William B. Davis
Known for Acting · 113 credits
- Born
- 1938-01-13 (age 88)
- Place of birth
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Also known as
- Bill Davis · William Davis · Вільям Брюс Девіс
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
TV Shows (31)
Supernatural
2005
as College Professor
Smallville
2001
as William Tate
Stargate SG-1
1997
as Damaris
The X-Files
1993
as Cigarette Smoking Man / Cancer Man / CGB Spender / SS Oberfuehrer / Smoking Man
MacGyver
1985
as Judge
21 Jump Street
1987
as Mr. Weidlin / Mr. Wickenton / Judge Harrison
Sliders
1995
as Prof. Myman
Airwolf
1984
as F.I.R.M. Official / Newman
Andromeda
2000
as Professor Logitch
The Outer Limits
1995
as John Wymer / Ed / Dr. Frank Biemler
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
2010
as Plumberg / Grandfather
The Commish
1991
Continuum
2012
as Future Alec Sadler
First Wave
1998
as Sagon
Wiseguy
1987
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
2018
as Methuselah
Upload
2020
as David Choak
It
1990
as Mr. Gedreau
Caprica
2010
as Minister Chambers
Human Target
2010
as Whitey Doyle
Danger Bay
1985
as Norris
Murder in a Small Town
2024
as Captain Darcy Stewart
Fear Itself
2008
as Father Chris
Robson Arms
2005
Poltergeist: The Legacy
1996
as Dr. Bill Nigel
50 States of Fright
2020
as Frank
Tilt
2005
as Father Luke
MythQuest
2001
as Drossos
Masters of Science Fiction
2007
Broken Saints
2001
as Benjamin Palmer (voice)
Nightmare Cafe
1992
as Doctor
Movies (82)
Midnight Matinee
1988
as Heath Harris
The X-Files
1998
as The Cigarette-Smoking Man
Bad Times at the El Royale
2018
as Judge Gordon Hoffman
Death Note
2017
as Radio Host
Passengers
2008
as Jack
The Dead Zone
1983
as Ambulance Driver
The Messengers
2007
as Colby Price
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
2001
as Cigarette Smoking Man (uncredited)
The Tall Man
2012
as Sheriff Chestnut
Damage
2009
as Veltz
Game Over, Man!
2018
as Ray - Security
The Package
2013
as Dr. Willhelm
Look Who's Talking
1989
as Drug Doctor
The Thaw
2009
as Ted
Omen IV: The Awakening
1991
as Lawyer (uncredited)
Sisters
2006
as Dr. Lucas Bryant
It's a Wonderful Knife
2023
as Roger Evans
Unforgettable
1996
as Doctor
Numb
2007
as Peter Milbank
The Hitman
1991
as Dr. Atkins
The Proposal
2001
as Agent Frank Gruning
Possession
2009
as Hypnotist
Circumstances Unknown
1995
as Gene Reuschel
Dark Storm
2006
as General Killion
Behemoth
2011
as William Walsh
Dangerous Intentions
1995
as Group Leader
Head Office
1985
as University Dean
Judicial Indiscretion
2007
as Senator Garland Wolf
Packing Up
2004
as Jenkins
Residue
2017
as Lamont
Stonados
2013
as Ben
Abduct
2016
as Zane
Mindstorm
2001
as Parish
Don't Talk to Strangers
1994
as Huddleston
Word of Honor
2003
as Lewis Kaplan - Tyson's Boss
The Cradle Will Fall
2004
as Alex Myerson
Saint Sinner
2002
as Father Michael
Deadly Deception
1987
as Lawyer
Goose on the Loose
2006
as Alphonse David
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told
2015
as Harper
Voyage of Terror
1998
as Dr. Norman Ellisy
Focus
2014
as Mr. Grant
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream
2015
as Harper
Phil
2019
as Father Grant
Snakehead Terror
2004
as Doc Jenkins
The Murdoch Mysteries: Except the Dying
2004
as Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
Becoming Dick
2000
as Dr. Hardwin
Rise of the Damned
2011
as Doctor
Inside The X-Files
1998
as Self
Heart of a Child
1994
as Vern
Aftermath
2002
as Deputy Director Edwards
Web of Desire
2010
as Dr. Charles Friedman
Something Evil Comes
2009
as Mr. Dutton
100 Days In The Jungle
2002
as Ambassador Shear
When the Vows Break
1995
as Dr. Alexander
Anthrax
2001
as Tye Crow
The Secret of Hidden Lake
2006
Anything to Survive
1990
as Dr Reynolds
Murder Most Likely
1999
as Detective Inspector
Singularity Principle
2013
as Lawrence Cason
Flowers for Norma
2010
as Older Gentleman #2
Fear Itself: In Sickness and in Health
2008
as Father Chris
Sworn to Silence
1987
as Peter Massio
Killing Moon
1999
as Ed
Her Fatal Flaw
2006
as Richard O'Brien
The Doctor's Case
2018
as Doctor Watson
Secrets of the X-Files
1995
as Self
More Secrets of the X-Files
1996
as Self
Perpetrators of the Crime
2000
as Henderson
Out of Line
2001
as Russell
Amazon Falls
2010
as Calvin
Science Of Death
2001
as Narrator
Medium Raw
2010
as Dr. Robert Parker
Max Rules: Adventures of a Super Spy
2005
as Rick Brinkley
Not Our Son
1995
as Police Chief
Dark Pines
2005
as Shannon Fraser
2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
2016
as Granddad
Reverse
2008
as Chris
The Mountain Runners
2012
as Henry Engberg
Bribe, Inc.
2024
as Figaro (voice)
Better Off
2024
as Self
The Real 'X-Files'?
2015
as Himself
About William B. Davis
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 fo… With 113 credits spanning from 1983 to 2024, William B. Davis has appeared in 82 films and 31 TV shows.
Fans searching for William B. Davis movies, William B. Davis filmography, or the latest projects starring William B. Davis can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular William B. Davis Movies
- Midnight Matinee (1988) — as Heath Harris
- The X-Files (1998) — as The Cigarette-Smoking Man
- Bad Times at the El Royale (2018) — as Judge Gordon Hoffman
- Death Note (2017) — as Radio Host
- Passengers (2008) — as Jack
Where to Watch William B. Davis Films
Most William B. Davis movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring William B. Davis, check our movies catalogue and browse page.