William B. Davis
Biography
William Bruce Davis (born January 13, 1938) is a Canadian actor, known for his role as The Smoking Man on The X-Files. He has also appeared in Stargate SG-1 as Damaris, a Prior of the Ori and as Mayor Tate on Smallville. Most recently he has appeared in FOX's Human Target as an aging mobster. Davis was born in Toronto, Ontario, to an attorney father and psychologist mother. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in philosophy. Afterwards, he went on to become a drama professor at Bishop's University. He is also the founder of the William Davis Centre for Actors Study acting school in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is also a former national champion water skier. Despite being known for his smoking character, Davis actually quit smoking in the 1970s; when The X-Files started up, he was given a choice between herbal cigarettes and actual cigarettes. At first he chose the actual cigarettes, but switched to herbal shortly after for fear of becoming addicted again while playing the Cigarette Smoking Man. He voiced the antagonist Colonel Whitley of the game The Thing. Davis had a co-starring role in a 2001 episode of The Outer Limits revival series, playing the ruthless director of a secret scientific project, in an episode entitled "Worlds Within." Davis also hosts and narrates the series Critical Eye on the Science Channel. In 2011, he will also co-star in The Tall Man. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Known For
All Movies (84)
- Bribe, Inc.2024 · as Figaro (voice)
- Better Off2024 · as Self
- It's a Wonderful Knife2023 · as Roger Evans
- Phil2019 · as Father Grant
- Bad Times at the El Royale2018 · as Judge Gordon Hoffman
- The Doctor's Case2018 · as Doctor Watson
- Game Over, Man!2018 · as Ray - Security
- Death Note2017 · as Radio Host
- Residue2017 · as Lamont
- Abduct2016 · as Zane
- 2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be2016 · as Granddad
- The Real 'X-Files'?2015 · as Himself
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream2015 · as Harper
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told2015 · as Harper
- Focus2014 · as Mr. Grant
- Stonados2013 · as Ben
- Singularity Principle2013 · as Lawrence Cason
- The Package2013 · as Dr. Willhelm
- The Mountain Runners2012 · as Henry Engberg
- The Tall Man2012 · as Sheriff Chestnut
- Rise of the Damned2011 · as Doctor
- Behemoth2011 · as William Walsh
- Flowers for Norma2010 · as Older Gentleman #2
- Amazon Falls2010 · as Calvin
- Medium Raw2010 · as Dr. Robert Parker
- Web of Desire2010 · as Dr. Charles Friedman
- Damage2009 · as Veltz
- Something Evil Comes2009 · as Mr. Dutton
- The Thaw2009 · as Ted
- Possession2009 · as Hypnotist
- Reverse2008 · as Chris
- Passengers2008 · as Jack
- Fear Itself: In Sickness and in Health2008 · as Father Chris
- Exhuming 'The Messengers'2007 · as Self
- Numb2007 · as Peter Milbank
- Judicial Indiscretion2007 · as Senator Garland Wolf
- The Messengers2007 · as Colby Price
- Her Fatal Flaw2006 · as Richard O'Brien
- Sisters2006 · as Dr. Lucas Bryant
- The Secret of Hidden Lake2006
- Dark Storm2006 · as General Killion
- Goose on the Loose2006 · as Alphonse David
- Dark Pines2005 · as Shannon Fraser
- Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy2005 · as Rick Brinkley
- Packing Up2004 · as Jenkins
- The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying2004 · as Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
- Snakehead Terror2004 · as Doc Jenkins
- The Cradle Will Fall2004 · as Alex Myerson
- Word of Honor2003 · as Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
- 100 Days In The Jungle2002 · as Ambassador Shear
- Saint Sinner2002 · as Father Michael
- Aftermath2002 · as Deputy Director Edwards
- Out of Line2001 · as Russell
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back2001 · as Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
- Mindstorm2001 · as Parish
- The Proposal2001 · as Agent Frank Gruning
- Science Of Death2001 · as Narrator
- Anthrax2001 · as Tye Crow
- Becoming Dick2000 · as Dr. Hardwin
- Perpetrators of the Crime2000 · as Henderson
- Murder Most Likely1999 · as Detective Inspector
- Killing Moon1999 · as Ed
- The X-Files1998 · as The Cigarette-Smoking Man
- Inside The X-Files1998 · as Self
- Voyage of Terror1998 · as Dr. Norman Ellisy
- More Secrets of the X-Files1996 · as Self
- Unforgettable1996 · as Doctor
- When the Vows Break1995 · as Dr. Alexander
- Secrets of the X-Files1995 · as Self
- Circumstances Unknown1995 · as Gene Reuschel
- Not Our Son1995 · as Police Chief
- Dangerous Intentions1995 · as Group Leader
- Don't Talk to Strangers1994 · as Huddleston
- Heart of a Child1994 · as Vern
- Omen IV: The Awakening1991 · as Lawyer (uncredited)
- The Hitman1991 · as Dr. Atkins
- Anything to Survive1990 · as Dr Reynolds
- Look Who's Talking1989 · as Drug Doctor
- Midnight Matinee1988 · as Heath Harris
- Sworn to Silence1987 · as Peter Massio
- Deadly Deception1987 · as Lawyer
- Head Office1985 · as University Dean
- The Cuckoo Bird1985 · as Ted
- The Dead Zone1983 · as Ambulance Driver
All TV Shows (40)
- Murder in a Small Town2024 · as Captain Darcy Stewart
- Upload2020 · as David Choak
- 50 States of Fright2020 · as Frank
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina2018 · as Methuselah
- Continuum2012 · as Future Alec Sadler
- R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour2010 · as Plumberg
- R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour2010 · as Grandfather
- Caprica2010 · as Minister Chambers
- Human Target2010 · as Whitey Doyle
- Fear Itself2008 · as Father Chris
- Masters of Science Fiction2007
- Supernatural2005 · as College Professor
- Robson Arms2005
- Tilt2005 · as Father Luke
- Smallville2001 · as William Tate
- MythQuest2001 · as Drossos
- Broken Saints2001 · as Benjamin Palmer (voice)
- Andromeda2000 · as Professor Logitch
- First Wave1998 · as Sagon
- Stargate SG-11997 · as Damaris
- Poltergeist: The Legacy1996 · as Dr. Bill Nigel
- The Outer Limits1995 · as John Wymer
- The Outer Limits1995 · as Dr. Frank Biemler
- The Outer Limits1995 · as Ed
- Sliders1995 · as Prof. Myman
- The X-Files1993 · as Cigarette Smoking Man
- The X-Files1993 · as Cancer Man
- The X-Files1993 · as SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man
- The X-Files1993 · as CGB Spender
- Nightmare Cafe1992 · as Doctor
- The Commish1991
- It1990 · as Mr. Gedreau
- Wiseguy1987
- 21 Jump Street1987 · as Mr. Weidlin
- 21 Jump Street1987 · as Mr. Wickenton
- 21 Jump Street1987 · as Judge Harrison
- Danger Bay1985 · as Norris
- MacGyver1985 · as Judge
- Airwolf1984 · as F.I.R.M. Official
- Airwolf1984 · as Newman




