William B. Davis
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jan 13, 1938 (age 88)
- Place of birth
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Credits
- 115
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
Supernatural
2005TV
College Professor
Smallville
2001TV
William Tate
Death Note
2017Movie
Radio Host
Bad Times at the El Royale
2018Movie
Judge Gordon Hoffman
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
2018TV
Methuselah
The X-Files
1993TV
Cigarette Smoking Man, Cancer Man, CGB Spender, SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man
Filmography
Bribe, Inc.
2024Movie
Figaro (voice)
Murder in a Small Town
2024TV
Captain Darcy Stewart
Better Off
2024Movie
Self
It's a Wonderful Knife
2023Movie
Roger Evans
Upload
2020TV
David Choak
50 States of Fright
2020TV
Frank
Phil
2019Movie
Father Grant
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
2018TV
Methuselah
Bad Times at the El Royale
2018Movie
Judge Gordon Hoffman
The Doctor's Case
2018Movie
Doctor Watson
Game Over, Man!
2018Movie
Ray - Security
Death Note
2017Movie
Radio Host
Residue
2017Movie
Lamont
Abduct
2016Movie
Zane
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
2016Movie
Granddad
The Real 'X-Files'?
2015Movie
Himself
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
2015Movie
Harper
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
2015Movie
Harper
Focus
2014Movie
Mr. Grant
Stonados
2013Movie
Ben
Singularity Principle
2013Movie
Lawrence Cason
The Package
2013Movie
Dr. Willhelm
The Mountain Runners
2012Movie
Henry Engberg
Continuum
2012TV
Future Alec Sadler
The Tall Man
2012Movie
Sheriff Chestnut
Rise of the Damned
2011Movie
Doctor
Behemoth
2011Movie
William Walsh
Flowers for Norma
2010Movie
Older Gentleman #2
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
2010TV
Plumberg, Grandfather
Amazon Falls
2010Movie
Calvin
Medium Raw
2010Movie
Dr. Robert Parker
Web of Desire
2010Movie
Dr. Charles Friedman
Caprica
2010TV
Minister Chambers
Human Target
2010TV
Whitey Doyle
Damage
2009Movie
Veltz
Something Evil Comes
2009Movie
Mr. Dutton
The Thaw
2009Movie
Ted
Possession
2009Movie
Hypnotist
Reverse
2008Movie
Chris
Passengers
2008Movie
Jack
In Sickness and in Health
2008Movie
Father Chris
Fear Itself
2008TV
Father Chris
Masters of Science Fiction
2007TV
Exhuming 'The Messengers'
2007Movie
Self
Numb
2007Movie
Peter Milbank
Judicial Indiscretion
2007Movie
Senator Garland Wolf
The Messengers
2007Movie
Colby Price
Her Fatal Flaw
2006Movie
Richard O'Brien
Sisters
2006Movie
Dr. Lucas Bryant
The Secret of Hidden Lake
2006Movie
Dark Storm
2006Movie
General Killion
Goose on the Loose
2006Movie
Alphonse David
Dark Pines
2005Movie
Shannon Fraser
Supernatural
2005TV
College Professor
Robson Arms
2005TV
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy
2005Movie
Rick Brinkley
Tilt
2005TV
Father Luke
Packing Up
2004Movie
Jenkins
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
2004Movie
Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
Snakehead Terror
2004Movie
Doc Jenkins
The Cradle Will Fall
2004Movie
Alex Myerson
Word of Honor
2003Movie
Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
100 Days in the Jungle
2002Movie
Ambassador Shear
Saint Sinner
2002Movie
Father Michael
Aftermath
2002Movie
Deputy Director Edwards
Out of Line
2001Movie
Russell
Smallville
2001TV
William Tate
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001Movie
Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
MythQuest
2001TV
Drossos
Mindstorm
2001Movie
Parish
Broken Saints
2001TV
Benjamin Palmer (voice)
The Proposal
2001Movie
Agent Frank Gruning
Science Of Death
2001Movie
Narrator
Anthrax
2001Movie
Tye Crow
Andromeda
2000TV
Professor Logitch
Becoming Dick
2000Movie
Dr. Hardwin
Perpetrators of the Crime
2000Movie
Henderson
Murder Most Likely
1999Movie
Detective Inspector
Killing Moon
1999Movie
Ed
First Wave
1998TV
Sagon
The X-Files
1998Movie
Carl Busch
Inside The X-Files
1998Movie
Self
Voyage of Terror
1998Movie
Dr. Norman Ellisy
Stargate SG-1
1997TV
Damaris
More Secrets of the X-Files
1996Movie
Self
Poltergeist: The Legacy
1996TV
Dr. Bill Nigel
Unforgettable
1996Movie
Doctor
When the Vows Break
1995Movie
Dr. Alexander
Secrets of the X-Files
1995Movie
Self
Circumstances Unknown
1995Movie
Gene Reuschel
The Outer Limits
1995TV
John Wymer, Ed, Dr. Frank Biemler
Sliders
1995TV
Prof. Myman
Not Our Son
1995Movie
Police Chief
Dangerous Intentions
1995Movie
Group Leader
Don't Talk to Strangers
1994Movie
Huddleston
Heart of a Child
1994Movie
Vern
The X-Files
1993TV
Cigarette Smoking Man, Cancer Man, CGB Spender, SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man
Nightmare Cafe
1992TV
Doctor
The Commish
1991TV
Omen IV: The Awakening
1991Movie
Lawyer (uncredited)
The Hitman
1991Movie
Dr. Atkins
It
1990TV
Mr. Gedreau
Anything to Survive
1990Movie
Dr Reynolds
Midnight Matinee
1989Movie
Heath Harris
Look Who's Talking
1989Movie
Drug Doctor
Wiseguy
1987TV
21 Jump Street
1987TV
Mr. Weidlin, Mr. Wickenton, Judge Harrison
Sworn to Silence
1987Movie
Peter Massio
Deadly Deception
1987Movie
Lawyer
Danger Bay
1985TV
Norris
MacGyver
1985TV
Judge
Head Office
1985Movie
University Dean
The Cuckoo Bird
1985Movie
Ted
Airwolf
1984TV
F.I.R.M. Official, Newman
The Dead Zone
1983Movie
Ambulance Driver