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William B. Davis

Acting 88 years old Toronto, Ontario, Canada ★ 2.6
Born: January 13, 1938

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

External Links

🎬 IMDb

Known For

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told Harper 2015
Midnight Matinee
Midnight Matinee Heath Harris 1988
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream Harper 2015
The Package
The Package Dr. Willhelm 2013
Singularity Principle
Singularity Principle Lawrence Cason 2013

Jimmy's Seen (1)

Bad Times at the El Royale
Bad Times at the El Royale Judge Gordon Hoffman 2018

Filmography

Acting Credits (121)

Bribe, Inc.
Bribe, Inc. Figaro (voice) 2024
Murder in a Small Town
Murder in a Small Town Captain Darcy Stewart 2024
Better Off
Better Off Self 2024
It's a Wonderful Knife
It's a Wonderful Knife Roger Evans 2023
Upload
Upload David Choak 2020
50 States of Fright
50 States of Fright Frank 2020
Phil
Phil Father Grant 2019
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Methuselah 2018
Bad Times at the El Royale
Bad Times at the El Royale Judge Gordon Hoffman 2018
The Doctor's Case
The Doctor's Case Doctor Watson 2018
Game Over, Man!
Game Over, Man! Ray - Security 2018
Death Note
Death Note Radio Host 2017
Residue
Residue Lamont 2017
Abduct
Abduct Zane 2016
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be Granddad 2016
The Real 'X-Files'?
The Real 'X-Files'? Himself 2015
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream Harper 2015
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told Harper 2015
Focus
Focus Mr. Grant 2014
Stonados
Stonados Ben 2013
Singularity Principle
Singularity Principle Lawrence Cason 2013
The Package
The Package Dr. Willhelm 2013
The Mountain Runners
The Mountain Runners Henry Engberg 2012
Continuum
Continuum Future Alec Sadler 2012
The Tall Man
The Tall Man Sheriff Chestnut 2012
Rise of the Damned
Rise of the Damned Doctor 2011
Behemoth
Behemoth William Walsh 2011
Flowers for Norma
Flowers for Norma Older Gentleman #2 2010
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour Plumberg 2010
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour Grandfather 2010
Amazon Falls
Amazon Falls Calvin 2010
Medium Raw
Medium Raw Dr. Robert Parker 2010
Web of Desire
Web of Desire Dr. Charles Friedman 2010
Caprica
Caprica Minister Chambers 2010
Human Target
Human Target Whitey Doyle 2010
Damage
Damage Veltz 2009
Something Evil Comes
Something Evil Comes Mr. Dutton 2009
The Thaw
The Thaw Ted 2009
Possession
Possession Hypnotist 2009
Reverse
Reverse Chris 2008
Passengers
Passengers Jack 2008
Fear Itself
Fear Itself Father Chris 2008
Masters of Science Fiction
Masters of Science Fiction 2007
Numb
Numb Peter Milbank 2007
Judicial Indiscretion
Judicial Indiscretion Senator Garland Wolf 2007
The Messengers
The Messengers Colby Price 2007
Her Fatal Flaw
Her Fatal Flaw Richard O'Brien 2006
Sisters
Sisters Dr. Lucas Bryant 2006
The Secret of Hidden Lake
The Secret of Hidden Lake 2006
Dark Storm
Dark Storm General Killion 2006
Goose on the Loose
Goose on the Loose Alphonse David 2006
Dark Pines
Dark Pines Shannon Fraser 2005
Supernatural
Supernatural College Professor 2005
Robson Arms
Robson Arms 2005
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy Rick Brinkley 2005
Tilt
Tilt Father Luke 2005
Packing Up
Packing Up Jenkins 2004
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying Alderman Godfrey Shepcote 2004
Snakehead Terror
Snakehead Terror Doc Jenkins 2004
The Cradle Will Fall
The Cradle Will Fall Alex Myerson 2004
Word of Honor
Word of Honor Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss 2003
100 Days In The Jungle
100 Days In The Jungle Ambassador Shear 2002
Saint Sinner
Saint Sinner Father Michael 2002
Aftermath
Aftermath Deputy Director Edwards 2002
Out of Line
Out of Line Russell 2001
Smallville
Smallville William Tate 2001
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited) 2001
MythQuest
MythQuest Drossos 2001
Mindstorm
Mindstorm Parish 2001
Broken Saints
Broken Saints Benjamin Palmer (voice) 2001
The Proposal
The Proposal Agent Frank Gruning 2001
Science Of Death
Science Of Death Narrator 2001
Anthrax
Anthrax Tye Crow 2001
Andromeda
Andromeda Professor Logitch 2000
Becoming Dick
Becoming Dick Dr. Hardwin 2000
Perpetrators of the Crime
Perpetrators of the Crime Henderson 2000
Murder Most Likely
Murder Most Likely Detective Inspector 1999
Killing Moon
Killing Moon Ed 1999
First Wave
First Wave Sagon 1998
The X-Files
The X-Files The Cigarette-Smoking Man 1998
Inside The X-Files
Inside The X-Files Self 1998
Voyage of Terror
Voyage of Terror Dr. Norman Ellisy 1998
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 Damaris 1997
More Secrets of the X-Files
More Secrets of the X-Files Self 1996
Poltergeist: The Legacy
Poltergeist: The Legacy Dr. Bill Nigel 1996
Unforgettable
Unforgettable Doctor 1996
When the Vows Break
When the Vows Break Dr. Alexander 1995
Secrets of the X-Files
Secrets of the X-Files Self 1995
Circumstances Unknown
Circumstances Unknown Gene Reuschel 1995
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits John Wymer 1995
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits Dr. Frank Biemler 1995
The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits Ed 1995
Sliders
Sliders Prof. Myman 1995
Not Our Son
Not Our Son Police Chief 1995
Dangerous Intentions
Dangerous Intentions Group Leader 1995
Don't Talk to Strangers
Don't Talk to Strangers Huddleston 1994
Heart of a Child
Heart of a Child Vern 1994
The X-Files
The X-Files Cigarette Smoking Man 1993
The X-Files
The X-Files Cancer Man 1993
The X-Files
The X-Files SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man 1993
The X-Files
The X-Files CGB Spender 1993
Nightmare Cafe
Nightmare Cafe Doctor 1992
The Commish
The Commish 1991
Omen IV: The Awakening
Omen IV: The Awakening Lawyer (uncredited) 1991
The Hitman
The Hitman Dr. Atkins 1991
It
It Mr. Gedreau 1990
Anything to Survive
Anything to Survive Dr Reynolds 1990
Look Who's Talking
Look Who's Talking Drug Doctor 1989
Midnight Matinee
Midnight Matinee Heath Harris 1988
Wiseguy
Wiseguy 1987
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street Mr. Weidlin 1987
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street Mr. Wickenton 1987
21 Jump Street
21 Jump Street Judge Harrison 1987
Sworn to Silence
Sworn to Silence Peter Massio 1987
Deadly Deception
Deadly Deception Lawyer 1987
Danger Bay
Danger Bay Norris 1985
MacGyver
MacGyver Judge 1985
Head Office
Head Office University Dean 1985
Airwolf
Airwolf F.I.R.M. Official 1984
Airwolf
Airwolf Newman 1984
The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone Ambulance Driver 1983

Directing Credits (3)

Writing Credits (4)

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