Don. S. Davis. (General Hammond) 1942-2008

[somme]

From Gateworld.com

 

With great sadness we must report that veteran actor Don S. Davis passed away on June 29, 2008. He was 65 years old.

 

Don co-starred on Stargate SG-1 for the show's first seven years, helping to launch the enduring science fiction franchise. Davis played Major General George Hammond, base commander and a father figure to many of the show's characters.

 

He is also well-known for his portrayal of Major Garland Briggs in Twin Peaks.

 

Off-screen, Don was beloved by the show's cast and crew. He departed the show in 2003 due to a medical condition that restricted his workload, but returned for several guest appearances on SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis in the following years. Don worked hard to improve his health, and continued to work both on screen and off until his death.

 

The following message was provided by Don's representative and his wife, Ruby Fleming-Davis:

 

 

Dear Fans and Friends of Don S. Davis,

 

So many of you have been touched by not only the work and art of Don S. Davis, but by the man himself, who always took the time to be with you at the appearances he loved, that it is with a tremendous sense of loss I must share with you that Don passed away from a massive heart attack on Sunday morning, June 29th.

 

On behalf of his family and wife, Ruby, we thank you for your prayers and condolences. A family memorial where Don's ashes will be scattered in the ocean will take place in a few weeks, and should you wish to, please make a donation to the American Heart Association in Don's memory.

 

 

Born August 4, 1942 in Aurora, Missouri and raised there, Don received a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in theater and art from Southwest Missouri State College in 1965. He then served three years on active duty in the United States Army, entering as a Second Lieutenant. He rose to the rank of Captain and was stationed in Korea before completing his required tour of active duty.

 

Upon leaving the army, Don began working toward a Master's degree in theater at Southern Illinois University, in Carbondale, Illinois, and received his Master's degree in 1970. He taught at the University of British Columbia for a decade before returning to SIU to complete his coursework for a PhD in theater, receiving the degree in 1982.

 

 

Photo from Southern Alumni

Don's list of film and television credits is lengthy, dating back to 1982. He met Stargate co-star Richard Dean Anderson on the set of MacGyver, where Don worked as a stunt double for actor Dana Elcar.

 

When production on Stargate SG-1 began in 1997, the producers tapped Davis to play the base commander -- originally written to be a by-the-book antagonist, but quickly softened by Don's own personality and experience.

 

In 2003 Don married his soul mate and the great love of his life, Ruby Fleming-Davis. The two have resided in British Columbia with their three dogs, Teto, Ming and Charley.

 

Don's off-screen career as an artist blossomed especially in the years since he left Stargate. A look at his Web site, DonSDavisArt.com, reveals his tremendous gifts in painting, drawing, and woodcarving.

 

Don's final Stargate appearance is in Stargate: Continuum, the SG-1 DVD movie that will be released July 29 in North America and August 18 in the United Kingdom. He will also appear in the forthcoming films "Vipers," "Woodshop," and "Far Cry," according to the Internet Movie Database.

 

Many fans of Don's work have had the opportunity to meet him in person, as he was also a regular face at fan conventions around the world. Fans learned that behind General Hammond was a Southern gentleman with a big heart, a no-nonsense attitude, and all the love and respect one could imagine.

 

GateWorld's editors visited with Don in 2006, where he talked at length about his career, his time on Stargate, and his feelings about his fellow cast members. That two-part video interview, "Intimate Portrait," may be found in the Interviews archive.

 

Services for Don S. Davis will be small and private, in both Vancouver and Los Angeles. His Web sites will be updated this week, and his obituary has been published in the Vancouver Sun newspaper. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association in Don's memory.

 

Memories of Don can be shared at GateWorld Forum. Also watch the site this week for our full tribute to this stellar actor and man, beginning with a video tribute later today.

 

Well that's sad, he was great on SG-1.

[ShadowV7]

I'm afraid this is another actor i'm not aware off...

[somme]

Well some people on here will.

[Guest Stefkov]

Is this the bald actor? Aye it is. I used to watch Stargate years ago. It was a good show. Too bad he's died though.

[Fierce_LiNk]

I'm afraid this is another actor i'm not aware off...

 

Then why bother posting in this thread? You wouldn't turn up to somebody's funeral and then declare "I DID NOT KNOW THIS MAN! WHO IS HE? WHY IS HE BEING BURIED HERE?"

 

It's a sad loss, and reading that first post it seems that he lived a very interesting life. I didn't know some of the information there, so it was quite nice to know.

 

R.I.P. *may watch SG-1 in honour*

[ShadowV7]

Then why bother posting in this thread? You wouldn't turn up to somebody's funeral and then declare "I DID NOT KNOW THIS MAN! WHO IS HE? WHY IS HE BEING BURIED HERE?"

 

It's a sad loss, and reading that first post it seems that he lived a very interesting life. I didn't know some of the information there, so it was quite nice to know.

 

R.I.P. *may watch SG-1 in honour*

 

Well sitting on a chair and going to a forum is much easier, quicker, hassle free and less awkward than going to funeral.

 

And since a lot of actors are dying and most I don't know about

 

And if it was as easy as going to a funeral as it is a forum, i'd go there and say "Who is he again?"

[The Bard]

Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me. General Hammond was a total legend. This makes me sad .

 

I will now watch 9 seasons of SG-1 back to back.

[Iun]

 

I will now watch 9 seasons of SG-1 back to back.

 

I just finished doing that...

 

Holy crap... I mean... come on. He was a dude.

 

And to those of the "Don't Know, Don't Care" mentality, you can shove it. Don't post in these threads.

[darksnowman]

He was 65? I didn't realise he was that old... better than dying young I guess. Its still incredibly sad because General Hammond was, and will always be, a legend.

[rokhed00]

RIP

[MoogleViper]

RIP General Hammond.

[EEVILMURRAY]

For all the gimps who didn't watch SG1, just remember him as the bald dude in Con Air who got bird shit on his car window.

 

Then had Dave Chappelle fall on his car.

[Shino]

NOOO! General Hammond! You looked so much younger... RIP.

[Dante]

R.I.P Don S Davis.

 

He was in alot of things before i saw stargate sg1.

Look Who Talking, he was Scully's dad in X-Files,The Outer Limits, Con Air and The 6th Day.

[Hellfire]

Aw man... shit. I JUST saw him in some random show on Fox. Crap.

He was a fantastic actor, rest in peace.

[Mundi]

RIP

 

He was that dude?! Wow... now I feel sad.

I´m starting to get urge to watch twin peaks now.

[killthenet]

"Garland? Judy Garland?"

 

Major Garland Briggs has entered The White Lodge but still, The Owls Are Not What They Seem.

[Happenstance]

Oops, didnt notice this thread and posted the news in the old SG1 thread. Still, very sad.

[Mokong]

oh my god, this is sad sad news indeed, he was so awesome in Stargate SG-1, this is gonna make watching Continuum awkward when he appears in it.

 

RIP

[Zelda_Rulez]

That's really sad news. He was a great actor loved his roles as General Hammond and as Major Briggs, rest in peace.