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| | character=[[Dreilide Thrace]] (a.k.a. "Slick") | | | character=[[Dreilide Thrace]] (a.k.a. "Slick") |
| | series=RDM | | | series=RDM |
| | born_month= 05 | | | born_month= |
| | born_day= 11 | | | born_day= |
| | born_year= 1963 | | | born_year= |
| | death_month= | | | death_month= |
| | death_day= | | | death_day= |
| | death_year= | | | death_year= |
| | nationality= CA | | | nationality= |
| | imdb= 0188220 | | | imdb= 0188220 |
| | sortkey=Critchlow, Roark | | | sortkey=Critchlow, Roark |
| }} | | }} |
| '''Roark Critchlow''' (born May 11, 1963, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada)<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_bio_birthdate">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/bio/#:~:text=born%20on%20May%2011%2C%201963%20in%20Calgary%2C%20Alberta%2C%20Canada|title=Roark Critchlow – Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> is a Canadian actor who portrays [[Dreilide Thrace]] (a.k.a. Slick) in the [[Season 4]] episodes "[[Deadlock]]" and "[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]" of the [[Re-imagined Series|Re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'']]. He grew up in Summerland, British Columbia, where he attended high school.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_profile_summerland">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=Summerland%20where%20I%20went%20to%20high%20school%20and%20where%20my%20parents%20still%20live|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He is best known for his long-running portrayal of Dr. Mike Horton on the American daytime soap opera ''[[w:Days of Our Lives|Days of Our Lives]]'' and for his recurring role as Tom Marin on ''[[w:Pretty Little Liars|Pretty Little Liars]]''.
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| == Career ==
| | '''Roark Critchlow''' is the actor who portrayed [[Dreilide Thrace]] a.k.a. Slick in the [[Re-imagined Series]] episodes "[[Deadlock]]" and "[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]". |
| Critchlow studied theatre acting at the [[w:University of Victoria|University of Victoria]] from 1983 to 1985, performing at the university's Phoenix Theatre in productions including ''[[w:The Glass Menagerie|The Glass Menagerie]]'' and ''Zastrozzi''.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_uvic_training">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=I%20attended%20UVIC%20for%20theatre%20acting%20from%201983%20to%201985|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> Following graduation, he spent two years working in professional theatre before moving to Vancouver as the city's television production industry began to expand, working there for a further three years before relocating to Los Angeles in 1990.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_career_arc_la_1990">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=Vancouver%20was%20just%20opening%20up%20as%20a%20TV%20centre%2C%20so%20I%20worked%20there%20for%203%20years%20before%20heading%20to%20LA%20in%201990|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> | |
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| === ''Days of Our Lives'' ===
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| In 1994, Critchlow was cast as Dr. Michael "Mike" Horton on ''[[w:Days of Our Lives|Days of Our Lives]]'', the son of Bill Horton and Laura Spencer, and remained on the show as a contract player until 1999.<ref group="external" name="soapnet_critchlow_days_1994_1999">{{cite web|url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2022/09/roark-critchlow-returns-days-of-our-lives-dr-mike-horton-12-year-absence#:~:text=Critchlow%20joined%20the%20cast%20of%20the%20series%20in%201994%20and%20remained%20a%20full-time%20cast%20member%20until%201999|title=Roark Critchlow Returns to 'Days of our Lives' As Dr. Mike Horton After 12-Year Absence|publisher=Soap Opera Network|date=September 23, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> During his tenure, he played a central figure in several high-profile storylines, including one in which Mike was tasked with keeping Marlena Evans's body alive while John Black attempted to save her soul during her possession by the Devil — an experience Critchlow later described as unlike anything an actor encounters in the ordinary course of a television career.<ref group="external" name="soapoperanews_critchlow_marlena_devil_storyline">{{cite web|url=https://soapoperanews.net/exclusive-roark-critchlow-talks-days-of/#:~:text=Dr.%20Mike%20was%20tasked%20with%20keeping%20Marlena%27s%20body%20alive%20while%20John%20tried%20to%20figure%20out%20how%20to%20save%20her%20soul%20when%20she%20was%20possessed%20by%20the%20Devil|title=EXCLUSIVE: Roark Critchlow Talks Days of Our Lives, His New Role on Alaska Daily and More!|publisher=Soap Opera News|date=December 13, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He appeared on the cover of ''Soap Opera Digest'' in its August 16, 1994 issue.<ref group="external" name="soapoperaworld_digest_cover_1994">{{cite web|url=https://soapoperaworld.com/8-16-94-soap-opera-digest-shawn-christian-roark-critchlow-p-564.html#:~:text=Soap%20Opera%20Digest|title=8-16-94 Soap Opera Digest – Shawn Christian / Roark Critchlow|publisher=Soap Opera World|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| After departing the show in 1999, Critchlow returned briefly in June 2010 for episodes honoring the memory of Frances Reid, who had played Alice Horton for over four decades.<ref group="external" name="soapcentral_critchlow_2010_return_frances_reid">{{cite web|url=https://www.soapcentral.com/days-of-our-lives/2022-0929-roark-critchlow-opens-up-about-return-to-days#:~:text=He%20returned%20to%20the%20show%20in%202010%20for%20a%20special%20episode%20that%20centered%20around%20the%20death%20of%20Alice%20Horton%20after%20the%20real-life%20death%20of%20actress%20Frances%20Reid|title=Mike Horton returns to Salem, with Roark Critchlow stepping back into the role|publisher=Soap Central|date=September 29, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He returned to the role a third time on October 4, 2022, after a twelve-year absence, sharing scenes with Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes as well as Cady McClain and Matthew Ashford.<ref group="external" name="soapnet_critchlow_2022_return_castmates">{{cite web|url=https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2022/09/roark-critchlow-returns-days-of-our-lives-dr-mike-horton-12-year-absence#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20the%20Hayes%2C%20Critchlow%20also%20worked%20alongside%20Cady%20McClain%20and%20Matthew%20Ashford|title=Roark Critchlow Returns to 'Days of our Lives' As Dr. Mike Horton After 12-Year Absence|publisher=Soap Opera Network|date=September 23, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> Speaking to ''Soap Opera Digest'' about the experience of returning to a long-established character, Critchlow described it as an unexpected pleasure each time it occurred.<ref group="external" name="soapcentral_critchlow_unexpected_pleasure_quote">{{cite web|url=https://www.soapcentral.com/days-of-our-lives/2022-0929-roark-critchlow-opens-up-about-return-to-days#:~:text=It%20is%20just%20an%20unexpected%20pleasure%20when%20it%20happens|title=Mike Horton returns to Salem, with Roark Critchlow stepping back into the role|publisher=Soap Central|date=September 29, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| === Other television work ===
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| Outside of his soap opera work, Critchlow built a substantial body of credits in prime-time television and genre productions. He appeared as Jason Talbott, a character killed by Xavier St. Cloud, in the ''[[w:Highlander: The Series|Highlander: The Series]]'' Season 2 episode "Unholy Alliance, Part 1" (1994).<ref group="external" name="imdb_highlander_critchlow_jason_talbott">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0601449/characters/nm0188220#:~:text=Jason%20Talbott|title=Highlander: The Series – "Unholy Alliance, Part 1" – Roark Critchlow as Jason Talbott|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He made a guest appearance in ''[[w:Charmed (TV series)|Charmed]]'' as Robert Pike, a man embodying the deadly sin of greed, in the Season 3 episode "Sin Francisco" (2001).<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_charmed_sin_francisco">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/#:~:text=Charmed|title=Roark Critchlow|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He subsequently appeared in episodes of ''[[w:Entourage (TV series)|Entourage]]'' (2005), ''[[w:Malcolm in the Middle|Malcolm in the Middle]]'' (2006), and ''[[w:CSI: Miami|CSI: Miami]]'' (2007).<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_entourage_malcolm_csi">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/#:~:text=Entourage|title=Roark Critchlow|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| From 2009 to 2011, Critchlow had a recurring role on the ABC science fiction series ''[[w:V (2009 TV series)|V]]'' as Assistant Director Paul Kendrick, Erica Evans's FBI superior.<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_v_paul_kendrick">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307824/characters/nm0188220#:~:text=A.D.%20Paul%20Kendrick|title=V (TV Series 2009–2011) – Roark Critchlow as A.D. Paul Kendrick|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> From 2010 to 2013, he portrayed Tom Marin — the father of Hanna Marin — in a recurring capacity on ''[[w:Pretty Little Liars|Pretty Little Liars]]'' on ABC Family.<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_pll_tom_marin">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/#:~:text=Pretty%20Little%20Liars|title=Roark Critchlow|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He appeared in a guest role in ''[[w:Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'' in 2014 and had a recurring role in the ABC drama ''[[w:Alaska Daily|Alaska Daily]]'' (2022–2023), starring opposite [[w:Hilary Swank|Hilary Swank]], playing a district attorney in a story centered on missing and murdered Indigenous women.<ref group="external" name="soapoperanews_critchlow_alaska_daily">{{cite web|url=https://soapoperanews.net/exclusive-roark-critchlow-talks-days-of/#:~:text=he%E2%80%99s%20also%20having%20a%20good%20time%20performing%20in%20an%20amazing%20production%20of%20the%20Rocky%20Horror%20Play|title=EXCLUSIVE: Roark Critchlow Talks Days of Our Lives, His New Role on Alaska Daily and More!|publisher=Soap Opera News|date=December 13, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref><ref group="external" name="soapoperanews_critchlow_alaska_daily_role">{{cite web|url=https://soapoperanews.net/exclusive-roark-critchlow-talks-days-of/#:~:text=he%20plays%20a%20district%20attorney|title=EXCLUSIVE: Roark Critchlow Talks Days of Our Lives, His New Role on Alaska Daily and More!|publisher=Soap Opera News|date=December 13, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| In film, Critchlow appeared in the Adam Sandler comedy ''[[w:Mr. Deeds|Mr. Deeds]]'' (2002)<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_mr_deeds">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/#:~:text=Mr.%20Deeds|title=Roark Critchlow|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> and in the ''[[w:Batman: Year One (film)|Batman: Year One]]'' animated feature (2011). He portrayed General McGrath in the Disney science fiction sequel ''[[w:Tron: Ares|Tron: Ares]]'', directed by [[w:Joachim Rønning|Joachim Rønning]], released in 2025.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_tron_ares_role">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=the%20feature%20film%20Tron%3A%20Ares|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| === ''Battlestar Galactica'' ===
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| Critchlow portrays [[Dreilide Thrace]], known by the nickname "Slick," in the [[Season 4]] episodes "[[Deadlock]]" and "[[Someone to Watch Over Me]]" of the [[Re-imagined Series|Re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'']]. The character — the long-absent father of [[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]] and a pianist of extraordinary ability — appears to Starbuck in ''Joe's Bar'' aboard ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', helping her reconstruct a melody from her childhood that ultimately proves to be one of the keys to the fleet's survival. Critchlow later described the role as one of the highlights of his career, noting that it required him to play the piano on camera, drawing on his own musicianship.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_bsg_career_highlight_quote">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=Playing%20a%20character%20on%20Battlestar%20Galactica%20that%20comes%20forward%20in%20time%20through%20a%20rift%20in%20the%20space%2Ftime%20continuum|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| The casting of a genuine pianist was a deliberate production requirement for the episode. Series composer [[w:Bear McCreary|Bear McCreary]], who was involved in the episode from its earliest drafts and was himself considered for the role,<ref group="commentary" name="mccreary_blog_pt1_auditioned_for_role">{{cite web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/bg4-someone-to-watch-over-me-pt-1/#:~:text=Bear%20playing%20the%20part%2C%20before%20everyone%20decided%20they%20needed%20a%20professional%20actor|title=BG4: "Someone to Watch Over Me," Pt. 1|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=bearmccreary.com|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> noted that writer [[Bradley Thompson]] described the central challenge of the episode as making the piano performances happen genuinely in front of the camera rather than relying on a musical double, meaning the actor had to be both performer and musician simultaneously, learning McCreary's compositions shortly before cameras rolled.<ref group="commentary" name="mccreary_blog_pt1_thompson_actor_musician">{{cite web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/bg4-someone-to-watch-over-me-pt-1/#:~:text=Roark%20had%20to%20be%20both%20actor%20and%20musician%20%E2%80%93%20and%20learn%20Bear%27s%20compositions|title=BG4: "Someone to Watch Over Me," Pt. 1|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=bearmccreary.com|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> McCreary reported that Critchlow proved to be an excellent sight-reader, requiring no assistance in learning the parts.<ref group="commentary" name="mccreary_blog_pt2_critchlow_sightreader">{{cite web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/bg4-someone-to-watch-over-me-pt-2/#:~:text=Roark%20required%20no%20help%20learning%20the%20part%2C%20as%20I%20discovered%20he%27s%20an%20excellent%20sight-reader|title=BG4: "Someone to Watch Over Me," Pt. 2|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=bearmccreary.com|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> As filming progressed across the week, McCreary observed that the performances between Critchlow and [[Katee Sackhoff]] developed considerably with each passing day under director [[Michael Nankin]]'s guidance.<ref group="commentary" name="mccreary_blog_pt2_critchlow_sackhoff_improved">{{cite web|url=https://bearmccreary.com/bg4-someone-to-watch-over-me-pt-2/#:~:text=Roark%20and%20Katee%27s%20scenes%20just%20got%20better%20and%20better%20the%20longer%20they%20worked%20with%20each%20other%20and%20Michael%20Nankin|title=BG4: "Someone to Watch Over Me," Pt. 2|author=Bear McCreary|publisher=bearmccreary.com|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| Critical reception of the episode highlighted both performers. IGN reviewer Eric Goldman praised the strong performances given by Sackhoff and Critchlow in the episode's principal storyline,<ref group="external" name="ign_goldman_sackhoff_critchlow_performances">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Someone_to_Watch_Over_Me_(Battlestar_Galactica)#:~:text=Katee%20Sackhoff%20and%20Roark%20Critchlow%20gave%20strong%20performances|title=Someone to Watch Over Me (Battlestar Galactica)|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> while Jammer's Reviews noted the evident authenticity of the piano performances, observing that it was clear to viewers that the actors were genuinely playing the instrument during each take.<ref group="external" name="jammers_critchlow_piano_authenticity">{{cite web|url=https://www.jammersreviews.com/bsg/s4/someone.php#:~:text=It%27s%20obvious%20the%20actors%20were%20really%20playing%20the%20piano%20during%20the%20take|title="Someone to Watch Over Me" – Battlestar Galactica|publisher=Jammer's Reviews|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| == Personal life ==
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| Critchlow was named after Howard Roark, the protagonist of [[w:Ayn Rand|Ayn Rand]]'s novel ''[[w:The Fountainhead|The Fountainhead]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_named_after_howard_roark">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/trivia/#:~:text=He%20was%20named%20after%20a%20character%20in%20the%20book%20%22The%20Fountainhead%22|title=Roark Critchlow – Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He was married to actress and producer Maria Brewer in 1990; they co-starred in the independently produced film ''Making It Home'' (1998) and collaborated on two internet series together. They have three children and divorced in 2006.<ref group="external" name="imdb_critchlow_maria_brewer_children">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0188220/bio/#:~:text=He%20was%20previously%20married%20to%20Maria%20Brewer|title=Roark Critchlow – Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| In 2013, Critchlow relocated back to Canada, working in Toronto and Vancouver over the following five years before settling in Summerland, British Columbia, where he grew up.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_return_canada_summerland">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=In%202013%20I%20shifted%20back%20to%20Canada%2C%20working%20in%20Toronto%20and%20Vancouver%20for%205%20years%20before%20moving%20to%20Summerland|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> He describes himself as a serial artist with interests extending to music, poetry, dance, sketching, and writing, and has completed eight feature film screenplays.<ref group="external" name="soapoperanews_critchlow_serial_artist_screenplays">{{cite web|url=https://soapoperanews.net/exclusive-roark-critchlow-talks-days-of/#:~:text=I%E2%80%99ve%20completed%20eight%20movie%20scripts%2C%20a%20few%20screenplays%2C%20and%20television%20scripts%20as%20well|title=EXCLUSIVE: Roark Critchlow Talks Days of Our Lives, His New Role on Alaska Daily and More!|publisher=Soap Opera News|date=December 13, 2022|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref> In 2024, he became Department Head of the Acting for Film & Television program at the College for Arts and Technology in Kelowna, British Columbia, where he oversees curriculum and teaches aspiring professional actors.<ref group="external" name="cat_critchlow_dept_head_role">{{cite web|url=https://collegeforartsandtech.com/soap-operas-to-space-battles-meet-roark-critchlow-acting-for-film-television-department-head/#:~:text=Department%20Head%20for%20Acting|title=Soap Operas to Space Battles! Meet Roark Critchlow, Acting for Film & Television Department Head|author=Alexander Nachaj|publisher=College for Arts and Technology|date=March 21, 2024|accessdate=May 15, 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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| === Commentary and Interviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=commentary}}
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