
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.