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William B. Davis

William B. Davis

Known For Acting
Birthday Jan 13, 1938 (87)
Birthplace Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Popularity 0.6 (history)
Updated Jul 30, 2025
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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

Filmography

It's a Wonderful Knife

It's a Wonderful Knife

2023

as Roger Evans

Crystal's Shadow

Crystal's Shadow

2019

as Mr. M

Phil

Phil

2019

as Father Grant

The Doctor's Case

The Doctor's Case

2018

as Doctor Watson

Bad Times at the El Royale

Bad Times at the El Royale

2018

as Judge Gordon Hoffman

Game Over, Man!

Game Over, Man!

2018

as Ray - Security

Residue

Residue

2017

as Lamont

Death Note

Death Note

2017

as Radio Host

Abduct

Abduct

2016

as Zane

Focus

Focus

2014

as Mr. Grant

Singularity Principle

Singularity Principle

2013

as Lawrence Cason

Stonados

Stonados

2013

as Ben

The Mountain Runners

The Mountain Runners

2012

as Henry Engberg

The Tall Man

The Tall Man

2012

as Sheriff Chestnut

The Package

The Package

2012

as Dr. Willhelm

Behemoth

Behemoth

2011

as William Walsh

Rise of the Damned

Rise of the Damned

2011

as Doctor

Medium Raw

Medium Raw

2010

as Dr. Robert Parker

Amazon Falls

Amazon Falls

2010

as Calvin

Something Evil Comes

Something Evil Comes

2009

as Mr. Dutton

Damage

Damage

2009

as Veltz

Possession

Possession

2009

as Hypnotist

The Thaw

The Thaw

2009

as Ted

Reverse

Reverse

2008

as Chris

Passengers

Passengers

2008

as Jack

The Messengers

The Messengers

2007

as Colby Price

Numb

Numb

2007

as Peter Milbank

Judicial Indiscretion

Judicial Indiscretion

2007

as Senator Garland Wolf

Her Fatal Flaw

Her Fatal Flaw

2006

as Richard O'Brien

Dark Storm

Dark Storm

2006

as General Killion

Sisters

Sisters

2006

as Dr. Lucas Bryant

Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy

Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy

2005

as Rick Brinkley

Packing Up

Packing Up

2004

as Jenkins

The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying

The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying

2004

as Alderman Godfrey Shepcote

The Cradle Will Fall

The Cradle Will Fall

2004

as Alex Myerson

Snakehead Terror

Snakehead Terror

2004

as Doc Jenkins

Aftermath

Aftermath

2002

as Deputy Director Edwards

Saint Sinner

Saint Sinner

2002

as Father Michael

The Proposal

The Proposal

2001

as Agent Frank Gruning

Anthrax

Anthrax

2001

as Tye Crow

Mindstorm

Mindstorm

2001

as Parish

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

2001

as Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)

Perpetrators of the Crime

Perpetrators of the Crime

2000

as Henderson

Becoming Dick

Becoming Dick

2000

as Dr. Hardwin

Killing Moon

Killing Moon

1999

as Ed

The X-Files

The X-Files

1998

as The Cigarette-Smoking Man

Voyage of Terror

Voyage of Terror

1998

as Dr. Norman Ellisy

Unforgettable

Unforgettable

1996

as Doctor

Circumstances Unknown

Circumstances Unknown

1995

as Gene Reuschel

When the Vows Break

When the Vows Break

1995

as Dr. Alexander

Dangerous Intentions

Dangerous Intentions

1995

as Group Leader

Not Our Son

Not Our Son

1995

as Police Chief

Don't Talk to Strangers

Don't Talk to Strangers

1994

as Huddleston

Heart of a Child

Heart of a Child

1994

as Vern

The Hitman

The Hitman

1991

as Dr. Atkins

Omen IV: The Awakening

Omen IV: The Awakening

1991

as Lawyer (uncredited)

Anything to Survive

Anything to Survive

1990

as Dr Reynolds

Look Who's Talking

Look Who's Talking

1989

as Drug Doctor

Midnight Matinee

Midnight Matinee

1988

as Heath Harris

Sworn to Silence

Sworn to Silence

1987

as Peter Massio

Deadly Deception

Deadly Deception

1987

as Lawyer

Head Office

Head Office

1985

as University Dean

The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone

1983

as Ambulance Driver

Reverse

Reverse

2008

Writer, Editor

Packing Up

Packing Up

2004

Writer, Editor

Exchange

Exchange

2003

Writer, Editor

Reverse

Reverse

2008

Director

Packing Up

Packing Up

2004

Director

Exchange

Exchange

2003

Director

Packing Up

Packing Up

2004

Executive Producer

Exchange

Exchange

2003

Producer

Exchange

Exchange

2003

Executive Producer

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

The X-Files

as Cigarette Smoking Man

Episodes: 37

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

Upload

as David Choak

Episodes: 15

First Aired: Apr 30, 2020

Continuum

as Future Alec Sadler

Episodes: 10

First Aired: May 27, 2012

Broken Saints

as Benjamin Palmer (voice)

Episodes: 7

First Aired: Feb 14, 2001

Stargate SG-1

as Damaris

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Jul 27, 1997

The X-Files

as CGB Spender

Episodes: 3

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

Airwolf

as F.I.R.M. Official

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 22, 1984

Smallville

as William Tate

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 16, 2001

50 States of Fright

as Frank

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Apr 06, 2020

Airwolf

as Newman

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Jan 22, 1984

It

as Mr. Gedreau

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Nov 18, 1990

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

as Methuselah

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Oct 26, 2018

21 Jump Street

as Mr. Weidlin

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 12, 1987

Andromeda

as Professor Logitch

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 02, 2000

Nightmare Cafe

as Doctor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 29, 1992

Fear Itself

as Father Chris

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jun 05, 2008

The X-Files

as Cancer Man

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

The Outer Limits

as John Wymer

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 26, 1995

The X-Files

as SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

The X-Files

as Cigarette Smoking Man / True Name Carl Gerhard Busch

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 10, 1993

Supernatural

as College Professor

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 13, 2005

The Outer Limits

as Dr. Frank Biemler

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 26, 1995

The Outer Limits

as Ed

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 26, 1995

Danger Bay

as Norris

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 07, 1985

MythQuest

as Drossos

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 01, 2001

Tilt

as Father Luke

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 17, 2005

Sliders

as Prof. Myman

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Mar 22, 1995

The Fearing Mind

as Mitchell Colfax

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 21, 2000

21 Jump Street

as Mr. Wickenton

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 12, 1987

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour

as Plumberg

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 29, 2010

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour

as Grandfather

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 29, 2010

MacGyver

as Judge

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1985

Poltergeist: The Legacy

as Dr. Bill Nigel

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 21, 1996

Caprica

as Minister Chambers

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 22, 2010

21 Jump Street

as Judge Harrison

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Apr 12, 1987

First Wave

as Sagon

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 09, 1998

Robson Arms

Episodes: 26

First Aired: Jun 17, 2005

The Commish

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 28, 1991

Wiseguy

Episodes: 2

First Aired: Sep 16, 1987

Masters of Science Fiction

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Aug 04, 2007

Human Target

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Jan 15, 2010

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 8 12 5
2024 7 12 21 6
2024 8 8 19 4
2024 9 5 15 2
2024 10 8 15 3
2024 11 7 13 3
2024 12 7 14 4
2025 1 8 15 4
2025 2 5 12 2
2025 3 5 9 1
2025 4 1 2 1
2025 5 2 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 1 0
2025 8 1 10 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 1 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

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