A young adult beside a familiar family name
I first encounter Samuel David Shanks through a cheerful moment in his father’s life. In March 2006, Michael Shanks told a convention audience that he and Lexa Doig had welcomed a son six days earlier. The announcement included the baby’s full name and jokes about sleeping, crying, and watching children’s television. It was a small domestic scene shared with fans of a very different universe.
Samuel was born on 19 March 2006. He turned 20 on 19 March 2026. Although a 2007 birth year sometimes appears, the contemporary announcement and his mother’s later description of an 11 year old son in April 2017 support 2006.
He is the younger child of Michael and Lexa and the youngest of Michael’s three children. His public biography remains limited. There is no firmly verified professional résumé, education history, or independent acting career to describe.
| Detail | Established information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel David Shanks |
| Family nicknames | Sam and Sammy |
| Birthday | 19 March 2006 |
| Age on 16 October 2026 | 20 |
| Parents | Michael Shanks and Lexa Doig |
| Older sister | Mia Tabitha Shanks |
| Older half sister | Tatiana Shanks |
Michael Shanks and the road to Stargate
Michael Garrett Shanks was born on 15 December 1970 in Vancouver and grew up in Kamloops. He studied fine arts at the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1994, then developed his stage experience through an apprenticeship at the Stratford Festival.
I find that theatrical background helpful when looking beyond his best known role. Before becoming Daniel Jackson in Stargate SG-1, he worked in productions associated with Shakespeare and appeared in Canadian television. The science fiction series, which began in 1997, turned him into an internationally familiar performer.
His connection with Stargate extended beyond acting. He directed “Double Jeopardy,” wrote “Resurrection,” and contributed to the story of “Evolution, Part 1.” He also voiced the Asgard character Thor and returned for the 2008 films The Ark of Truth and Continuum.
Later roles included Dr. Charlie Harris in Saving Hope, Hawkman in Smallville, and Gordie Howe in Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story. Those credits belong to Michael. I keep them separate from Samuel’s biography even though they explain why readers recognize the family name.
Lexa Doig and a different science fiction landmark
Samuel’s mother was born Alexandra Lecciones Doig on 8 June 1973 in Toronto. Her parents were David and Gloria Doig. Her background includes Scottish ancestry through her father and Filipino ancestry through her mother, whose family roots are in Dumaguete.
Lexa became particularly well known as the ship’s artificial intelligence and android avatar in Andromeda, which ran from 2000 to 2005. She also starred as Rowan in Jason X. Her subsequent television work included Continuum, Arrow, The Arrangement, and Virgin River.
She played Dr. Carolyn Lam in the final two seasons of Stargate SG-1, bringing both parents into the same production. I see their overlapping careers as a recurring bridge in the family story. Different series brought them together, and later work occasionally allowed them to share a set while raising children.
A relationship that began on Andromeda
Michael guest starred in the 2001 Andromeda episode “Star-Crossed.” He played a love interest for Lexa’s character, and their personal relationship began around that meeting. They later remembered going to a Spanish restaurant and talking through the night.
They married on 2 August 2003 in Vancouver. There was no elaborate proposal story in their account; they chose an engagement ring together. Work also shaped the practical details of the marriage, including the absence of an immediate honeymoon.
Mia arrived on 13 September 2004, followed by Samuel in March 2006. During Stargate SG-1’s final season, Michael took time away in connection with his son’s birth. That is a production detail, but it also marks an ordinary priority inside a busy acting career: being present when a new child arrived.
Samuel and his two older sisters
Tatiana Shanks, born on 10 August 1998, is Michael’s daughter with actress Vaitiare Hirshon, also known professionally as Vaitiare Bandera. Michael and Vaitiare were partners rather than a documented married couple. Calling Lexa his second wife would therefore misstate that earlier relationship.
Tatiana has developed a public filmmaking career. Her work includes the short Far Away Places in 2018 and Never Forget in 2025. Michael participated in the latter as an actor and producer.
Mia Tabitha Shanks has also become a public performer. In Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Haunted by Murder in 2022, she played a teenage version of Sally Allison, the character her mother portrays as an adult. Later credits include Sidelined: The QB and Me and television guest appearances.
I find that casting especially memorable: mother and daughter portraying the same character at different ages. Yet it gives no reason to assume Samuel has followed the same path. His sisters’ public work should illuminate the family without becoming borrowed evidence of his career.
The Doig grandparents
David William Doig, Samuel’s maternal grandfather, was born on 8 January 1938 and died on 9 April 2025, aged 87. His life included scientific study, advanced education, and writing about disability from the perspective of someone who used a wheelchair. He lived for many years with multiple sclerosis.
He and Gloria had two children, Ted and Lexa. A family memorial named Tatiana, Mia, and Samuel among his grandchildren and used the affectionate name “Grumpa.” I value that small word because it brings warmth to a genealogy otherwise made of dates and credits.
FAQ
Is Samuel David Shanks an actor?
No verified acting career is established for him. Unreferenced occupation labels do not provide enough evidence to assign him professional credits.
How old is Samuel David Shanks?
He is 20 on 16 October 2026, having been born on 19 March 2006.
Who are his siblings?
His older sister is Mia Tabitha Shanks. His older half sister is Tatiana Shanks, Michael’s daughter with Vaitiare Hirshon.
Is his net worth public?
No personal net worth, salary, or inheritance figure is established for Samuel. Conflicting estimates about his parents’ finances do not determine his own assets.
