Graham Alexander Shiels was born on December 26th, 1975, in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and later relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, during his teenage years. His father, David Shiels, was a Chemical Engineer, and his mother, Barbara (Brown),was a Radiology Technician. Shiels went on to earn his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the prestigious Yale School of Drama in 2002, subsequently moving to New York to pursue his acting career.
Throughout his career, Shiels has worked extensively in theatre, film, and television, showcasing his versatility as an actor. He made his stage debut in the world premiere of Howard Korder's The Hollow Lands at the South Coast Repertory, followed by a performance at the Mark Taper Forum, directed by Tony Award-winner Brian Bedford, in The Moliere Comedies. Shiels' breakthrough role on television came when Alan Ball cast him as the vampire Liam in the first season of HBO's True Blood in 2008. He has since appeared in a range of films, including the Warner Brothers feature comedy Yes Man (2008) alongside Jim Carrey and Bradley Cooper, and the Marvel feature Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
Shiels is particularly notable for his striking piercing blue eyes, which have become a hallmark of his acting career. His classical theatre training, combined with his adaptable look, has enabled him to take on a wide range of roles, from period pieces to science fiction. Some of his most memorable roles include a mythical king in Olympus (2015),a DC Comics legend in Arrow (2012),a vampire in True Blood (2008),and an alien in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).
In addition to his acting career, Shiels is an accomplished improvisational comedian and playwright. He performs long-form improvisational comedy with his Los Angeles-based troupe whenever possible and has won several awards for his writing. His comedy, "Sniffy the Rat," based on the shock performance art piece of Rick Gibson, won the prestigious Betty Lambert Memorial Prize.
