Early Life and Education

J. R. Bourne, born David Bourne on April 8, 1970, in Toronto, Canada, began his acting career at the young age of eight. His first on-screen appearance was in the television film Parent Puzzle. Before pursuing acting full-time, he studied at Ryerson Theatre School following a brief period in business school. The nickname "J. R." was given to him by his parents, contrary to popular belief that it originated among friends.

Acting Career Highlights

Bourne has participated in various television and film projects across multiple genres. He gained widespread recognition for his recurring role as Martouf, a leader of the Tok'ra, in the science fiction series Stargate SG-1, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner. Interestingly, he originally auditioned for a more antagonistic role before landing the heroic part of Martouf. Bourne later shared that wearing the Tok'ra costume was physically uncomfortable, though the experience overall was memorable.

Another major role in his career was that of Chris Argent, a central character in MTV’s supernatural drama Teen Wolf. His television credits also include guest appearances on popular series such as CSI: Miami, The Mentalist, Smallville, and Suits. More recently, he appeared in the CW superhero series Arrow as the villain "Double Down," a metahuman capable of projecting playing cards as deadly weapons.