Michael Moore, as a child, went from an orphanage to foster parents who abused him for a long time. As a result he developed psychological problems that drove him to suicide in 1839, triggering his immortality.

In 1921, Moore became a psychiatrist and worked in a clinic in Seacouver where he made friends with Duncan MacLeod. One day he suffered a seizure, a second personality came to light: Quentin Barnes. As Barnes he murdered Moore's wife, Jeannette. Neither Duncan MacLeod or Moore's Watcher knew that Moore had a split personality. Barnes seemed only to be a mysterious, evil immortal.

While the friendly and reserved Moore still mourned his lost love, Jeannette, Barnes killed more women. But Barnes was eventually arrested, and in 1960 he was executed in a U.S. prison in the electric chair. He was buried in the prison cemetery.

In 1993, when a new chapel was built for the prison, a few graves were to be relocated. This allowed Moore to escape from his grave. Moore thought the time buried was nothing but bad dream, and almost instinctively looked for MacLeod to help him find Barnes.