Meredith Rodney McKay, Ph.D, is a fictional character in the 2004 Canadian-American Sci-Fi Channel television series Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, two military science fiction television shows about military teams exploring two galaxies (Milky Way and Pegasus) via a network of alien transportation devices. Played by British-born Canadian actor David Hewlett, McKay was a main character in all five seasons of Stargate Atlantis (2004–2009). Earlier he held a recurring role in Stargate SG-1 for four seasons (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007). In 2011, McKay was featured in an episode of Stargate Universe. Doctor Rodney McKay is a contractor for the United States Air Force and makes his first appearance in the Stargate SG-1 episode "48 Hours", the fourteenth episode of Stargate SG-1 Season 5, as a scientist who joins the fictional Stargate Program. McKay was seen in two more episodes of Stargate SG-1 before becoming a main character in Stargate Atlantis which was set in the Pegasus Galaxy. His next appearances in Stargate SG-1 were in Alternate timeline and different realities until the crossover episode "The Pegasus Project" in season ten. Overall, McKay and Joe Flanigan's character John Sheppard are the only two characters who appeared in every episode of Stargate Atlantis, with McKay being the character with the most screentime. Role in Stargate Character biography Meredith Rodney McKay was born in 1968. He has a sister named Jeannie Miller (played by David Hewlett's sister Kate Hewlett), who is similar in intellect. McKay feels that his parents blamed him for their problems. McKay originally turned to science after his piano teacher told him he was a "fine clinical player" but had no sense of the art. During his youth, McKay joined a Scouting Troop, Lodge 14 of the Fort McMurray Eager Beavers. He built an atomic bomb for his grade six science fair exhibit, prompting a visit from the Central Intelligence Agency. Among his four diplomas, McKay implied he has degrees in physics and mechanical engineering, and stated he actually has two Ph.D.s. He also revealed he has extensive education in astrophysics. Prior to his first appearance in Stargate SG-1, McKay was stationed at the Area 51 facility where he became one of the premier experts on the Stargate network outside of Stargate Command. In "48 Hours", he is assigned to help Major Carter recover Teal'c from being trapped in the Stargate, but McKay's theories are proven wrong. He is subsequently