Dr. Kavanagh
- Series
- Stargate Atlantis
- Affiliation
- Atlantis expedition (science)
- Played by
- Ben Cotton
The most unpleasant scientist on Atlantis, McKay's eternal opponent. Kavanagh is the spanner in the works, the colleague everyone loves to hate.
Overview
Dr. Kavanagh is a scientist on the Atlantis expedition, best known for his insufferable personality and his constant conflicts with Rodney McKay. Arrogant and cowardly, he's the resident grouch.
His story
Kavanagh disputes, criticizes and slips away as soon as things go wrong. His ego battles with McKay, who's no picnic himself, make for some delicious scenes.
But the character isn't just a caricature: in his own obnoxious way, he raises real questions about authority and risk-taking. Kavanagh embodies the irritating colleague every organization has, the one whose systematic opposition is annoying but sometimes forces others to justify themselves.
The actor
Kavanagh is played by Ben Cotton, a Canadian actor recognizable by his ponytail in the role. He relishes the character's unpleasant side, to the point of making him almost endearing by being so exasperating.
Themes
