Sometimes it's hard to shake a popular character and avoid the typecast label, and some actors who have portrayed iconic roles have gone to great lengths to do just that.
Michael Shanks may be forever known as Daniel Jackson to "Stargate SG-1" fans everywhere, but an actor has to eat and take on new challenges.
Shanks, who did a three-part story in Fox's "24" last year, is now making a move over to "Burn Notice" on the USA network where he takes on a recurring role of a blacklisted spy named Victor.
The episode, which airs Aug. 14 at 10 p.m., features Shanks as a reckless man who doesn't seem to care too much how many innocent people he victimizes. Shanks will have a chance to work with another popular science-fiction icon, Tricia Helfer of "Battlestar Galactica." who plays Carla, uses Victor for her operations, sending him first to Miami where "Burn Notice" is filmed.
Even with his new somewhat regular gig on "Burn Notice," Shanks has remained active in the Stargate universe. He recently appeared in the direct-to-DVD film "Stargate Continuum" and will reprise Daniel Jackson for an upcoming two-episode arc in "Stargate: Atlantis" on SciFi Channel. Shanks also has been busy on different telefilms that are being prepped for Lifetime, Hallmark and even the SciFi Channel.
Stargate fans clamored to get Shanks back on the show when he left midway through "SG-1's" run, but now they'll have a chance to see the actor quite a bit, even with his Stargate series off the air.
"Burn Notice" airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on USA.
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About the Author:
Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.