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
The Cigarette-Smoking Man
The X-Files
Agent Frank Gruning
The Proposal
Ambulance Driver
The Dead Zone
Veltz
Damage
Mr. Grant
Focus
Father Michael
Saint Sinner
Colby Price
The Messengers
Hypnotist
Possession
Jack
Passengers
Doc Jenkins
Snakehead Terror
Jenkins
Packing Up
Chris
Reverse
Dr. Robert Parker
Medium Raw
Group Leader
Dangerous Intentions
Richard O'Brien
Her Fatal Flaw
William Walsh
Behemoth
Sheriff Chestnut
The Tall Man
Alex Myerson
The Cradle Will Fall
Mr. Dutton
Something Evil Comes
Heath Harris
Midnight Matinee
Narrator
Science Of Death
Ambassador Shear
100 Days In The Jungle
Lawrence Cason
Singularity Principle
Calvin
Amazon Falls
Ben
Stonados
Roger Evans
It's a Wonderful Knife
General Killion
Dark Storm
Dr. Atkins
The Hitman
Ted
The Thaw
Radio Host
Death Note
Lawyer
Deadly Deception
Doctor
Unforgettable
Dr. Hardwin
Becoming Dick
Self
Better Off
Gene Reuschel
Circumstances Unknown
Dr. Alexander
When the Vows Break
Peter Milbank
Numb
Huddleston
Don't Talk to Strangers
Deputy Director Edwards
Aftermath
Peter Massio
Sworn to Silence
Senator Garland Wolf
Judicial Indiscretion
Tye Crow
Anthrax
Henry Engberg
The Mountain Runners
Vern
Heart of a Child
Harper
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
Harper
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
Self
Inside The X-Files
Dr. Lucas Bryant
Sisters
Dr Reynolds
Anything to Survive
Parish
Mindstorm
Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
Lawyer (uncredited)
Omen IV: The Awakening
Doctor Watson
The Doctor's Case
Ed
Killing Moon
Lamont
Residue
Zane
Abduct
Dr. Willhelm
The Package
Ray - Security
Game Over, Man!
Himself
The Real 'X-Files'?
Granddad
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
The Secret of Hidden Lake
Henderson
Perpetrators of the Crime
Judge Gordon Hoffman
Bad Times at the El Royale
Detective Inspector
Murder Most Likely
Drug Doctor
Look Who's Talking
Father Grant
Phil
Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
Police Chief
Not Our Son
Doctor
Rise of the Damned
University Dean
Head Office
Rick Brinkley
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy
Dr. Norman Ellisy
Voyage of Terror
Figaro (voice)
Bribe, Inc.
Shannon Fraser
Dark Pines
Older Gentleman #2
Flowers for Norma
Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
Word of Honor
Self
Secrets of the X-Files
Self
More Secrets of the X-Files
Russell
Out of Line
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
79
Gender
Male
Birthday
1938-01-13
Place of Birth
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Also Known As
Bill Davis