Editing Aaron Douglas

{{Cast Data
| image= Aaron Douglas.jpg
| series=RDM
| character= [[Galen Tyrol]]
| born_month= 08
| born_day= 23
| born_year= 1971
| death_month= 
| death_day= 
| death_year= 
| nationality= CA
| imdb= 0234928
| sortkey= Douglas, Aaron
|image2=Galen Tyrol promo.jpg}}

'''Aaron Douglas''' (born August 23, 1971) is a Canadian actor who portrays Chief [[Galen Tyrol]] in the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]].

== Early Life and Career ==

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, acting was not Douglas' first career, but he often helped friends prepare for auditions and went along to auditions to read opposite them, and found himself getting bit parts.

After studying acting at Canada's famed [[William B. Davis|William Davis]] Centre and performing with the Okanagan Shakespeare Company, Douglas has gone on to appear in such films as ''[[w:X2 (film)|X2]]'' and ''[[w:Final Destination 2|Final Destination 2]]''; on such shows as ''[[w:Dark Angel (TV series)|Dark Angel]]'', ''[[w:Smallville (TV series)|Smallville]]'', ''[[w:Jeremiah (TV series)|Jeremiah]]'', ''Black Sash'', ''[[w:Stargate SG-1|Stargate SG-1]]'', ''[[w:The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)|The Outer Limits]]'' and the mini-series ''[[w:Taken (miniseries)|Steven Spielberg Presents Taken]]''. He has also featured in such recent films as John Woo's ''[[w:Paycheck (film)|Paycheck]]'', the remake of ''[[w:Walking Tall (2004 film)|Walking Tall]]'', the ''[[w:Pitch Black (film)|Pitch Black]]'' sequel ''[[w:The Chronicles of Riddick|The Chronicles of Riddick]]'' and Alex Proyas' Isaac Asimov adaptation ''[[w:I, Robot (film)|I, Robot]]''.

== ''Battlestar Galactica'' ==

=== Casting Process ===

Douglas was a huge fan of the [[Original Series|original ''Battlestar Galactica'' series]] and actively pursued involvement in the remake.<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_original_fan_casting">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref> He first auditioned for the roles of [[Lee Adama]] and then Lieutenant [[Felix Gaeta|Gaeta]], before being cast as the chief of ''Galactica'''s flight deck. Although Tyrol was originally conceived as a significantly older character, the show's producers agreed with director [[Michael Rymer]]'s assessment that no one could play the chief better than Douglas.<ref group="production" name="bassom_douglas_tyrol_casting_process">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

=== Character Development ===

Douglas has described his connection to the character of [[Galen Tyrol]]:<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_tyrol_character_connection">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: ''Tyrol is kind of like me. He's kind of brash and abrasive on the outside, but deep down he's a teddy bear. And if I were put in a position to run a deck on a Battlestar, I'd probably do it just like Tyrol. He's someone who loves his job and he's a leader who leads by example. So I'm very happy in the role. I wouldn't want to play anyone else now. Tyrol fits me the best, by far.''

The actor was delighted by how Tyrol evolved from a minor supporting character into a major role:<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_character_expansion">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: ''[[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]] told me that when he wrote the [[Miniserie|miniseries]], he thought Tyrol was just going to be this secondary character who gave a little life and background to the ship. But Ron enjoyed what I did with the role and all my ad-libs, and he gave me more things to do as season one went on.''

=== Character Psychology ===

Douglas has provided insight into Tyrol's complex relationship with [[Sharon Valerii]], particularly regarding his subconscious awareness of [[Humanoid Cylon|her true nature]]:<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_tyrol_sharon_psychology">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: ''Tyrol's not a dumb guy and I think deep down — on a subconscious level — he realizes she's a Cylon during [[Season 1 (2004-05)|season one]]. But he just can't bring himself to accept it. It's just like in real life where someone thinks their boyfriend or girlfriend is cheating on them, and they know they're right on some subconscious level, but they don't feel like they can examine it or face it.''

Regarding the decision to end Tyrol and Sharon's relationship, Douglas was supportive of the creative choice:<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_tyrol_sharon_breakup">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=66|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: The opportunity to break up with Sharon was really cool. When Ron Moore decided to split up Tyrol and Sharon, I was completely with him. If they'd stayed together, Tyrol might have become this one-dimensional guy who just kissed and argued with Sharon, and that could have become a little dull.

=== Episode-Specific Work ===

Douglas was particularly excited about his expanded role in the episode "[[Litmus]]":<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_litmus_episode">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=65|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: ''[[David Eick]] had told me a big episode for Tyrol was coming up, and when I read the script I thought it was great. I'd been given a lot of interesting stuff to do in other episodes, but there was a lot of really cool scenes for me to do in 'Litmus'.''

=== Series Assessment ===

Despite initially being skeptical about remakes, Douglas became one of the series' most enthusiastic supporters:<ref group="commentary" name="bassom_douglas_series_appreciation">{{cite book|last=Bassom|first=David|year=2005|title=[[Battlestar Galactica: The Official Companion]]|page=127|editor=ed. Adam "Adama" Newell|publisher=Titan Books|id=ISBN 1-84576-0972}}</ref>

: ''I don't like remakes generally, but [[Battlestar Galactica (TRS)|this]]'' [[Battlestar Galactica (TRS)|Battlestar Galactica]] ''is really different and original, and is just a great show. When I saw the opening episodes of [[Season 1 (2004-05)|season one]], I remember thinking to myself I would watch this show even if I wasn't in it!''

== References ==

=== Commentary and Interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}

=== Production History ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

== External Links ==
* [http://aarondouglas.biz/index.php Official Fan Site]
* [http://community.livejournal.com/aarondouglas/ Aaron Douglas LiveJournal community]
* [http://www.aarondouglasfans.com/ Aaron Douglas Fans] - fan site with photos, multimedia, filmography, articles, etc.
* [http://www.galactica.tv/galactica-2003---interviews/aaron-douglas-galactica.tv-interview.html Aaron Douglas interview] - a long interview with Douglas prior to [[Season 3 (2006-07)|Season 3]]

{{sourcebox|Aaron Douglas thoughts on the show}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Cast]]
[[Category:Cast (RDM)]]
[[Category:Former Stargate Cast and Crew]]
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