David Ian Hewlett (born 18 April 1968) is a British–Canadian 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 appeared in the horror film Pin (1988) and the science-fiction films Scanners II: The New Order (1991) and Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011).
Early life Hewlett was born in Redhill, England, and moved with his family to Canada at the age of four. He 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. 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.
Before his acting career took off, Hewlett ran Darkyl Media, a website design firm, and also founded Fusefilm.com, a now-defunct internet community for filmmakers.
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 the critically acclaimed thriller Cube as Worth.
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, and that he made science fiction with his friends when he was younger in Britain, on his 8 mm 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.
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.
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. On 23 July 2006, Hewlett created a YouTube channel named Fanatical.
In 2014, Hewlett directed the supernatural horror-science fiction film Debug with Jason Momoa, who had starred alongside Hewlett in Stargate Atlantis. Jeananne Goossen and Adrian Holmes played the lead roles in the film.
In 2015, Hewlett appeared in the Syfy TV series Dark Matter, which is based on the comic book of the same name. 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.
Personal life Hewlett married actress Soo Garay in 2000; they divorced in 2004. He married Jane Loughman in 2008. They have a son born in 2007. Hewlett's younger sister is actress Kate Hewlett. She has appeared on Stargate Atlantis as Rodney McKay's sister, Jeannie Miller, multiple times in the series. When 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.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRole Notes1987 The DarksideChuckie1988PinLeon1989 The PenthouseJoe DobsonTV filmDead Meat1990Where the Heart IsJimmyDeep SleepTerryDesire and Hell at Sunset MotelDeadpan Winchester1991Scanners II: The New OrderDavid Kellum The First Circle'Ruska' RostislavTV film1992 A Savage Christmas: The Fall of Hong KongWalter JenkinsQuiet KillerMyles ChapmanSplit ImagesGary HammondTV film1993Blood BrothersDetective Trayne The Boys of St. Vincent: 15 Years LaterSteven Lunney, age 251996Joe's WeddingRob Fitzgerald1997CubeDavid Worth, the ArchitectOn the 2nd Day of ChristmasMelTV filmElevatedHankShortBad Day on the BlockAndrew1998ClutchMartynMilkmanMartin/Soldier'sVoice1999SurvivorLe médecinTV film The Life Before ThisNickBlindThe VictimShortAutoeroticaGordAmateur NightD.J.2001Chasing CainBudAnd Never Let Her GoGerry CapanoTV film The TriangleGus GruberCentury HotelMichaelTreed MurrayMurrayaka Get Down2002Made In Canada, Volume 1: Best of the CFCHimselfCypherVirgil DunnFather LeftyFather GregoryTV film2003NothingDaveStory writerFoolproofLawrence YeagerFriday NightRogerShort2004Boa vs. PythonDr. Steven EmmettIce MenBryanDarklightAnders RaeborneTV film2006 A Dog's BreakfastPatrickDirector and story writer2008HelenFrank2009SpliceWilliam Barlow2010 The WhistleblowerFred Murray2011Rise of the Planet of the ApesHunsikerMorlocksDr. RadnorTV filmRage of the YetiMillsDirector2013HaunterOlivia's Father2014Debug—Director2017 The Shape of WaterFleming2019MidwayHusband E. KimmelLie ExposedBrian2021Nightmare AlleyDr. Elrood2022 The Swearing JarBill2024 A Thousand Cuts LevelsOliver
Television YearTitleRole Notes1984 The Edison TwinsHowardEpisode: "The Delinquent"1988Friday the 13th: The SeriesCalEpisode: "Tales of the Undead"My Secret IdentityRockEpisode: "A Walk on the Wild Side"1987Night HeatGil Episode: "Simon Says"1988–1989T. and T.Detective Jones/RonnieEpisodes: "Black and White" & "Thicker Than White"1990 The CampbellsCaptain HendersonNed KaneEpisodes: "And in the Spring" & "Live by the Sword"1988–1994Street LegalDave ListerTim WoolrichEpisodes: "Murder by Video" & "Persons Living or Dead"1991–1992Katts and DogThe Strangler3 episodes1992Forever KnightMatthew ReedEpisode: "Dead Air"1992–1993Beyond RealityTom2 episodes1993Shining Time StationTed TypoTropical Heat (AKA Sweating Bullets)GleasonEpisode: "Object of Desire"1993–1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesDr. Nicholas Elder13 episodes1994Monster ForceLance McGruder (voice)1996–2000TradersGrant Jansky73 episodes1999Twice in a LifetimeMr. GreenEpisode: "O'er the Ramparts We Watched"2001ERMr. SchudyEpisode: "Never Say Never"2001–2007Stargate SG-1Dr. Rodney McKay7 episodes2003Mutant XHector FriemarkEpisode: "The Taking of Crows"2004Without a TraceFred WatkinsEpisode: "Hawks and Handsaws" The DistrictFrederickEpisode: "Family Values"2004–2009Stargate: AtlantisDr. Rodney McKay100 episodes2009 The CloserFBI Special Agent Jerry MooreEpisode: "Walking Back the Cat"2010–2011HellcatsDr. Thurston Eagan2 episodes2011Stargate: UniverseDr. Rodney McKayEpisode: "Seizure"2013DarknetLewisEpisode: "Darknet 1"State of SynAslin Kane6 episodes2015–2016Dark MatterTalbor Calchek4 episodes2016SuitsNathan BurnesEpisode: "Back on the Map"IncorporatedChad Peterson4 episodes2016–2017Murdoch MysteriesDilbert Dilton2 episodes2019Hudson & RexNelson DwyerEpisode: "Man of Consequence"2021ClariceAnthony Herman5 episodesDepartureBill RatchRecurring role (season 2)Private EyesEarl BaerEpisode: "Drop Dead Carny"2021–2022SeeTormadaGuest role (season 2), main role (season 3)2022Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of CuriositiesMassonEpisode: "Graveyard Rats"2025Mistletoe MurdersRay2025Saint-Pierre (TV series)Gerard BennettEpisode: "Island Getaway"
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