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