Editing Jack O'Neill

{{short description|Fictional character from the Stargate universe}}
{{Other people}}
{{redirect|General O'Neill}}
{{Infobox character
| name       = Jack O'Neill
| image      = Jackoneill.jpg
| caption    = Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O'Neill in a promotional photo for Stargate SG-1
| creator    = [[Roland Emmerich]]<br />and [[Dean Devlin]]
| portrayer  = [[Kurt Russell]] (1994)<br />[[Richard Dean Anderson]] (1997–2010)
| species    = [[Tau'ri|Human]]
| occupation = [[United States Air Force]]<br/>[[File:US-O6 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]]<br/>[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|20px]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]]<br/>[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|30px]] [[Major general (United States)|Major General]]<br/>[[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|30px]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]
| spouse     = Sara O'Neill (wife in film)/(ex-wife in television series)
| children   = Tyler O'Neil (son, in film)<br />Charlie O'Neill (son, deceased, in television series)
| first      = ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]''
| last       = "[[Incursion (Stargate Universe)|Incursion]]" (''[[Stargate Universe|Universe]]'')
| lbl31      = Accolades
| data31     = {{Plainlist|
* [[Defense Distinguished Service Medal]]
* [[Air Force Distinguished Service Medal]]
* [[Defense Superior Service Medal]]
* [[Airman's Medal]]
* [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]]
* [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service Medal]]
* [[Air Medal]]
* [[Aerial Achievement Medal]]
* [[Joint Service Commendation Medal]]
* [[Air Force Commendation Medal]]
* [[Air Force Achievement Medal]]
}}
}}

'''Jonathan J. "Jack" O'Neill''' is a fictional character in the [[MGM]]'s [[military science fiction]] franchise ''[[Stargate]]'', primarily as one of the main characters of the television series ''[[Stargate SG-1]]''. [[Richard Dean Anderson]] played O'Neill in all the ''Stargate'' media since 1997, when he took over the role from actor [[Kurt Russell]], who portrayed the character in the [[Stargate (film)|original ''Stargate'' film]] in 1994. O'Neill and [[Daniel Jackson (Stargate)|Daniel Jackson]] are the only two characters to appear in both the original film and all three live-action ''Stargate'' television series.

In his first appearance in the 1994 film as Colonel Jack O'Neill, the character leads the first team to go through the [[Stargate (device)|Stargate]] on a reconnaissance mission. He subsequently becomes the main character of the television series ''Stargate SG-1'' created in 1997 as a sequel to the movie. In the first seven seasons of the show, Colonel Jack O'Neill, recalled from retirement after the first film, is the leader of the team SG-1, a part of the [[Stargate Program]], whose goal is to explore the galaxy and defend against alien threats.

He became less prominent in the [[Stargate SG-1 season 8|eighth season]], in which he is promoted to Commanding Officer of [[Stargate Command]], at the rank of [[brigadier general]], therefore greatly reducing the character's time spent exploring via the Stargate. Anderson chose to spend more time with his family, eventually leaving the show at the start of its [[Stargate SG-1 season 9|ninth season]] and only appearing four times until the [[Unending|end of the series]] in its [[Stargate SG-1 season 10|tenth and final season]]. The character's absence from the show was explained by yet another promotion, to the position of head of the Department of Homeworld Security, as a [[major general]].

Anderson reprised his role once again in the direct-to-DVD film ''[[Stargate: Continuum]]'', a sequel to the TV series. O'Neill also appeared in the two other ''Stargate'' television series: he was an occasional character in the first three seasons of ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'', serving as an Earth contact with [[Atlantis (Stargate)|Atlantis]], this running parallel with Stargate SG-1 for a time, and in four episodes of ''[[Stargate Universe]]'', as a [[lieutenant general]], having been promoted sometime after both ''SG-1'' and ''Atlantis'' had ended. His appearance in this show's [[Stargate Universe season 1|first season]] finale is his last appearance in the ''Stargate'' universe to date. Anderson also voiced the character in the video game ''[[Stargate SG-1: Unleashed]]''.

==Character arc==
Jack O'Neill is a [[United States Air Force]] colonel with experience in special operations before joining the Stargate Program.<ref name="thegamekeeper">{{cite episode| title=The Gamekeeper | series= Stargate SG-1 |credits = [[Jonathan Glassner]]is  and [[Brad Wright]] (is) | network = [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] | season = 2 | number = 4}}</ref> He was married to Sara O'Neill, but their marriage suffered when Jack sank into a deep depression after their son accidentally shot himself with O'Neill's pistol. He then joins a dangerous mission through the [[Stargate (device)|Stargate]] with a couple of airmen and Dr. [[Daniel Jackson (Stargate)|Daniel Jackson]], who deciphers how to use the Stargate. They are transported to another planet. O'Neill's standing order is to detonate a [[Special Atomic Demolition Munition|nuclear warhead]] near the Stargate at any sign of danger. But a young boy named [[List of recurring alien characters in Stargate SG-1#Skaara|Skaara]] gives him a renewed sense of life. After the defeat of [[Goa'uld characters in Stargate#Ra|Ra]], O'Neill and his team return to Earth, while Jackson remains on the planet.<ref name="stargatefilm">{{cite AV media | title=[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]] |others = [[Roland Emmerich]] (director), Roland Emmerich and [[Dean Devlin]] (writers) | publisher = [[Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer]] (MGM) and [[Carolco Pictures|Carolco]]}}</ref> Though he and Sara were still together when Jack was initially recruited for his first mission through the Stargate,<ref>Stargate [1994] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111282/</ref> by the time he returned she had left him.<ref>Stargate SG-1: Children of the Gods [1997] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0234794/</ref>

O'Neill returns to the Stargate Program when the [[Goa'uld]] [[Goa'uld characters in Stargate#Apophis|Apophis]] attacks the Earth installation via its stargate. He is given command of the SG-1 team, which consists of himself, [[Samantha Carter]], [[Teal'c]] and Jackson.<ref name="childrenofthegods">{{cite episode | title=Children of the Gods | series= Stargate SG-1 |credits = [[Jonathan Glassner]] and [[Brad Wright]] (writers) | network = [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]] | season = 1 | number = 1-2}}</ref> Eventually O'Neill gets the Repository of the Ancients temporarily "downloaded" to his brain and becomes the first modern human to travel to another galaxy, the [[Asgard (Stargate)|Asgard]] home galaxy.<ref name="thefifthrace">{{cite episode |title=The Fifth Race |series=Stargate SG-1 |credits=David Warry-Smith (director), [[Robert C. Cooper]] (writer) |network=[[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]  |season=2 |number=15}}</ref> A second download of the Ancients' knowledge into his brain during the season 7 finale, allows him to lead SG-1 to an Ancient outpost in Antarctica. O'Neill possesses the ATA gene, and thus is able to operate the Ancient weapons chair and save Earth from Anubis's fleet.<ref name="lostcity">{{cite episode| title=Lost City | series= Stargate SG-1 |credits =[[Martin Wood (director)|Martin Wood]] (director), [[Brad Wright]] and [[Robert C. Cooper]] (writers) | network = [[Sky1|Sky One]] | season = 7 | number = 21-22}}</ref> With the Ancient knowledge about to overwhelm his personality and kill him, he is placed into a stasis pod in the outpost until [[Asgard (Stargate)#Thor|Thor]] of the [[Asgard (Stargate)|Asgard]] is able to remove the knowledge and save his life. After that event, O'Neill is promoted to [[brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] and is given command of [[Stargate Program#Stargate Command|Stargate Command]].<ref name="New Order">{{cite episode | title = New Order | series = Stargate SG-1 | credits = [[Andy Mikita]] (director), [[Joseph Mallozzi]] & [[Paul Mullie]] (writers) | network = [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] | season = 8 | number = 1-2}}</ref> O'Neill is promoted again off-screen and becomes the new head of the [[Stargate Program#Office of Homeworld Security/Homeworld Command|Office of Homeworld Security/Homeworld Command]] after the retirement of General Hammond, with Major General [[List of Stargate SG-1 characters#Hank Landry|Hank Landry]] taking his position as the new commander of Stargate Command.<ref name="avalon">{{cite episode| title=Avalon | series= Stargate SG-1 |credits =[[Andy Mikita]] (director), [[Robert C. Cooper]] (writer) | network = [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] | season = 9 | number = 1-2}}</ref>

In the pilot of Stargate Atlantis, O'Neill convinces [[John Sheppard (Stargate)|John Sheppard]] to join the [[Atlantis (Stargate)|Atlantis expedition]] to the [[Mythology of Stargate#Atlantis and the Pegasus galaxy|Pegasus Galaxy]].<ref name="rising">{{cite episode |title=Rising |series=Stargate Atlantis |credits=[[Martin Wood (director)|Martin Wood]] (director), [[Robert C. Cooper]] & [[Brad Wright]] (writers) |network=[[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] |season=1 |number=1-2}}</ref> In 2006, he, along with [[Richard Woolsey]], visits Atlantis to create a treaty between the humans of [[Earth]] and the [[Ancient (Stargate)|Ancients]].<ref name="thereturn">{{cite episode |title=The Return |series=Stargate Atlantis |credits=[[Brad Turner (director)|Brad Turner]] (director), [[Martin Gero]] (writer) |network=[[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] |season=3 |number=10}}</ref> The death of O'Neill is briefly shown in an [[Parallel universe (fiction)|alternate timeline]] where [[Goa'uld characters in Stargate#Ba'al|Ba'al]] controls the [[Goa'uld#Goa'uld Empire|Goa'uld Empire]].<ref name=gw_third /> O'Neill reappears as a [[Lieutenant general (United States)|lieutenant general]] in ''[[Stargate Universe]]'' with [[Nicholas Rush]], where he is recruiting [[Eli Wallace]] into the [[Icarus Base|Icarus Project]]. After the attack on the Icarus Base, he contacts Carter from [[The Pentagon]] to talk about the ongoing situation. With help from the Ancient Communication Stones, [[Everett Young]] body swaps with Colonel [[List of Stargate Universe characters#David Telford|David Telford]] to tell O'Neill about a dire situation in which they find themselves.<ref>{{cite episode| title=Air | series=Stargate Universe |credits =[[Andy Mikita]] (director), [[Brad Wright]] & [[Robert C. Cooper]] (writers) | network = [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] | season = 1 | number = 1-3}}</ref>

==Conceptual history==
===Conception===
[[File:Richard Dean Anderson 2004.jpg|thumb|200px|upright|Anderson at the 2004 [[Air Force Association]] dinner where he was recognized for the show's continuous positive depiction of the [[United States Air Force]].]]
John Symes approached Michael Greenburg and [[Richard Dean Anderson]] of ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'' fame.<ref name="timeline">{{cite video |people=[[Brad Wright|Wright, Brad]]; [[Jonathan Glassner|Glassner, Jonathan]]; Greenburg, Michael; [[Richard Dean Anderson|Anderson, Richard Dean]]; [[Michael Shanks|Shanks, Michael]]; [[Amanda Tapping|Tapping, Amanda]] |date=2001 |title=Stargate SG-1: Season 3 &ndash; Timeline To The Future &ndash; Part 1-3 | medium = DVD |publisher=[[MGM Home Entertainment]]}}</ref> Although Anderson was never a real fan of the [[science fiction]] genre, he believed the original [[feature film]] to be a good vehicle for a series.<ref name=dailybruin>{{cite news |last=Harwin |first=A.J |url=http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/archives/id/14227/ |title='Stargate SG-1' teleports into second season of production |newspaper=[[Daily Bruin|The Daily Bruin]] |date=December 2, 1998 |access-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003011458/http://www.dailybruin.com/404.html |archive-date=October 3, 2012 }}</ref> Anderson agreed to become involved with the project if his character was allowed significantly more comedic leeway than [[Kurt Russell]]'s character in the feature film, shown especially Anderson's flippant and utter disregard for appropriate military protocol and decorum over the series, which contrasted Russell's "by the book" adherence to protocol. He also requested ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' to be more of an [[Ensemble cast|ensemble show]], so that he would not be carrying the plot alone as on ''[[MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]''.<ref name=tvzones46_4>{{cite journal |last=Eramo |first=Steven | title=Richard Dean Anderson &ndash; Mr Anderson &ndash; Colonel O'Neill |journal=[[TV Zone]] |issue=Special 46 |pages=4&ndash;9 |date=July 2002}}</ref> Anderson was part of the main cast from season 1 through 8 and played a recurring role in several episodes each season thereafter. He was influential in the development of O'Neill's character and personality from the beginning. While he praised the work done by Russell in the ''Stargate'' film, he said he couldn't be that serious all the time and worked with the writers and directors to give his O'Neill a more lighthearted tone while maintaining the sense of importance the role required. Additionally, he joked that he would never be able to get his hair to stay like Russell's.<ref name="timeline"/> This "double personality" was also joked in the second season, when Jack introduced himself as: "It's 'O'Neill,' with two 'L's. There's another Colonel O'Neil with only one L, and he has no sense of humor at all." Fans have speculated that the transition is due to Russell's O'Neill still being deeply traumatised by the recent death of his son, while Anderson's has overcome the worst of his issues even if he makes it clear he will never forget his loss.

===Development===
In [[Stargate SG-1 season 8|season 8]], Anderson chose to have a reduced role in the series so that he could spend more time with his young daughter.<ref>Gibson 2003, p. 66, p. 117.</ref> When Anderson left the show as a [[Protagonist|main character]] in the [[Stargate SG-1 season 8|eighth season]], the producers were talking about ending the series. Instead, the series introduced two new characters in the [[Stargate SG-1 season 9|ninth season]], [[Ben Browder]] as [[Cameron Mitchell (Stargate)|Cameron Mitchell]], the new SG-1 team leader, and [[Beau Bridges]] as [[List of Stargate SG-1 characters#Hank Landry|Hank Landry]], the new commanding officer of [[Stargate Program#Stargate Command|Stargate Command]]. Anderson continued to appear in a recurring status on ''Stargate SG-1'', albeit with less frequent appearances.<ref>{{cite magazine | author= Rudolph, Ileane | url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/richard-dean-anderson-39758.aspx |title=Richard Dean Anderson Marks ''SG-1''s 200th |date=August 18, 2006 |magazine=[[TV Guide]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> He returned for the second [[Direct-to-video|straight-to-DVD]] film, ''[[Stargate: Continuum]]'' in a brief cameo, and was expected to return for the third movie. Executive producer [[Brad Wright]] stressed the importance of O'Neill's presence in the Stargate universe even after the character went on hiatus during the last two seasons of SG-1 when Anderson took a leave from regular acting.<ref name=gw_third>{{cite web|url=https://gateworld.net/news/2008/05/wright-stargate-movies-need-oneill/|title=Wright: Stargate movies need O'Neill|date=May 11, 2008|publisher=[[Stargate fandom#GateWorld|GateWorld]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref>

Anderson has also had various guest appearances on the two [[Spin-off (media)|spin off]] series' ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' and ''[[Stargate Universe]]''. Anderson had several guest cameos scattered over the [[Stargate Universe season 1|first season]] of ''Stargate Universe''.<ref>{{cite web | author=French, Dan | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a179640/anderson-may-recur-on-stargate-universe.html |title=Anderson 'may recur on ''Stargate Universe''|date=November 29, 2009 |website=[[Digital Spy]]|access-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> He is mainly seen in the Pentagon but later visits the Destiny after the revelations about Telford emerge.  In total, he appears in six episodes of ''Stargate Universe'', the most of any main actor from ''Stargate SG-1''.

==Reception==
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Richard Dean Anderson}}
For his portrayal of O'Neill, [[Richard Dean Anderson]] won a [[Saturn Award]] in the category "Best Genre TV Actor" in 1999, and was nominated in the same category in 1998 and 2000. From 2001 to 2005, Anderson was nominated for a Saturn Award in the category "Best Actor on Television" but never won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |title=Saturn Awards &ndash; Past Award Winners |publisher=Saturn Awards |access-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511180136/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> Anderson was nominated in the category for "Best Male Performance in a 2008 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie, or Mini-Series" at the Constellation Awards in 2009 for his work in ''[[Stargate: Continuum]]'' (2008), where he reprised his role as O'Neill.<ref name="ca">{{cite news |url=http://www.stargatearchive.com/journal/index.php/2009/04/stargate-nominated-in-2009-canadian-constellation-awards |title=Constellation Awards |publisher=Stargate Archive.com |access-date=October 11, 2009 |archive-date=September 10, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910164338/http://www.stargatearchive.com/journal/index.php/2009/04/stargate-nominated-in-2009-canadian-constellation-awards |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was presented with an award at the [[Air Force Association]]'s 57th Annual Air Force Anniversary Dinner in [[Washington, D.C.]], on September 14, 2004, because of his role as star and executive producer of ''Stargate SG-1'', a series which has portrayed the Air Force in a positive light since it first premiered.<ref>{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Haugsted |title=Through the Wire |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA454258.html |work=Multichannel News |publisher=Reed Elsevier Inc |date=November 20, 2009 |access-date=October 11, 2009 }}</ref> It was presented by the then-[[Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Air Force Chief-of-Staff]], [[John P. Jumper|General John P. Jumper]].<ref name="air force press release">{{cite web |last=Thar |first=Doug |publisher=Air Force Link |url=http://www.af.mil/pressreleases/release.asp?storyID=123008593  |title=Air Force to honor actor, producer |date=September 9, 2004 |access-date=October 11, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071230065834/http://www.af.mil/pressreleases/release.asp?storyID=123008593 |archive-date = December 30, 2007}}</ref> Anderson was made an honorary brigadier general.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sokol|first=Anna|title=A Day of Honors|url=http://www.rdanderson.com/archives/a4-10-01.htm|access-date=27 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108172002/http://www.rdanderson.com/archives/a4-10-01.htm|archive-date=8 November 2007}}</ref>

''[[TV Guide]]'' ranked Jack O'Neill #10 on its "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends of All Time" list.<ref>{{cite book|title=TV Guide Book of Lists|url=https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse|url-access=registration|date=2007|publisher=Running Press|isbn=978-0-7624-3007-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tvguidebookoflis0000unse/page/168 168]}}</ref>

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last=Gibson |first=Thomasina |title=Stargate SG-1: The Illustrated Companion Seasons 5 and 6 |date=2003 |publisher=Titan Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-84023-606-4 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/stargatesg1illus00gibs|ref=none }}

==External links==
*[http://www.syfy.com/stargate/cast/oneill/index.php Jack O'Neill] at [[Syfy]]
*[http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Jonathan_J._O'Neill Jonathan J. O'Neill]  at [[wikia:Stargate|''Stargate'' wikia]]
{{Stargate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oneill, Jack}}
[[Category:Fictional brigadier generals]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Minnesota]]
[[Category:Film characters introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1997]]
[[Category:Fictional colonels]]
[[Category:Fictional Gulf War veterans]]
[[Category:Fictional lieutenant generals]]
[[Category:Fictional major generals]]
[[Category:Fictional prisoners of war]]
[[Category:Fictional special forces personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional United States Air Force personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional Vietnam War veterans]]
[[Category:Stargate characters]]

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