# Daniel Maslany
**Daniel Maslany** (born 1988) is a Canadian actor, improviser, and sound designer from [Regina, Saskatchewan](https://www.edgepedia.org/regina-saskatchewan), best known for playing the eccentric Detective Llewellyn Watts on the long-running CBC series *Murdoch Mysteries*. He is also the younger brother of Emmy-winning actress [Tatiana Maslany](https://www.edgepedia.org/tatiana-maslany), the star of *Orphan Black* and *She-Hulk: Attorney at Law*.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1988, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/) |
| Signature role | Detective Llewellyn Watts on *Murdoch Mysteries*, joined in season 10 (2016); 119 episodes through 2026[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/) |
| Other lead roles | Bondurant Smit in *Four in the Morning* (CBC, 2016); Townes Linderman in *Impulse* (YouTube Premium, 2018–2019)[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) |
| Film debut | *Skipped Parts* (2000), as Peggy Lipton's son, opposite Drew Barrymore[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) |
| Recognition | Emerging Artist Award, Regina Mayor's Arts Business Awards (2008); Canadian Screen Award nomination for best supporting performer (2023)[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) • [3](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany) |
| Family | Younger brother of Tatiana Maslany; married to actress and writer Lucy Hill since September 30, 2017[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/) |
## Early life and start in acting
Maslany grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, and began performing as a child. His film debut came in *Skipped Parts* (2000), playing the son of [Peggy Lipton](https://www.edgepedia.org/peggy-lipton) in a cast that also included [Drew Barrymore](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-barrymore).[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) His early television work was locally filmed: he played Josh on the Saskatchewan-made series *Renegadepress.com* in 2004, and appeared as a teenager in several episodes of the sitcom *Corner Gas* between 2005 and 2007.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/)
In 2008 he received the Emerging Artist Award at the Mayor's Arts Business Awards in Regina.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) Alongside screen work he built a theater career, performing with companies including Alberta Theatre Projects, Caravan Farm Theatre, Carousel Players, Persephone Theatre, and 2b Theatre.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) At Regina's Globe Theatre he wrote and performed the solo show *O.C. Dean* in 2013, which later toured to Uno Fest in Victoria in 2014, and in 2015 he co-created and served as sound and video designer for the multimedia project *A Date with the Night*.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) • [3](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany)
## Breakthrough on television
**Toronto and *Four in the Morning*.** Maslany's career accelerated after he moved to Toronto. In 2016, the CBC comedy series *Four in the Morning* gave him a lead part as Bondurant Smit, a quirky young Manitoban who relocates to Toronto.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) When that show was canceled later the same year, he was immediately cast in a semi-regular role as Detective Llewellyn Watts on the tenth season of *Murdoch Mysteries*.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/)
**Detective Watts.** The character became his defining role. Watts, originally of Station House No. 1, was designed by the show's writers as an opposite to the methodical lead detective [William Murdoch](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-murdoch): a well-read detective with an existential curiosity about human nature who processes his thoughts aloud, unfiltered.[3](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany) • [4](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Watts) Maslany has remained with the series since 2016; IMDb lists his *Murdoch Mysteries* credits as running from 2016 to 2026 across 119 episodes, and the character was promoted from [Detective](https://www.edgepedia.org/detective) to [Inspector](https://www.edgepedia.org/inspector) over the run.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/) In February 2023 he received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for best supporting performer for the role.[3](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany)
## Other screen work
During breaks from *Murdoch Mysteries*, Maslany starred as Townes Linderman, the autistic friend of the lead character Henrietta, in the sci-fi series *[Impulse](https://www.edgepedia.org/impulse-tv-series)* on [YouTube Premium](https://www.edgepedia.org/youtube-premium) from 2018 to 2019.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) His film credits include the indie drama *Lie Exposed* (2020) opposite [Bruce Greenwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/bruce-greenwood), the action film *SuperGrid* (2018), and the short film *The Mohel* (2021), in which he starred and which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) On Rotten Tomatoes, *SuperGrid* is his highest-rated film at 71 percent and *Lie Exposed* his lowest at 0 percent.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_maslany)
Television guest roles have been steady through the 2020s: *Designated Survivor* (2016), *Hudson & Rex* (2022), *[Transplant](https://www.edgepedia.org/transplant-tv-series)* (2023), *Accused* (2023 and 2024), *Essex County* (2023), *My Dead Mom* (2024), and a guest spot in the premiere of *Doc* (2025).[6](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/142970/daniel-maslany) He also works as a composer, with credits on the shorts *90/91* and *Shut Up* (both 2019).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/)
## Family
Maslany is the middle of three siblings. His older sister is Tatiana Maslany, three years his senior, who won an Emmy Award for *Orphan Black*; his younger brother Michael is an animator.[1](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/) He married the actress and writer Lucy Adele Hill on September 30, 2017, after a long courtship, and is now based in Toronto.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/) • [3](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany)
## References
1. [Daniel Maslany Biography, Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/daniel-maslany/55185/)
2. [Daniel Maslany, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055824/)
3. [Daniel Maslany, Murdoch Mysteries Wiki (Fandom)](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Daniel_Maslany)
4. [Detective Watts, Murdoch Mysteries Wiki (Fandom)](https://murdochmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Watts)
5. [Daniel Maslany Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/daniel_maslany)
6. [Daniel Maslany, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/142970/daniel-maslany)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Canadian actors › Surnames M to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license