There’s something to be said for Stargate’s earliest villains, and one of them was right under our noses the whole time. Introduced in “The Broca Divide” and ousted as a traitor in “Shades of Gray,” Makepeace was one of Maybourne’s earliest cronies. Makaj joins DTG to discuss his time on the series, his music, and more!

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Timecodes
0:00 – Splash Screen
00:24 – Opening Credits
00:50 – Welcome and Episode Outline
01:56 – Welcoming Steve
03:04 – Starting Off in Acting
07:06 – Ben’s Dad in Stephen King’s IT
10:07 – Steve’s Love for Film
12:08 – Impactful Roles
16:37 – The Broca Divide
17:55 – Getting the role of Makepeace
21:25 – Firearms Training
24:35 – Make Up and prosthetics for The Broca Divide
26:42 – Shades of Grey
32:18 – Makepeace in the Stargate Novels
32:57 – Playing Colonel Makepeace
39:18 – Is Makepeace a traitor or a patriot?
44:37 – Into the Fire and Don S. Davis
46:49 – Fan Questions: Languages
48:06 – Would Steve return to Stargate?
48:42 – Visiting Poland
49:08 – Makepeace’s Story twist
49:54 – Wrapping up with Steve
54:16 – Post-Interview Housekeeping
56:31 – End Credits

***

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TRANSCRIPT
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David Read
Hello everyone and welcome to episode 191 of DialtheGate. My name is David Read, welcome to the Stargate Oral History Project. Thanks so much for being with me today, on this Monday. Steve Makaj is joining us for this episode and we’re going to talk about his career, Colonel Makepeace and treason and betrayal and juicy villains that you just love to sink your teeth into. Before we get into this, I’d like you to consider clicking the like button. It makes a difference with YouTube and will help the show continue to grow its audience. Please also consider sharing this video with a Stargate friend and if you want to get notified about future episodes, click the Subscribe icon. Giving the bell icon a click will notify you the moment a new video drops and you’ll get my notifications of any last minute guests changes. Clips from this live stream will be released over the course of the next few days and weeks on the GateWorld.net and DialtheGate YouTube channels. As this is a live episode we have Steve joining us right now. If you are in the live chat, go ahead and submit your questions over to Antony and he will get them over to myself and I will relay them to Steve. Steve Makaj, Colonel Makepeace, on Stargate SG-1. Thank you. Is it [Makarj]? Did I pronounce that right?

Steve Makaj
It’s [MacEye] actually.

David Read
Excuse me.

Steve Makaj
I doesn’t look like [MacEye] with that “j” there on the end but that’s how we’ve pronounced it since I was born. It sounds like a Scottish name. [MacEye] is a Scots name, M C K I E or M A C K E Y. With the “J” it’s actually Polish, my father was Polish. I heard, I don’t know if it’s true or not, I didn’t verify it, that the Scots, a hundred or so years ago were imported to Poland to help them mine coal. So perhaps it was originally Scottish, Polish-ized. I don’t know if that’s true but my mother’s Slovak, my father was Polish, so it’s [Maceye].

David Read
Are you from Canada originally? Are you Canada born or are you an immigrant?

Steve Makaj
I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. My mother came from Slovakia and my father, he was Canadian born, but his parents were from Poland.

David Read
All right. Was there any acting or creative..where did the acting impulse come for you Steve? Where did the creative impulse come for you? Is it from family, did they cultivate it for you?

Steve Makaj
Oh, definitely from family and it was a very strong impulse. My mother’s brother who also came from Slovakia in 1939, Steve, his name was. They were farmers. they were peasant farmers in Slovakia and came to Canada to farm as well. My uncle Steve, a farm boy growing up just outside of Hamilton in a place called Lyndon, decided that he wanted to be an actor. He told my old country grandparents, his parents, that he was going to Hollywood to be an actor. They didn’t know what he was talking about. He went and became very famous. He is the main driver and reason behind why I became an actor because his influence was so powerful in my life. He, in the 60s, going back to shows like The Virginian, Bonanza, Gun Smoke, I Dream of Jeannie, Madigan, Mission: Impossible, Star Trek. He was a very prominent character on Star Trek, he was Lord Garth.

David Read
Of Izar.

Steve Makaj
Of Izar. Yes Lord Garth of Izar in an episode called Whom God’s Destroy. Uncle Steve was on the TV so often for me as a child growing up, watching him was very impactful. When he’d come home at Christmas back to the farm or Easter, there he was, bigger than life, Uncle Steve. It couldn’t help but plant seeds in my heart. I actually studied film and television for a couple of years but the call to acting was too strong and I ventured off into that in Toronto back in 1984.

David Read
Was there a lot of “you’re not going to make a lot of money in this business.” Or was it “Uncle Steve can do it so so can you.” Or was it a little bit of both?

Steve Makaj
There were warnings and there was a little bit of both. Funny you should say that. There was a little bit of both, they knew how hard it could be, although he did very well. Unfortunately, consequently, he passed away at 37 years old in France of a heart attack. He was found in a bathtub there with a movie that he wrote, produced, directed, starred in. Ed Asner was in the movie, who was a good friend of his. Arthur O’Connell, an actor back in that day was in it. He financed it, he took it there to sell it. He was found dead in the bathtub unfortunately. My parents, my grandparents knew it was not altogether an easy life at times, it was difficult. However, his fan club, who would show up at Christmas and Easter, the lady who headed it, when I announced that I was gonna walk in his footsteps, she really encouraged me to do so. So I had a bit of both.

David Read
Wow, I did not realize that it ran so strongly through your family. I, at least, try not to, but often take for granted the building blocks that make up my identity and who I am. It’s not just me making it up as I go along, so much of it is influenced from where I come from and the people who were involved in my life. You have to remember to give those people credit for it, the good and the bad.

Steve Makaj
Absolutely. We have to take both and sift it and deal with it and keep going.

David Read
Wow. I have to call out something specific. One of my great memories from childhood is Stephen King’s It. That was a hugely important mini series – you want to talk about helping form your identity and some of the things that you take in. I don’t know in terms of what it was for you then, but in terms of the cult fan base that has followed it. I think you participated in the documentary that was shot about that, didn’t you?

Steve Makaj
Yes, I did. Yeah.

David Read
I grew up with that in terms of what my perception of great horror and comedy put together can be. Tim Curry, you’re laughing in one minute and you’re shaking in your boots terrified the next. At least I was. How has it been watching that fan base continue to persist over 30 years?

Steve Makaj
It tells me that what you’re saying is that it had such an impact on people’s lives. In fact, the people who were asking me to take part in the documentary, there was a lady, she said “I had nightmares because of you.” I went “oh wow.” I had no idea. I was just a young actor at the time. We just came in from Toronto, it was around 1990 I believe. I got to Vancouver around 1989, got this part and I had no idea really what I was getting involved in.

David Read
“Sure I’ll stand in a pond in an Air Force uniform. What’s the problem? No big deal. Naaah. The kids will love it. Whoa.”

Steve Makaj
So they had to take me out there with a rowboat. They rowboated me out there. Just under the water they had built a platform that I stood on. I was out there and all the crew was on the shore. Tommy Lee, the director and everybody and the boy was there. There I was standing in front of that ominous looking edifice behind me where I lived.

David Read
The sewer.

Steve Makaj
Yes, the sewer cavern. I had no idea at the time what I was involved in and the impact it would have and the longevity and then the sequel and the documentary. t was like “wow.” I continue to get royalty checks from it, fairly handsome ones, because it’s still being sold worldwide.

David Read
There is something to be said about entertainment that captivates the imagination. You don’t necessarily know that it’s happening. Sometimes you do, I’m sure when you’re shooting it, but other times it’s a sleeper. It comes down to not just the acting and your day on set, but also the editing and the music and everything that comes into play. What kind of entertainment? What movies or television have really captivated you? Some some actors don’t watch either? Are there any that you have really identified with over the years or have made you say “that is something that made me feel something” in terms of watching a film or a TV series? Any that you love?

Steve Makaj
There are many, but the Godfather part one, two, and three, I love to watch. Just going back to what you were saying, you don’t know at the time you’re making a movie the impact it’s going to have. I think I recall Al Pacino saying “we didn’t know what we were making here. We’re just going to work and we’re doing our doing our parts, Francis was directing and we really didn’t know the impact that it was going to have.” It sure did have an impact and on me particularly. Everything, like you say, the music, the cinematography, the acting, the wardrobe, everything, the pacing, the tone, Coppola’s direction, just created a masterpiece there, which I love. I love to recite the dialogue of the characters which I become more and more familiar with as I watch it occasionally again.

David Read
I hadn’t known about it until Seinfeld. It was “never mess with the family Jerry” and then I went and saw it. I’m like, “this is so good,” no wonder it’s referenced repeatedly throughout the years.

Steve Makaj
It’s awesome. Then the fight, they had to have, Coppola to get Al Pacino to play Michael Corleone, they didn’t want him. I read recently that the kicker was for them the scene they shot. When they were getting the early rushes the studio heads were going “I don’t know, I don’t know. We’re gonna pull the plug on this. I don’t know.” But when they saw the scene where Michael shoots the police Captain and Sollozzo, when they saw that they want “ah okay”.

David Read
They got it. Steve, before we get into Makepeace, is there any particular role that you can talk about that really hit you profoundly as a person in terms of the work or surprised you in a way that was unexpected?

Steve Makaj
You mean with any role?

David Read
You specifically, yeah, with any role?

Steve Makaj
Roles I’ve played? Hmm. That’s a good question. Wow. That’s that’s a loaded question.

David Read
I know I apologise.

Steve Makaj
That’s okay. Colonel Makepeace was to date my biggest foray into a military type role, it went five episodes. I did consequently many afterwards military type characters, police Captains and Lieutenants and police and…

David Read
Travelers with Brad again.

Steve Makaj
Travelers. Yes, Travelers. That’s right. Bat Masterson, I played Bat Masterson, I did him twice. He was a legendary law [enforcement officer] and he was a historical figure as well. He knew Wyatt Earp, those characters during the Wild West days. One thing I learned about Bat Masterson that I didn’t know and was surprised about was that he was actually born in Iberville County, Quebec. He was Canadian born, but the family migrated south. That was fun to explore the western genre. Emotionally, I’ve done some emotional roles that I really had to dig into emotionally, which challenged me as an actor. There were episodic television type roles. Street Justice was one where there was a boy. My wife and I had a boy and the boy was being abused. By all appearances, it appeared to be me, however it ended up being my wife. Carl Weathers was in that show and I remember Carl and one scene where we are nose to nose and him challenging me about that and me pushing back but not really knowing how to defend myself.

Steve Makaj
Kids Stuff – Street Justice,

Steve Makaj
Street Justice. Yeah. When Stephen J. Cannell was in town here he did a lot of episodic television. That being one, The Commish being another. Even back to Jump Street which I did when I arrived in town. It was kind of a minor part, just got here, but Johnny Depp of course.

David Read
And Peter DeLuise.

Steve Makaj
Peter DeLuise, that’s correct, that’s right. I’ve done theater roles to which were very, to me, challenging and ones I could really engage. Shakespeare, I love Shakespeare, I’ve done some Shakespeare. One particular role? It’s really hard to pin down one particular role.

David Read
I think that’s a reflection of the body of work that you’ve been privileged to do. That’s a good thing to be able to say that “I’ve been blessed with a number of different things, it’s hard to pick one.” It’s kind of like your child.

Steve Makaj
Well you’re right. I’m a character actor and have a leading man’s sort of body and maybe face and that’s been a bit of a challenge too for me. I’m a character actor but before I got into acting I was the guy with a group of friends who was doing the imitations and kind of acting out things and scenes and stuff from movies. I’m a character actor. As I get a little older now, a lot older actually. My birthday is coming up actually.

David Read
Happy early birthday.

Steve Makaj
Yes, thank you very much. The door for character acting may get a little broader. I don’t know. I kind of forced myself into character roles just by the auditions I did and got the parts. I think did them largely justice and thank you for saying “privilege” because I do feel privileged to have had the opportunity to do what I’ve done.

David Read
Colonel Makepeace. Your first episode was Broca Divide, the episode where half the SGC went caveman. This was the first appearance of the SG-3 Marines, it wasn’t just Air Force. I love your “have it your way flyboy.” Makepeace and O’Neill were never the best of friends. Two alpha males; they would put everything aside and work together. Then later on with Into the Fire, “Makepeace, nice rescue.” There were some great reads between you and Rick.

Steve Makaj
That was, I felt that one, that hurt me a bit. That would have hurt me. I think Amanda, tongue in cheek, said “don’t worry, it happens to everybody.” Richard D is the man and I get it, it’s his show, he’s the ultimate topstar. A little tough for me to be kneeling down there with my hands behind me, captured after so much successful fighting. But anyhow, I just suck it up, whatever.

David Read
Tell us about getting Makepeace with that first episode for Broca Divide.

Steve Makaj
Yeah, that’s a good question. Do I even remember that?

David Read
There was some muscle. They were needing people with a can-do attitude who go through, military types, who go through and extract people in difficult situations. You need boots on the ground, you need extraction, you call the Marines.

Steve Makaj
That’s it, exactly. Into the Fire, there’s a lot going on there, a lot of different scenes, a lot of different modes and a lot of variety.

David Read
Was Makepeace an audition?

Steve Makaj
Yeah, I had to audition originally. The first one was Broca Divide. I can’t recall the audition particularly. It was Carol Kelsey, who was a supporter of mine, called me into that and I got the part. Beyond that, what I heard, though I can’t verify it, was that it was Martin Wood who was part of the consultation team to develop the show further. He suggested that Colonel Makepeace be brought in to the show a little more and developed and I believe that’s how Makepeace went on to do five episodes.

David Read
I loved that the show, which had four seasons right out of the gate and then five guaranteed almost immediately after that, was so committed to building on its own mythology. That included the people in front of the camera. It’s like “we haven’t seen them in a while. Let’s bring them back in and see how they are advancing. Are they are they still doing their thing?” You were one of the reminders that this is potentially a real place, that we could be going about our day…I often bring up and guests do too. We could be in the grocery store and be passing by someone who could be going to some underground complex going to other planets and saving our asses week after week and you just don’t know. These people are out there on other missions and it’s not just SG-1, these people are out there doing the job too. Such a vital job.

Steve Makaj
I saw that in Into the Fire. What was the last one I did it? Bear with me.

David Read
Shades of Grey. What a good episode. I want to get to that. Into the Fire was another great episode for you. You have that opening shot running through the SGC upstairs.

Steve Makaj
Right. I think that’s what I’m gonna backtrack to, Shades of Grey. Richard was supposedly retired when he was being reprimanded for stealing the device. He we was in retirement, there you saw that he had a home, it was in it was in a neighborhood, he had a chess board, he had a living room. Like you were saying, the community of Stargate wasn’t only Stargate Command and the gate, it was all outside of that as well, a lot of side of that. There were, as you were saying, people you wouldn’t suspect who are involved with the cause.

David Read
Can you tell me about the firearms training that you went through, especially for Into the Fire where there’s a lot of weapons discharge. Mostly at forcefields but I imagine they didn’t just hand this to you and say “light them up?” I bet you had to go through some kind of training regimen.

Steve Makaj
Oh, absolutely. Rob was the fellow. Can I recall Rob’s last name? Maybe not at this time. Rob was a former, as I understand, Canadian military guy, who was our armorer and trainer. I believe he had quite a cache of weaponry as well fpr the show.

David Read
Rob Fournier.

Steve Makaj
Rob Fournier, there you go, thank you. Very good. Rob was great, he was very detailed, very committed, very safe and very reassuring. He was very concerned that you got it; what he was talking about and he showed you all the ins and outs of any weapon that you were going to be firing and how it was going to work and how it was going to go. I really appreciated Rob, a very nice guy too. There was some pretty heavy weaponry we were utilizing there. It felt like real warfare to me, it was lots of fun. Having so many guys to command, you really felt part of a military unit.

David Read
There is something to be said for when you are taught to respect a weapon, you put on the clothing and you’re leading a unit. I imagine after that it doesn’t take much to really get into feeling that you are a part of this vast unit that’s ridding the galaxy of evildoers.

Steve Makaj
Oh, absolutely. It goes back to childhood; boys playing army with toy guns. This was it, this was on an advanced, sophisticated scale. It wasn’t just the wardrobe, the helmets and the weaponry. You had radio pieces, communication devices, you were in different situations. People were looking to you, you were the commander, you were the leader, you had to own up to that, you had to portray that, you had to communicate that. To me it was “Wow, cool. I’ve never been in the army but I am now.”

David Read
You have to go through a lot of the same training just to make it look right. You have to make it feel right.

Steve Makaj
Oh, and the hand signals as well. I have those hand signals there. They’re all very accurate and realistic, what an army commander would use to maneuver his troops and direct them.

David Read
For Broca Divide did you have any facial makeup done for you?

Steve Makaj
I did.

David Read
What was that experience like?

Steve Makaj
Well, they just put the molding on and cover it. I think my brows were as Neanderthal like protruding somewhat. Something in my face I believe, my chin came out a little bit but the brow definitely and the accentuated forehead enlarged somewhat. I think it was all sort of prosthetics I recall. I think I was doing something with my mouth too to make me a little more kind of ape like.

David Read
Were you on the set the day they showed Rick his forehead piece and he’s like, “No, I’m not wearing that. Adjust it. We can do better than that.” Were you there that day?

Steve Makaj
No, I wasn’t there that day. I didn’t catch that, nor did I hear that story.

David Read
You’re executive producer, you have a certain standard that you expect for your show. Your name is going to be on top of it. You have a little bit of pull to do that. Broca Divide is one of the more interesting episodes of Stargate SG-1 for sure. The show was still figuring out what it is and what it wanted to say and how it was gonna do it.

Steve Makaj
Exactly. They had me in that cage in that prison cell. It really took me back to theater school days, some exercises we did in theater school, where you take on an animal and express an animal and get into an animal body, animal movements, animal behaviorisms. I think that all came back that day to me; to do the the apelike thing. Theatre school opens the door for that, to give you a bit of an orientation in that kind of work.

David Read
The realization that Makepeace is a double agent, were you told that when you were coming back? Did you read it first in the script? How was that information presented to you for the first time and what was your reaction?

Steve Makaj
Well, to tell you the truth, the reading of the script was done at Bridge Studios. It was at a large table reading and I hadn’t seen the script at that point. As I proceeded into reading the script and was hearing about Richard Dean, what he’s done and he’s gonna retire, I was getting a little excited. In the back of my mind I’m thinking “are they maneuvering Makepeace here into the top spot? Could this be more than just a five episode deal? Could I go six years with the show from here on him?” Then as I read further and learned what my fate was my heart began to sink a little and I realized that this could be it for Makepeace. I was disappointed to tell you the truth, I was. That’s when I first learned. You sent me the links to the episodes. I wasn’t able to see all of them like Broca Divide, I wish I had more time, but I did see Shades of Grey and Into the Fire. Looking at those two, one proceeding the other and looking at those battle scenes, I’m with Amanda and Michael in the tunnels and we’re fighting together. I’m getting them out and we’re doing our best to deal with the situation. I really thought “well, we really kind of bonded there, we really kind of liked each other.” Then on the last episode, the one we’re talking about, I thought all that kind of went out the window. I didn’t have much interaction with Teal’c, he apparently doesn’t seem to like me.

Steve Makaj
The Jaffa. When I’m introduced to him as the new Commander, Colonel, that’s okay. But with Amanda and Michael, there seems to be also a little consternation that I am going to be the new head. I thought “aaaaah”. Does that really jive with the last episode which preceded it where we see the bond and see them fighting together? I don’t why Makepeace, why his fate ended such, but whatever. It’s their show, they do what they want and take it where they want. But, yeah, I was disappointed.

David Read
“The Jaffa.”

David Read
I can understand. I think one of the things that makes Shades of Grey so good as a story, and one that’s continually referenced throughout the rest of the show in one form or another, is that – and Orville just adapted that for their third season episode Domino, very similar – you’ve got people who have been put in the line, in the case of Makepeace, had been put in the line of fire so many times. Someone comes and says to you, “hey, I want you to be the one on our behalf to go out and get more technology to protect us, to protect people like you who are going out in the line of fire.” In particular, an invisibility device. Your guys may not have to die anymore. Putting the swearing an oath aside, you can understand how some people might feel that, “you know what, if this can protect my guys…” Makepeace is still true to his convictions. He’s about to get a court martial, but still at the same time, he firmly believes that what he was doing was right.

Steve Makaj
Absolutely. Absolutely. That’s that fine line. I was curious to when I say “you don’t know how high up this goes”. Did we ever go that high up to find out who those high ups were? Where did that come from? My statement, who am I referring to? Did the show ever resolve that?

David Read
Are you asking me because I know the answer? Ronny Cox, Senator Kinsey. He was chairman of the Appropriations Committee and had a special executive gag order placed on him to not disclose the Stargate program. It was at least to him and probably to many others. There were people who were trying to, and the rogue NID, eventually called the trust, trying to subvert the SGC to get the technology that they believe that they needed to protect the planet. At the same time, “if we get a little something for ourselves along the side, well, oops.”

Steve Makaj
Well, that happens, doesn’t it? You know quite a bit about the show. I did the episodes and watched the show, but probably not as closely as you. I was busy doing other things and other shows. I would have liked to, as I said, continue with the show as Colonel Makepeace.

David Read
You are referencing a couple of novels. Did you know that?

Steve Makaj
I did not know that.

David Read
Absolutely. Yep. Which books are they? You can go and pick them up. It’s SG-1’s Insurrection and Hydra. Maybourne actually goes to Jack and says, “Makepeace may know some information on this one.” Jack goes to Makepeace in prison, I think they cut him a deal to make his living conditions a little bit more comfortable. Makepeace helps out, Makepeace is a patriot.

David Read
Right. Exactly.

David Read
Regardless of how you agree with his tactics, that’s what he believes. What is it like playing a character with shades of grey? Is it far more interesting than just playing the straight up goody two shoes hero?

Steve Makaj
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. You’re a little bit of a portrait of, I wouldn’t say contradictions. To somebody looking at your actions, I guess you seem that way. But for yourself, you’ve got to maneuver in your mind often and probably justify to people, as I had to do with Carter and O’Neill in the end scene there, I had to justify what I’ve done. That takes a little bit of in depth reasoning, in depth decision making, sifting. It’s all perspective. The General valued the relationship with the alien nations but it’s not as simple as that. It’s not as simple as that to Makepeace. You realize that it’s not that simple. he’s a military man, he’s a Marine. Perhaps he had different training in the matter. Marine Corps training is a little more, SEAL training, of course, is even more intense and demanding and requires that kind of resolve. Resolve to do what’s best. As you said, Makepeace is a patriot, he does what’s best for his country to help them survive. Friendship is one thing, survival is another. Some friendships are not as they appear. They may not, in fact, be friendships, they may be false friendships. You might be being deceived. It’s a lot more interesting and it requires a lot more imaginative in depth reasoning.

David Read
One of my favorite episodes is Cor-ai from season one of SG-1. Teal’c is on trial on an alien planet for having committed crimes under Apophis. Hammond takes the perspective for a moment that Teal’c served a regime that did some damn distasteful things. Then, Rick, as Jack, says, “General, I have spent many years in the service of my country and I have been ordered to do some damned distasteful things.” So there’s a little bit of accountability there where it’s not black and white. There is some greater good, for better or for worse, that’s being bandied about. I can see how a person like Madepeace might be drawn into a situation where it was all about the mission. “I’m being ordered to do this, I’m going to do it. I was asked by someone whom I respect to do this, I’m going to do that.” And then later steps back and goes, “oh, maybe I am now just for the first time thinking about it this way. All I was thinking about was my men and how can I protect people the next time that they get shot at?”

Steve Makaj
Right, exactly. Well, it’s men first, probably. Their loyalty, first and foremost, is to their immediate unit and beyond that their country. It’s that individual fighting unit in the field that is really piece by piece, battle by battle, action by action, contributing to the overall safety and good of the country. The strength of a nation begins with the family and in the military I think the same applies. The strength, the protection and safety of the nation begins with each military unit. Makepeace was very much thinking about that as well, about the safety of his guys. He loves his guys, these guys love their men, they are responsible for their men, they want to protect their men, they want to keep them safe, they want to keep them alive. That’s another thing Makepeace would think to justify, some actions which others may deem inappropriate, illegal, whatever.

David Read
I am the son of a Vietnam vet. My father flew Hueys in Vietnam up until the day he retired in 2013. I really get what you’re putting down in terms of loyalty to one’s men and to one’s country. I think that in many respects, yours was a very, aside from the last few moments, was a very honest portrayal of some of the razors that we have to send out there to do the dirty work. There are things that we ask our men and women to do that are not easy and they do often come home damaged as a result. We have to be there for them. They’re not asking to go.

Steve Makaj
No, they volunteered to go. They’re courageous people, brave and courageous people. They volunteer or sign up and go through the training and actually go. I ask myself, Steve, they wouldn’t send me now, but as a young man, wow, that’s a big decision to make. That’s such a huge commitment to make to go fight for your country or defend your country and protect your country. That’s huge. Huge.

David Read
I’m sorry, finish your thought?

Steve Makaj
I’m just saying that we do have to honor that and just appreciate that and to treat them with just the utmost respect for having done that.

David Read
I have to ask you Steve, just as Steve Makaj, do you consider what Makepeace did, do you consider him a patriot, a traitor or both?

Steve Makaj
Ah, good question.

David Read
Just you yourself as a person with your beliefs and your ideals and values.

Steve Makaj
What would I do? I consider myself an ethical person. I consider myself a moral person. Sifting what Makeppeace had to sift, consider acting or not that way. I would say, Wow.

David Read
It’s not an easy answer.

Steve Makaj
No it’s not an easy answer. You’d have to be in it to really know. I’ve never been in such a situation like that with those ramifications, with the scope of those considerations to make.

David Read
You have inter-species relations riding on this decision.

Steve Makaj
Right, exactly. When the stakes get that high, when you when you amplify the stakes to that height, I would say he’s a patriot first. He’s acting from experience as well, I think. He knows he’s not coming to this decision lightly or arbitrarily or without any experience in the matter. He sees things that maybe other people don’t see or can’t see or you don’t have the experience to see.

David Read
He went on missions we didn’t see.

Steve Makaj
Exactly, exactly. Don’t judge another man until you walk in his shoes, the saying goes. I’d say he’s a patriot first.

David Read
I think you could make similar arguments for people like Julian Assange or Edward Snowden when they’re looking at situations like, “I have information, I believe that this information is not a one to one ratio.” We’re dealing with technology in one hand, whereas on the other hand we’re dealing with information and what the public should or shouldn’t know. I think it’s important that we ask those questions and that we have those conversations with and don’t just say, “you’re clearly wrong.” It’s not that simple.

Steve Makaj
It’s not that simple. No, no, it’s not. Some people are willing to let it slide and people are distracted by their busy lives and don’t have the desire or the ability to focus on matters of that weight and ask to know the truth. We’re all different and we all have different perspectives on things. With a little bit of experience in the matter or maybe been conditioned a little bit to think that way or to want to probe into those kinds of matters. To ask those questions and want to enter into that fray and route up the truth as much as possible. There’s all kinds of barriers to that and maneuvering that goes on. There are so many people involved, individual machinations, everybody’s individual mind going this way, in that way. The truth is elusive. How do you get to it?

David Read
I honestly…

Steve Makaj
Go ahead. Somebody knows. Somebody I think knows, or maybe they know somebody who knows somebody. Maybe they don’t even know. I don’t know, but it starts somewhere, the ball gets rolling from somewhere.

David Read
He honestly doesn’t strike me as a person who was doing this dirty work in exchange for a house in the south of France, He honestly strikes me as someone who wasn’t doing it for an extra pay day of some some regard. He was doing it because he believed it was right. That may not be the case, there may have been a darker intent with him, but I personally don’t feel that that’s the case.

Steve Makaj
No, particularly if you look at the preceding episode. I think my performance there portrays a man who is a committed military man. He listened to Carter, she has a suggestion and he’s willing to follow up on it. He’s concerned about them, he’s concerned with getting them out of there. He’s concerned with his men. He’s concerned. I think that episode really shows who the man is, where his integrity lies.

Steve Makaj
Exactly. No question. Here we go. Hammond even precedes the stepping forward challenge. He says how tough it’s going to be. Doesn’t he say “some of you might not come back?”

David Read
Absolutely. Into the Fire, that first scene where they’re in the gate room and Don says, as Hammond “Ok, anyone who is going to rescue SG-1 take one step forward” and they all do. You turn and look at the General and without surprise or shock on his face it’s like, “we’re here to do the job, you want us to do it, we’re going to do it.”

David Read
Yeah, something along those lines for sure.

Steve Makaj
That really presents it as a very dangerous situation, yet that’s what we’re trained for and that’s what we’re going to do, without question we’re going. That moment to me when I watch it, I am moved, I am moved by that. I move and step forward. Hammond, he’s so good in that scene

David Read
Don

Steve Makaj
Don passed away didn’t he?

David Read
He did. Do you have a memory of him.

Steve Makaj
Oh I do. Just such a generous guy, just generous with his person, in his communication to you. Just so classy, classy guy. I was so sad to hear that he passed away. When I watched the episode you sent me links to, I thought of him again “ah that’s too bad.”

David Read
Great talent. Someone you completely believe is someone who would be there to keep the light on for the people out there waiting for them to come back home.

Steve Makaj
Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Caring guy, a fatherly figure in the show, love Don.

David Read
Did you know that in Stargate Universe they named their new spaceship after him? I think he would have been proud of that. I have the model over there. That’s the USS George Hammond. Steve, I’ve got some fan questions for you before we wrap you up, is that okay? General Maximus and Mack Bolans’ conscience asked “where do you stand on the morality of your character? Is he a bad guy or was he doing the wrong thing for the right reason?” I think we’ve really answered that. I apologize. I’m going to screw this up x i x space i x i [XiX ixi ] I’m not even gonna try, I apologize. Do you speak Slovak by any chance?

Steve Makaj
I wish I did. I wonder if that person asking is Slovak. I wish I did, unfortunately, and I often think, not to be too critical of my parents, but my father spoke Polish and my mother spoke Slovak to each other. They can understand each other and I often thought growing up what a waste of a language that the only time they spoke it is when they didn’t want us children to hear what he said. What a waste of a language. I wished today that I spoke Slovak and that they taught me. I know a few, [speaks Slovak] which means “I don’t know”. [speaks Slovak], I know that.

David Read
Philippe Canat – if asked would you come back for the next iteration of Stargate? Whatever Amazon is cooking up with MGM? What kind of roll would you prefer?

Steve Makaj
In a heartbeat I’d come back. Actors are always looking for work. Iwould love to come back as Colonel MakePeace. Love that, I would love that. I have heard rumors that there’s talk of that.

David Read
There is talk of something and everyone loves a good redemption arc. It happened with Maybourne.

Steve Makaj
There you go. There you go.

David Read
Jakub Olejarz – Have you ever visited Poland? I’m originally from there myself, Jakub says.

Steve Makaj
Thank you Jakub. I have not. I have been to Europe, I have not visited Poland and that’s on my to do list. If he can get back and recommend a good place to visit. Get back to me and let me know, I would appreciate it.

David Read
Pamela Tarajcak – between Into the Fire and Shades of Gray – I think you’ve also kind of answered this too – there was no hint at the twist that was coming? You didn’t get it until the table read?

Steve Makaj
That’s right, the table read at Bridge studios. That fateful day. Again, disappointed, excited and then disappointed.

David Read
Here’s the thing, not many people get to command SG-1.

Steve Makaj
Well there you go.

David Read
That too. There is that feather in your cap too.

Steve Makaj
There’s a milestone there for sure.

David Read
Absolutely. Someone’s asking me how my trip was. I’ve had a tough time. I think that’s for me. Steve, this has been a real treat. What you got going on? Will we be seeing you in anything soon? Are you taking a break? What’s going on for you right now?

Steve Makaj
Well, I’m taking a little bit of a break. I don’t know if you know, the audition process has kind of changed with COVID. You may be familiar with the self tape thing is going on. I just did one before we got online here for a Christmas movie. Lately I’ve done a movie the week called Boat 1 for Love. Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez I was in. I did a Riverdale not too long ago. I was kind of a bad guy runner, Jinx Malloy. Season four episode 18 I think it was. Yeah. The thing about the self tape phenomenon now is that it’s really opened the door to a lot more people sending them. When we first started doing them I thought, “well, now everybody and his brother can send one.” It’s just their file sent to the casting offices and they vet them. They have a couple of assistants I think vetting them but I’m sure there’s a glut coming in from anywhere in the world. The competition I think is greatly increased. It’s kind of good to help refine your chops. I was going to a studio and doing them but now I’m back doing them at home. I have a little system, I hooked up with a friend in Toronto, an actor friend, and we have a little system of doing it. And you can do as many takes as you like!

David Read
Exactly, no pressure. At your speed, as long as you have got someone to read lines with you, you’re good.

Steve Makaj
Exactly. I did it right here where I’m talking to you a couple of hours ago. A fatherly type character. I was also doing music as well. I had been writing songs for many years as well. It’s kind of a hobby that I take seriously, keep doing that.

David Read
I think it’s so important to have multiple pots to dip into. It’s often as an actor, feast or famine. You’ve got to have other things to dp because not everything is going to be a home run. You can’t get all of them so what are you going to do in the meantime?

Steve Makaj
Precisely.

David Read
This has been great Steve, I really appreciate you taking the time. I appreciate Alec for connecting us. Thank you for adding your voice to one of the more pivotal characters earlier in SG-1’s run.

Steve Makaj
Thank you for persisting to get me to do it. I did one before it and it felt a little uncomfortable. You kept at me and I finally said “okay, okay.” I appreciate that because it’s been a lot of fun David. I’ve enjoyed talking to you and answering your questions and reliving those days, you know, 20, 22 years ago now.

David Read
People still talk about him, you made a mark and this is an important show in the pantheon of sci-fi. I just want to thank you.

Steve Makaj
Thanks for having me on. I wish I did more of those conventions. I only did one in Richmond, Doug Arthur who did the show, invited me to. I said “well, what do I do? I’ve never been to one.” He said, “get some pictures printed” so I showed up there with my wife and my two young sons and I was met with Kurt, my security liaison. I said “I need a security liaison here?” I walked into the Richmond Convention Center and the place was packed with people.

David Read
That was Gatecon wasn’t it? I think I may have been at that one. You guys, they’re clawing that show there man. They want themselves some Makepeace.

David Read
I’ll jump on board if anybody wants to have me visit another one?

David Read
Well Gatecon, I’m hopeful that there will be another one and if that is the case I’ll make sure that they reach out to you.

Steve Makaj
Awesome David, you’ve been awesome.

David Read
Thank you for your time sir.

Steve Makaj
Thank you

David Read
Take care of yourself okay.

Steve Makaj
Bye bye.

David Read
Bye bye. Steve Makaj, Colonel Makepeace in Stargate SG-1. Thank you so much for tuning in everyone. Just before we let you go, if you enjoyed this content, please be sure to hit that like button and share this with your friends. Coming up we have, let me pull up the schedule here, Brian J. Smith, Matthew Scott in Stargate Universe and also Lennix currently airing in Class of ’09 on FX, I believe that’s on Hulu. He’s joining us Saturday June the 10th right here on DialtheGate so be sure to join us for that. We have a pre-recorded show out after that. Sorry about all the bells and dinging. We have the Stargate exhibit of Empire Movie Props and that is going to be June the 10th as well at 2pm Pacific Time. June 14, Wednesday, Steve Bacic is going to be joining us, Major Coburn and Camulus and Stargate Trivia 9 hosted by Colin Cunningham, Saturday, June the 17th. I actually just got confirmation, Gwynyth Walsh, you may know her as B’Etor in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but we know her as Queen Egeria. She’s going to be joining us as well, in the next probably 10 days here, 14 days. We will be giving you that information as we move forward. Thanks again to Steve Makaj for joining me for this episode and for Antony for doing the moderating. He’s really been hitting it out of the park lately and Antony you have no idea how much I appreciate you just coming in and pulling these things off. Thanks to my Producer Linda “GateGabber” Furey and to Frederick Marcoux at ConceptsWeb keeping the site up and running. We’ve got a lot heading your way before we close out season two. We’re gonna get to that 200th Episode pretty soon and still trying to figure out what we’re going to do for it. I’ve got some ideas but some stuffs definitely happening. My name is David Read for DialtheGate. I appreciate you all tuning in and we will see you on the other side.