Joe Flanigan was born in Los Angeles and moved to a small ranch near Reno, Nevada at the age of 6. From the age of 14, Joe attended a boarding school in Ojai, California, where he appeared in the school production of “A Streetcar Named Desire”. He later earned a history degree at the University of Colorado, where he appeared in the play “Coriolanus”. After graduation, he pursued a writing career, working on Capitol Hill and for several New York City publications, including “Town & Country” and “Interview” magazine. During that time he studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and moved back to Los Angeles in 1994 to pursue an acting career.
Joe had guest roles in numerous television series including “Profiler”, “Providence”, “Cupid”, “First Monday”, and “Sisters”, until he earned his breakthrough with his role on “Stargate Atlantis” as Lt. Colonel John Sheppard. During filming of the show he lived in Vancouver, Canada, then flew home to Los Angeles to spend weekends with his wife and children. He additionally wrote for the series and created the stories for the second season episode “Epiphany” and the fourth season episode “Outcast”.
Joe has appeared in many other TV shows and movies, including “Birds of Prey”, “Tru Calling”, “Thoughtcrimes”, “CSI: Miami”, “Women’s Murder Club”, “Warehouse 13”, “Fringe”, “6 Bullets”, “Major Crimes”, “General Hospital” and “SEAL Team”. He also reprised his role of Lt. Colonel John Sheppard on “Stargate SG-1”.