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William B. Davis
Actor

William B. Davis

13 Jan 1938Born
88Age
111Credits
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaBirthplace

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.

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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

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 111 credits.

  1. TBA49th & MainSeries: Creator
  2. 2024Bribe, Inc.Film: Figaro (voice)
  3. 2024Murder in a Small TownSeries: Captain Darcy Stewart (1 episode)
  4. 2023It's a Wonderful KnifeFilm: Roger Evans
  5. 2020UploadSeries: David Choak (16 episodes)
  6. 202050 States of FrightSeries: Frank (2 episodes)
  7. 2019PhilFilm: Father Grant
  8. 2018Chilling Adventures of SabrinaSeries: Methuselah (2 episodes)
  9. 2018Bad Times at the El RoyaleFilm: Judge Gordon Hoffman
  10. 2018The Doctor's CaseFilm: Doctor Watson
  11. 2018Game Over, Man!Film: Ray - Security
  12. 2017Death NoteFilm: Radio Host
  13. 2017ResidueFilm: Lamont
  14. 2016AbductFilm: Zane
  15. 20162BR02B: To Be or Naught to BeFilm: Granddad
  16. 2015Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible DreamFilm: Harper
  17. 2015Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be ToldFilm: Harper
  18. 2014FocusFilm: Mr. Grant
  19. 2013StonadosFilm: Ben
  20. 2013Singularity PrincipleFilm: Lawrence Cason
  21. 2013The PackageFilm: Dr. Willhelm
  22. 2012The Mountain RunnersFilm: Henry Engberg
  23. 2012ContinuumSeries: Future Alec Sadler (10 episodes)
  24. 2012The Tall ManFilm: Sheriff Chestnut
  25. 2011Rise of the DamnedFilm: Doctor
  26. 2011BehemothFilm: William Walsh
  27. 2010Flowers for NormaFilm: Older Gentleman #2
  28. 2010R. L. Stine's The Haunting HourSeries: Plumberg, Grandfather (1 episode)
  29. 2010Amazon FallsFilm: Calvin
  30. 2010Medium RawFilm: Dr. Robert Parker
  31. 2010Web of DesireFilm: Dr. Charles Friedman
  32. 2010CapricaSeries: Minister Chambers (1 episode)
  33. 2010Human TargetSeries: Whitey Doyle (1 episode)
  34. 2009DamageFilm: Veltz
  35. 2009Something Evil ComesFilm: Mr. Dutton
  36. 2009The ThawFilm: Ted
  37. 2009PossessionFilm: Hypnotist
  38. 2008ReverseFilm: Chris, Writer, Director
  39. 2008PassengersFilm: Jack
  40. 2008In Sickness and in HealthFilm: Father Chris
  41. 2008Fear ItselfSeries: Father Chris (1 episode)
  42. 2007Masters of Science FictionSeries (1 episode)
  43. 2007NumbFilm: Peter Milbank
  44. 2007Judicial IndiscretionFilm: Senator Garland Wolf
  45. 2007The MessengersFilm: Colby Price
  46. 2006Her Fatal FlawFilm: Richard O'Brien
  47. 2006SistersFilm: Dr. Lucas Bryant
  48. 2006The Secret of Hidden LakeFilm
  49. 2006Dark StormFilm: General Killion
  50. 2006Goose on the LooseFilm: Alphonse David
  51. 2005Dark PinesFilm: Shannon Fraser
  52. 2005SupernaturalSeries: College Professor (1 episode)
  53. 2005Robson ArmsSeries (26 episodes)
  54. 2005Max Rules: Adventures of a Super SpyFilm: Rick Brinkley
  55. 2005TiltSeries: Father Luke (1 episode)
  56. 2004Packing UpFilm: Jenkins, Writer, Director
  57. 2004The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the DyingFilm: Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
  58. 2004Snakehead TerrorFilm: Doc Jenkins
  59. 2004The Cradle Will FallFilm: Alex Myerson
  60. 2003Word of HonorFilm: Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
  61. 2003ExchangeFilm: Director, Writer
  62. 2002100 Days in the JungleFilm: Ambassador Shear
  63. 2002Saint SinnerFilm: Father Michael
  64. 2002AftermathFilm: Deputy Director Edwards
  65. 2001Out of LineFilm: Russell
  66. 2001SmallvilleSeries: William Tate (2 episodes)
  67. 2001Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackFilm: Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
  68. 2001MythQuestSeries: Drossos (1 episode)
  69. 2001MindstormFilm: Parish
  70. 2001Broken SaintsSeries: Benjamin Palmer (voice) (7 episodes)
  71. 2001The ProposalFilm: Agent Frank Gruning
  72. 2001Science Of DeathFilm: Narrator
  73. 2001AnthraxFilm: Tye Crow
  74. 2000AndromedaSeries: Professor Logitch (1 episode)
  75. 2000Becoming DickFilm: Dr. Hardwin
  76. 2000Perpetrators of the CrimeFilm: Henderson
  77. 1999Murder Most LikelyFilm: Detective Inspector
  78. 1999Killing MoonFilm: Ed
  79. 1998First WaveSeries: Sagon (1 episode)
  80. 1998The X-FilesFilm: Carl Busch

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.