William B. Davis
Acting • Born 1938-01-13
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
Filmography
121 credits
The X-Files
Movie • 1998
The Cigarette-Smoking Man
The Proposal
Movie • 2001
Agent Frank Gruning
The Dead Zone
Movie • 1983
Ambulance Driver
Damage
Movie • 2009
Veltz
Focus
Movie • 2014
Mr. Grant
Saint Sinner
Movie • 2002
Father Michael
The Messengers
Movie • 2007
Colby Price
Possession
Movie • 2009
Hypnotist
Passengers
Movie • 2008
Jack
Snakehead Terror
Movie • 2004
Doc Jenkins
Packing Up
Movie • 2004
Jenkins
Reverse
Movie • 2008
Chris
Medium Raw
Movie • 2010
Dr. Robert Parker
Dangerous Intentions
Movie • 1995
Group Leader
Her Fatal Flaw
Movie • 2006
Richard O'Brien
Behemoth
Movie • 2011
William Walsh
The Tall Man
Movie • 2012
Sheriff Chestnut
The Cradle Will Fall
Movie • 2004
Alex Myerson
Something Evil Comes
Movie • 2009
Mr. Dutton
Midnight Matinee
Movie • 1988
Heath Harris
Science Of Death
Movie • 2001
Narrator
100 Days In The Jungle
Movie • 2002
Ambassador Shear
Singularity Principle
Movie • 2013
Lawrence Cason
Amazon Falls
Movie • 2010
Calvin
Stonados
Movie • 2013
Ben
It's a Wonderful Knife
Movie • 2023
Roger Evans
Dark Storm
Movie • 2006
General Killion
The Hitman
Movie • 1991
Dr. Atkins
Death Note
Movie • 2017
Radio Host
The Thaw
Movie • 2009
Ted
Deadly Deception
Movie • 1987
Lawyer
Unforgettable
Movie • 1996
Doctor
Becoming Dick
Movie • 2000
Dr. Hardwin
Better Off
Movie • 2024
Self
Circumstances Unknown
Movie • 1995
Gene Reuschel
When the Vows Break
Movie • 1995
Dr. Alexander
Numb
Movie • 2007
Peter Milbank
Don't Talk to Strangers
Movie • 1994
Huddleston
Aftermath
Movie • 2002
Deputy Director Edwards
Sworn to Silence
Movie • 1987
Peter Massio
Judicial Indiscretion
Movie • 2007
Senator Garland Wolf
Anthrax
Movie • 2001
Tye Crow
The Mountain Runners
Movie • 2012
Henry Engberg
Heart of a Child
Movie • 1994
Vern
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
Movie • 2015
Harper
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
Movie • 2015
Harper
Inside The X-Files
Movie • 1998
Self
Sisters
Movie • 2006
Dr. Lucas Bryant
Anything to Survive
Movie • 1990
Dr Reynolds
Mindstorm
Movie • 2001
Parish
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Movie • 2001
Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
Omen IV: The Awakening
Movie • 1991
Lawyer (uncredited)
The Doctor's Case
Movie • 2018
Doctor Watson
Killing Moon
Movie • 1999
Ed
Residue
Movie • 2017
Lamont
Abduct
Movie • 2016
Zane
The Package
Movie • 2013
Dr. Willhelm
Game Over, Man!
Movie • 2018
Ray - Security
The Real 'X-Files'?
Movie • 2015
Himself
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
Movie • 2016
Granddad
The Secret of Hidden Lake
Movie • 2006
Perpetrators of the Crime
Movie • 2000
Henderson
Bad Times at the El Royale
Movie • 2018
Judge Gordon Hoffman
Murder Most Likely
Movie • 1999
Detective Inspector
Look Who's Talking
Movie • 1989
Drug Doctor
Phil
Movie • 2019
Father Grant
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
Movie • 2004
Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
Not Our Son
Movie • 1995
Police Chief
Rise of the Damned
Movie • 2011
Doctor
Head Office
Movie • 1985
University Dean
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy
Movie • 2005
Rick Brinkley
Voyage of Terror
Movie • 1998
Dr. Norman Ellisy
Bribe, Inc.
Movie • 2024
Figaro (voice)
Dark Pines
Movie • 2005
Shannon Fraser
Flowers for Norma
Movie • 2010
Older Gentleman #2
Word of Honor
Movie • 2003
Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
Secrets of the X-Files
Movie • 1995
Self
More Secrets of the X-Files
Movie • 1996
Self
Out of Line
Movie • 2001
Russell
Web of Desire
Movie • 2010
Dr. Charles Friedman
Goose on the Loose
Movie • 2006
Alphonse David
21 Jump Street
TV • 1987
Mr. Weidlin
Airwolf
TV • 1984
F.I.R.M. Official
The Commish
TV • 1991
Masters of Science Fiction
TV • 2007
Andromeda
TV • 2000
Professor Logitch
Robson Arms
TV • 2005
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Cigarette Smoking Man
Smallville
TV • 2001
William Tate
Stargate SG-1
TV • 1997
Damaris
Nightmare Cafe
TV • 1992
Doctor
Wiseguy
TV • 1987
Fear Itself
TV • 2008
Father Chris
The X-Files
TV • 1993
Cancer Man
Human Target
TV • 2010
Whitey Doyle
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
John Wymer
50 States of Fright
TV • 2020
Frank
Continuum
TV • 2012
Future Alec Sadler
The X-Files
TV • 1993
SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man
The X-Files
TV • 1993
CGB Spender
Supernatural
TV • 2005
College Professor
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
Dr. Frank Biemler
The Outer Limits
TV • 1995
Ed
Danger Bay
TV • 1985
Norris
MythQuest
TV • 2001
Drossos
Tilt
TV • 2005
Father Luke
Airwolf
TV • 1984
Newman
Sliders
TV • 1995
Prof. Myman
It
TV • 1990
Mr. Gedreau
21 Jump Street
TV • 1987
Mr. Wickenton
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
TV • 2010
Plumberg
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
TV • 2010
Grandfather
MacGyver
TV • 1985
Judge
Poltergeist: The Legacy
TV • 1996
Dr. Bill Nigel
Caprica
TV • 2010
Minister Chambers
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
TV • 2018
Methuselah
Upload
TV • 2020
David Choak
21 Jump Street
TV • 1987
Judge Harrison
First Wave
TV • 1998
Sagon
Broken Saints
TV • 2001
Benjamin Palmer (voice)
Murder in a Small Town
TV • 2024
Captain Darcy Stewart