Except for the commanders of the top-secret
Stargate Command military base (SGC), all main characters of
Stargate SG-1 are members of the SG-1 team, the primary unit of the SGC in the show. SG-1's duties include
first contact,
reconnaissance and combat, diplomacy, initial
archaeological surveying, and technological assessment. The composition of SG-1 changes several times during the series run and varies in several
alternative universes.
Jack O'Neill Jack O'Neill is a
USAF colonel (later brigadier general, major general and then lieutenant general) who led the original mission through the Stargate in
Stargate. He is played by
Kurt Russell in the film, and by former
MacGyver actor
Richard Dean Anderson in a regular role in seasons 1–8, and in a recurring role in seasons 9–10, also
Michael Welch played young Colonel O'Neill in episode
"Fragile Balance". He also appears in
Stargate: Continuum, and in seasons 1 and 3 of
Stargate Atlantis. Colonel O'Neill is the leader of the SG-1 team in the first seven seasons, and takes charge of Stargate Command after his promotion to brigadier general at the beginning of season 8. He is promoted to major general at the beginning of season 9, and is reassigned to Washington, D.C., then makes sporadic appearances in the final episodes of season one of Stargate Universe.
Daniel Jackson Dr. Daniel Jackson is a brilliant
archaeologist and
linguist, specializing in
Egyptology, whose unusual theories concerning the origin of the Egyptian Pyramids led to his participation in the original mission through the stargate in
Stargate. He is played by
James Spader in the film and by
Michael Shanks in a regular role in seasons 1–5 and 7–10, with a recurring role in season 6. He also appears in both direct-to-DVD films and in seasons 1 and 5 of
Stargate Atlantis. Daniel joins the SG-1 team in search of his kidnapped wife (Sha're), until she dies in season 3. However, he decides to remain a part of SG-1, and does so until his
ascension at the end of season 5. Following his decision to retake human form, he rejoins SG-1 at the beginning of season 7. As stated in season 2's "
1969", Daniel speaks 23 languages, including Russian, German, Spanish, and
Egyptian. Throughout the run of the series, he becomes Earth's foremost expert on the
Ancients, and also learns many alien languages, such as
Goa'uld,
Ancient, and
Unas.
Samantha Carter Samantha "Sam" Carter is an astrophysicist and
USAF captain (later major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, then brigadier general). She is played by
Amanda Tapping in a regular role in seasons 1–10, in both direct-to-DVD films and makes an appearance in all seasons of
Stargate Atlantis. Captain Carter joins SG-1 under the command of Col. O'Neill in season 1. Following her promotion to major in season 3, she is promoted to lieutenant colonel in early season 8 and assumes command of SG-1. She assists Lt. Col. Cameron Mitchell in seasons 9 and 10. After her appearance in
Stargate: The Ark of Truth, she is promoted to a "full bird" colonel and becomes the new commander of the Atlantis expedition in season 4 of
Stargate Atlantis before joining SG-1 again for
Stargate: Continuum. She is later made the commander of the USS
George Hammond, a
Daedalus-class Earth ship named after former SGC commander General Hammond, who died in correlation with the actor who played him,
Don S. Davis.
Teal'c Teal'c is a
Jaffa from the planet Chulak. He is played by
Christopher Judge in a regular role in seasons 1–10, in both direct-to-DVD films and in season 4 of
Stargate Atlantis. Throughout the entire run of Stargate SG-1, the only episode that the character was absent was Season 8's "
Prometheus Unbound". Teal'c states that he is 101 years old in season 4's "
The Light", and ages an additional 50 years in season 10's "
Unending". His catchphrase is "Indeed". Teal'c's most notable feature is a golden tattoo on his forehead, a sign that he once served the Goa'uld
Apophis as First Prime, the highest Jaffa rank. His interaction with
Bra'tac (Apophis' former First Prime) and his own personal experiences led him to doubt the divinity of the Goa'uld. Teal'c defects from Apophis in the pilot episode and joins the SG-1 team, believing this to be an opportunity to eventually defeat the Goa'uld and bring freedom to all Jaffa. He leaves his wife
Drey'auc and his son
Rya'c behind on Chulak. After succeeding in killing Apophis in season 5's "
Enemies", Teal'c and Bra'tac make first progress in uniting a sizable group of Jaffa resistance warriors in season 5's "
The Warrior". Teal'c and Bra'tac lose their symbiotes after a sabotaged rebel Jaffa summit in season 6's "
The Changeling", but the
Tok'ra drug Tretonin can sustain them and eventually becomes instrumental in liberating Jaffa from physiological reliance on Goa'uld symbiotes,. Teal'c and Bra'tac eventually lead the Jaffa to victory over the Goa'uld in season 8's "
Reckoning"/"
Threads". Teal'c is chosen as a member of the new
Jaffa High Council and supports Bra'tac as an interim leader in season 9's "
The Fourth Horseman" before a type of government is solidified.
George S. Hammond George S. Hammond is a
USAF Major General (later Lieutenant General) who commands
Stargate Command in the first seven seasons. He is played by
Don S. Davis in a regular role in seasons 1–7 and in a recurring role afterwards. He also appears in
Stargate: Continuum and season 1 of
Stargate Atlantis. Hammond took over from
Major General West, commander of the Stargate Project in the original
Stargate film, and originally intended the Stargate Program to be his last assignment before retirement. and became a widower when his wife died of
cancer. Hammond briefly retires under duress in season 4's "
Chain Reaction", where he spends time with his two grandchildren, Kayla and Tessa. He is promoted to the rank of
lieutenant general at the beginning of season 8, being placed in command of the new Homeworld Security command, a department in control of Stargate Command, the
Prometheus project, and the Atlantian Antarctica outpost. Hammond recurs in the season 1 of
Stargate Atlantis and seasons 8 through 10 of
Stargate SG-1. Hammond appears in a civilian suit instead of a military uniform in season 9's "
The Fourth Horseman", and Carter confirms his retired status in season 10's "
The Road Not Taken". In his last appearance in the alternate timeline film
Stargate: Continuum, Hammond acts as a military advisor to President
Henry Hayes. Don S. Davis knew
Richard Dean Anderson (O'Neill) from Anderson's starring role in
MacGyver, in which Davis was a stand-in for
Dana Elcar (playing Pete Thornton, MacGyver's boss) before making several guest appearances. Davis died from a heart attack at the age of 65 on June 29, 2008, shortly before the release of
Continuum, making this his final on-screen appearance as General Hammond. For his portrayal of Hammond, Don S. Davis was nominated for a 2004
Leo Award in the category "Dramatic Series: Best Supporting Performance by a Male" for the season 7 episode "
Heroes, Part 2".
Jonas Quinn Jonas Quinn is an alien from the planet Langara. He is played by former ''
Parker Lewis Can't Lose'' actor
Corin Nemec in a regular role in season 6, and in a recurring capacity in seasons 5 and 7. Jonas leaves his home planet Langara the penultimate season 5 episode "
Meridian" after witnessing Daniel Jackson's lethal sacrifice and the following gleeful reaction of his planet's leaders. He is a fast learner and fills Daniel's empty spot on SG-1 in season 6. Following Daniel's return at the beginning of season 7, Jonas returns to his planet and last appears in the mid-season 7 episode "
Fallout". Corin Nemec replaced Michael Shanks (Daniel Jackson) during season 6 after Shanks had left the show amid controversy after season 5. The producers based Jonas's motivation to join SG-1 on his momentary reluctance to actively prevent Daniel's death and his feelings of responsibility afterwards. Jonas was slowly integrated into the story in a prolonged transition stage over the first half of season 6. Nemec was open to continue playing Jonas Quinn after season 6, but a new contract was reached with Michael Shanks for Daniel to return in season 7. Mitchell is often at the center of the action and fight sequences. The producers did not realize the physical resemblance between Browder and Michael Shanks when Browder was cast, and employed make-up and costuming techniques to make the transition easier for the audience. The writers' decision to put Mitchell in command of SG-1 instead of Carter was met with resistance by some critics and audience members. For his portrayal of Cameron Mitchell, Ben Browder was nominated for a
Saturn Award in the category "Best Supporting Actor on Television" in 2006.
Hank Landry played Hank Landry. Henry "Hank" Landry is a
United States Air Force Major General and the commander of
Stargate Command from season 9 onwards. He is played by
Beau Bridges in a regular role in seasons 9–10, in both direct-to-DVD films, and in the
Stargate Atlantis episodes "
The Intruder", "
Critical Mass", "
No Man's Land", and the two-part episode "
The Return" of seasons 2 and 3. General Landry is introduced in
SG-1 season 9 premiere, "
Avalon", having been hand-picked by Jack O'Neill to succeed him. Landry once served as a pilot in the
Vietnam War and met a Vietnamese woman named Kim Lam. They had a child,
Carolyn Lam, but Landry became estranged to them and left them due to his involvement in military intelligence. Bridges thought that "[Landry] likes to empower his team. He realizes how challenged they are. It's a huge burden to protect their country from the entire galaxy, but he also recognizes that, like himself, they are human beings. [...] Sometimes he does that with a bark, and sometimes with a bite, but he also has a sense of humor, this man. And he likes to fool with people." Although the producers had some ideas for the characters, they collaborated with Bridges to develop the character's backstory before the writing of season 9 began. Bridges made no deliberate effort to distinguish his character from General O'Neill, believing that the character could stand on his own.
Vala Mal Doran Vala Mal Doran is a con artist from an unnamed planet and a former human host to the Goa'uld Qetesh. She is played by former
Farscape actress
Claudia Black in a regular role in season 10 after having recurred in seasons 8 and 9 of
SG-1. Her 1st appearance in season 8's "
Prometheus Unbound" is followed by a recurring role in season 9, where she and Daniel unintentionally set off the new
Ori threat. She joins SG-1 after giving birth to the new leader of the Ori at the beginning of season 10, and appears in both direct-to-DVD films. Vala was created by
Damian Kindler and
Robert C. Cooper as a one-time character, but because of the on-screen chemistry between Black's Vala and Shanks' character Daniel Jackson, and the character's popularity with the producers and the audience, Claudia Black became a recurring guest star in season 9 and joined the main cast in season 10. For her portrayal of Vala, Claudia Black was nominated for a 2006
Saturn Award in the category "Best Supporting Actress on Television", == Recurring Stargate Command personnel ==