<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Stargate SG-1 Character
Nicholas Ballard
Status	Unknown- off world
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Origin
Portrayed by	Jan Rubes
First Appearance	"Crystal Skull"
Profession	Archaeologist
Relatives	Daniel Jackson (grandson)
Special Features

Nicholas "Nick" Ballard is a fictional character on the series Stargate SG-1. Nick is the grandfather of archaeologist Dr. Daniel Jackson. Nick, insisted his grandson call him Nick as a child and wasn't considered to be the greatest parental figure. Always busy with his work, Nick did not take custody of his grandson after Daniel's parents were killed in an accident at the New York Museum instead leaving him to foster career. He later regretted his decision.

Nick was a great lover of mythology. Like many before him, he attempted to track down the source of the Fountain of Youth myths. In 1971 he set off on a mission to Belize. He discovered a crystal skull. While looking into the eyes of the artifact he was enveloped by a neutrino spike that transported him to a new location where he met giant aliens. Dumbstruck and unable to communicate, he was sent back. He managed to recover the skull before a collapse occurred burying the location. The skull proved to be a true mystery. Carved against the grain from a single piece of crystal it defied the technology of the time. He was unable to replicate his experience and his wild claims led to his institutionalization in a psychiatric facility in Oregon.

In the episode "Crystal Skull", Daniel Jackson and SG-1 visited P7X-377 where Daniel went missing having undergone a similar experience as his grandfather after looking into the eyes of a crystal skull. Rendered invisible and unable to communicate, Daniel followed SG-1 on a trip to the Oregon facility to see his grandfather.

After visiting the SGC, Nick admitted he was able to see and communicate with Daniel because of his similar experience. Nick returned with the team to P7X-377 where they were able to communicate with the giant aliens who seem to exist in a different state of reality and required a transformation in order to communicate with the team. Nick decided to remain on the planet to teach and learn from the aliens.