It is with a heavy heart that I bring you news of the death of a very fine and talented actor.  Don S. Davis, whom I know from the role of General George Hammond from Stargate SG-1, passed away on June 29, 2008 from a heart attack.  He was 65 years old.

I’ve always loved Stargate SG-1, as you can see from my post on one of the phrases earlier, “If you immediately know candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked long ago.” From day one, when SG-1 was on HBO, I saw General Hammond make the toughest decisions a person can make.  Davis did a fantastic job of showing the courage and toughness needed to deal in those situations, while still showing compassion and understanding and caring for those under Hammond’s command.

Last year, I bought Stargate SG-1 Season One on DVD.  When I finished that, I bought season two.  When I finished that, I bought seasons three, four and five, spent months looking for seasons six and seven, wound up buying seasons 8 and 9 to sit on my shelf while I waited for the two I was missing.  Finally found those, and then bought season 10.

I’d sit in my room for days and watch Stargate, and I was disappointed when Don Davis left the show, for health reasons.  I missed his courageous character and great strength.  I feel like I lived through six years of the Stargate team’s lives.

I’m saddened for this loss to the team of one of TV’s greatest sci-fi shows.  I’m saddened for other reasons, as well.  I am going to Dragon*Con this fall, and he was supposed to be there.  I was looking forward to meeting one of my role models.  Now that won’t happen.

Farewell, Hammond of Texas.  May you rest in peace.