Samantha Carter

Samantha Carter

Colonel Samantha "Sam" Carter, USAF is a fictional character in the Canadian-American military science fiction Stargate franchise. Played by English-Canadian actress Amanda Tapping she appears in all three shows in the franchise: Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis, and Stargate Universe. She was a main character in all ten seasons of Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007). Following a recurring role in Stargate Atlantis for three seasons (2004–2007), Carter became a main character in season 4 of Atlantis (2007–2008), and also appeared in the 2008 direct-to-DVD SG-1 films Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum. Amanda Tapping accepted a starring role in Sanctuary and only appears in the first and last episodes in the fifth season of Atlantis (2008–2009). Carter also appears in two episodes of the first season of Stargate Universe.

Captain Samantha Carter made her first appearance in "Children of the Gods", the pilot episode of Stargate SG-1, as a United States Air Force captain who joined the fictional SG-1 team under the command of Colonel Jack O'Neill. After being promoted to major in season 3, Carter remained O'Neill's second-in-command until her promotion to lieutenant-colonel early in season 8, at which point she assumed command of the SG-1 team and O'Neill was promoted to brigadier-general in order to lead Stargate Command. Between seasons 8 and 9 of SG-1, following the defeat of the Replicators and downfall of the Goa'uld system lords she accepted a position as Head of the Stargate Research and Development programme, based in Nevada. At the time of the emergence of the Ori she was engaged in deep-space research but was reassigned to SG-1, now under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Cameron Mitchell, on her return to Earth. Following the defeat of the Ori in Stargate: The Ark of Truth, Carter was promoted to a "full bird" colonel and was appointed as the new commander of the Atlantis expedition early in season 4 of Atlantis. Later, Carter is given command of the Daedalus-class ship, the George Hammond.

Overall, Carter has appeared in the most episodes of Stargate, though not the most of SG-1 (this honor goes to Teal'c, owing to Tapping's four-episode maternity leave in season 9).