# Michael Shanks

> Canadian actor (born 1970)

**Wikidata**: [Q81223](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q81223)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Shanks)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/michael-shanks

## Summary
Michael Shanks is a Canadian actor born on December 15, 1970, who has been active in the entertainment industry since 1993. He is best known for his work in film, television, and theatre as a dramatic and comic performer. Shanks is an alumnus of the University of British Columbia, a public research university in Canada where he received his education before launching his career.

## Biography
- **Born:** December 15, 1970
- **Nationality:** Canada
- **Education:** University of British Columbia (Public research university in British Columbia, Canada)
- **Known for:** Acting in dramatic and comic productions across film, television, theatre, and radio
- **Employer(s):** Not explicitly listed in the source material; affiliated with the University of British Columbia as an alumnus
- **Field(s):** Acting, Film, Television, Theatre, Radio

## Contributions
Based on the provided source material, specific details regarding Michael Shanks's individual contributions such as specific films, plays, patents, or founded companies are not explicitly listed. The source identifies his primary contribution as his ongoing work as an actor since 1993. His professional identity is defined by his role as a member of the human species who acts in dramatic or comic productions. He is associated with the broader category of film actors and television actors, indicating his participation in these media formats, though specific titles or projects are not enumerated in the provided text.

## FAQs
**What is Michael Shanks's nationality and profession?**
Michael Shanks is a Canadian national who works professionally as an actor. His career encompasses work in film, television, theatre, and radio, where he performs in both dramatic and comic productions.

**Where did Michael Shanks receive his education?**
He attended the University of British Columbia, a public research university located in British Columbia, Canada. This institution, founded in 1908, is a major academic center where Shanks completed his studies prior to his acting career.

**When did Michael Shanks begin his professional career?**
Michael Shanks's work period in the entertainment industry began in 1993. Since that year, he has been active as a performer in various media formats including film and television.

**What specific roles or titles is Michael Shanks known for?**
The provided source material identifies him generally as a Canadian actor and a member of the categories "film actor" and "television actor." It does not list specific character names, movie titles, or television shows he has appeared in.

## Why They Matter
Michael Shanks represents a significant figure in the Canadian entertainment landscape as a professional actor with a career spanning over three decades. His presence contributes to the diversity of talent within the Canadian film and television industry, which is recognized for its multiculturalism and high standard of living. As an alumnus of the University of British Columbia, he is part of a network of notable individuals associated with a leading research institution that has produced numerous researchers and scientists. His sustained work since 1993 highlights the viability of long-term careers in the performing arts within Canada.

## Notable For
- Being a Canadian actor born in 1970.
- Having a professional work period that started in 1993.
- Being an alumnus of the University of British Columbia.
- Working across multiple performance mediums including film, television, theatre, and radio.
- Holding the full name Michael Garrett Shanks.
- Being identified in various international databases and directories (e.g., IMDb, Wikidata, Library of Congress).

## Body

### Identity and Personal Details
Michael Shanks, born Michael Garrett Shanks, is a human being and a citizen of Canada. His date of birth is recorded as December 15, 1970. He is an instance of the class "human" and is specifically categorized as an actor. His professional identity is further defined by his roles as a film actor and a television actor. He is also associated with the broader categories of screenwriter, film director, and other creative roles, though the primary focus of the data is on his acting career. His unique identifiers include various codes from organizations such as the Library of Congress (no2001053858), the British Library (97301.0), and the National Library of Spain (XX1501968).

### Education and Institutional Affiliation
Shanks's educational background is linked to the University of British Columbia (UBC). UBC is a public research university established in 1908 in British Columbia, Canada. The university's main headquarters are located in Vancouver, with a postal code of V6T 1Z2, and it also operates a campus in Kelowna. As of 2023, the university had 71,201 full-time equivalent students and an endowment valued at $1.51 billion USD. The institution is a member of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities and is recognized for its high global rankings, including a 35th place ranking in the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2019. Shanks is listed among the affiliated people of this institution, indicating his status as an alumnus.

### Professional Career and Scope
Michael Shanks's career in the performing arts began in 1993. He works as an actor, which is defined as a person who acts in a dramatic or comic production and works in film, television, theatre, or radio. The source material categorizes him under "film actor" and "television actor," confirming his presence in these specific media. While the text does not list specific productions, his inclusion in databases like IMDb (nm0788218) and his presence on a dedicated website (michaelshanks-online.com) suggest a substantial body of work. His career is part of the larger ecosystem of Canadian culture, a country known for its multiculturalism and support for the arts.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
The actor maintains a digital footprint through various online platforms and databases. His official website is listed as http://www.michaelshanks-online.com. He has profiles on social media and professional networks, including Twitter (michaelshanks) and other identifiers like the ISNI (000000011575935X) and ORCID (104546). He is also featured in the Wikimedia Commons under the category "Michael Shanks" and has a dedicated Wikipedia page. These digital records confirm his public profile and the documentation of his career by various cultural and archival institutions.

### Contextual Background: Canada and the Arts
Michael Shanks operates within the context of Canada, a sovereign state and federation in North America. Canada, with a population of over 40 million as of 2023, is known for its two official languages, English and French, and its commitment to multiculturalism. The country has a strong film and television industry, supported by its stable democracy and high Human Development Index. As a Canadian actor, Shanks contributes to this cultural sector, which includes hosting major events like the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The educational institution he attended, UBC, is a key driver of research and innovation in the country, further grounding his background in a nation that values both academic and artistic excellence.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. datos.bne.es
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. filmportal.de
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. CONOR.SI
8. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
9. The Movie Database