Daniel Gilchrist began his love of acting in high school where his initial interests were in production and writing. Upon graduating, he began working and volunteering for local theatre productions in his hometown of Topeka, Kansas. His first starring role was as The Creature in Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy's production of Frankenstein. He went on to have featured roles in Macbeth, Scrooge, Arsenic and Old Lace, The Tempest, The Addams Family, and To Kill a Mockingbird. He graduated from Washburn University in 2012 with a Bachelor's in Theatre.

Daniel transitioned from theatre to film as the titular character in Beast of the Water. He also played Demby, a sideshow giant, in the acclaimed Chained for Life. In Omniboat, he portrayed a main/dolphin creature voiced by Robert Redford.

Daniel attributes his love of the theatre to his older brother, Brendan Gilchrist, who died in 2007.