Bio
Joe Flanigan is an American actor best known for his starring role as Lt. Col. John Sheppard on the science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis, from 2004-2009.
He has had recurring roles in numerous television series including Profiler, First Monday and Sisters.
Born in Los Angeles, Flanigan moved to a small ranch on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada when he was six years old. He attended boarding school in Ojai, California and later received a degree in history from the University of Colorado.
Following a year abroad in Paris, jobs as a magazine writer, and a stint on Capital Hill, he joined The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York to study acting.
Moving to Los Angeles in 1994, his television debut was an auspicious one, starring opposite Jacqueline Smith in the NBC miniseries Family Album.
He was a series regular on Sisters and First Monday and had guest starring roles on such series as Birds of Prey and Judging Amy, as well as Murphy Brown in which he played her love interest, Scott.
Flanigan made repeat appearances on the series Providence, Cupid, and Dawson's Creek, and also had lead roles in a number of television pilots including The Precinct, Sherman's March, The Force, Man-Made, Club Paradise, and 111 Gramercy Park.
He guest-starred in the made-for-television movies Edna Buchanon, Tell Me No Secrets and the USA original movie Thought Crimes, a crime drama directed by Breck Eisner.
Among his feature film credits is Gary Marshall's romantic comedy The Other Sister, starring Diane Keaton and Juliette Lewis.
A competitive skier for many years, Flanigan and still enjoys such pastimes as rock climbing, mountain biking and surfing.
He resides in Malibu, California, with his wife and two sons.