (2004) – John Jameson
• Bride & Prejudice (2004) – Johnny Wickham
• Trespassing (2004) – Role unknown
• Captivity (2007) – Gary Dexter
• Broken Kingdom (2012) – Writer, Director, Actor (role unknown)
• Occupation: Rainfall (2020) – Wing Commander Hayes
• Coming Home in the Dark (2021) – Lead role

Television:

• Young Hercules (1999) – Guest role
• Street Legal (2000–2003) – Tim O’Connor
• Jeremiah (2002) – Guest role
• Masters of Horror (2005) – Guest role
• NCIS (2007) – Guest role
• True Blood (2008) – Guest role
• The Vampire Diaries (2010–2017) – Elijah Mikaelson
• Saving Hope (2012–2017) – Dr. Joel Goran
• The Originals (2013–2018) – Elijah Mikaelson
• Virgin River (2019–2022) – Mark Monroe
• The Newsreader (2022) – Charlie Tate

Discography:

No music releases are associated with Daniel Gillies, as his focus is on acting and filmmaking.

Net Worth

Daniel Gillies’ estimated net worth ranges from $3 million to $5 million USD. His wealth is primarily derived from his acting roles in television series like The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Virgin River, as well as film projects and his work as a director and producer, notably Broken Kingdom. Additional income comes from social media endorsement.