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 th…

Movies & TV Shows

1. Supernatural (2005) — College Professor
2. Smallville (2001) — William Tate
3. Death Note (2017) — Radio Host
4. Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) — Judge Gordon Hoffman
5. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018) — Methuselah
6. The X-Files (1993) — Cigarette Smoking Man
7. It (1990) — Mr. Gedreau
8. Look Who's Talking (1989) — Drug Doctor
9. Stargate SG-1 (1997) — Damaris
10. The Dead Zone (1983) — Ambulance Driver
11. The X-Files (1998) — The Cigarette-Smoking Man
12. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) — Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
13. Upload (2020) — David Choak
14. The Tall Man (2012) — Sheriff Chestnut
15. Passengers (2008) — Jack
16. Game Over, Man! (2018) — Ray - Security
17. Continuum (2012) — Future Alec Sadler
18. MacGyver (1985) — Judge
19. The Messengers (2007) — Colby Price
20. Airwolf (1984) — F.I.R.M. Official
21. Sliders (1995) — Prof. Myman
22. Caprica (2010) — Minister Chambers
23. The Thaw (2009) — Ted
24. Andromeda (2000) — Professor Logitch
25. Omen IV: The Awakening (1991) — Lawyer (uncredited)
26. The Outer Limits (1995) — John Wymer
27. R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010) — Plumberg
28. 21 Jump Street (1987) — Mr. Weidlin
29. It's a Wonderful Knife (2023) — Roger Evans
30. Damage (2009) — Veltz
31. Fear Itself (2008) — Father Chris
32. Human Target (2010) — Whitey Doyle
33. Possession (2009) — Hypnotist
34. The Package (2012) — Dr. Willhelm
35. Numb (2007) — Peter Milbank
36. Unforgettable (1996) — Doctor
37. The Hitman (1991) — Dr. Atkins
38. 50 States of Fright (2020) — Frank
39. Sisters (2006) — Dr. Lucas Bryant
40. First Wave (1998) — Sagon

Directed

1. Exchange (2003) — Director
2. Packing Up (2004) — Director
3. Reverse (2008) — Director