Don S. Davis, the actor best known as Major General George Hammond on the TV series Stargate SG-1, has passed away. Davis, who was 65 years old, apparently died of a heart attack at his home in Gibsons, British Columbia on June 29, 2008.

Davis had reportedly suffered from heart problems and diabetes for some time, which forced him to cut back from his co-starring role in the series after seven seasons to occasional guest spots. The series, which switched to direct-to-DVD format after 10 seasons on television, will include his last appearance in character with the July 29 scheduled release of Stargate: Continuum. He also appeared on several episodes of the spin-off series Stargate: Atlantis.

According to The Vancouver Sun, Davis, who had a PhD in theatre, began acting in the early 1980s while teaching at the University of British Columbia. In 1987, he gave up teaching to act full time.

Born in Missouri, Davis served three years in the army in the 1960s, and this experience lent itself to playing authority figures, including Captain Scully on The X-Files, and Major Garland Briggs on Twin Peaks, among others.

He also had guest spots on Supernatural, The Dead Zone, and Flash Gordon and had supporting roles in three upcoming projects. He met longtime Stargate: SG-1 lead Richard Dean Anderson when they worked together on MacGyver, on which Davis served as the stunt double for veteran actor Dana Elcar.

Davis is survived by his wife and his son from a previous marriage.