William B. Davis
Encyclopedia
William Bruce Davis 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
.
In 1990 he starred in Stephen King's "It" as a teacher at the school in which the Loser Club attended.
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
.
and CSICOP for introducing him to the skeptic community. Because of his notability he was approached by the Discovery Channel
and began to give lectures as a skeptical spokesman.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, known for his role as The Smoking Man on The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
. He has also appeared in Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
as Damaris, a Prior of the Ori
Ori (Stargate)
The Ori are fictional characters in the science fiction television series, Stargate SG-1. They are a group of "ascended" beings who use their advanced technology and knowledge of the universe to attempt to trick non-ascended humans into worshipping them as gods.They first appeared in the ninth...
and as Mayor Tate on Smallville
Smallville (TV series)
Smallville is an American television series developed by writers/producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on the DC Comics character Superman, originally created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The television series was initially broadcast by The WB Television Network , premiering on October...
. Most recently he has appeared in FOX's Human Target as an aging mobster.
Davis was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, to an attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
father and psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
mother. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. Afterwards, he went on to become a drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
professor at Bishop's University
Bishop's University
Bishop's University is a predominantly undergraduate university in Lennoxville, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Bishop's is one of three universities in the province of Quebec that teach primarily in the English language...
. He is also the founder of the William Davis Centre for Actors Study
William Davis Centre for Actors Study
The William Davis Centre for Actors Study is an acting school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was opened in 1989 by William B. Davis, best-known for his role as the 'cigarette smoking man' on "The X-Files". Davis no longer owns the school, but does still teach there.Original classes...
acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He is also a former national champion water skier
Water skiing
thumb|right|A slalom skier making a turn on a slalom waterski.Waterskiing is a sport where an individual is pulled behind a boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water, skimming the surface.-History:...
. Despite being known for his smoking character, Davis actually quit smoking in the 1970s; when The X-Files
The X-Files
The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
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
Cigarette Smoking Man
The Smoking Man is a fictional character and the antagonist on the American science fiction television series The X-Files. He serves as the arch-nemesis of FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder. Although his name is revealed to purportedly be C.G.B...
.
In 1990 he starred in Stephen King's "It" as a teacher at the school in which the Loser Club attended.
He voiced the antagonist Colonel Whitley of the game The Thing
The Thing (video game)
The Thing is a third person survival horror game. The game was presented as a sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film The Thing. It was developed by Computer Artworks and published by VU Games. It was released in North America for the PS2 on August 19, 2002, on the PC on August 20, 2002 and on the...
. Davis had a co-starring role in a 2001 episode of The Outer Limits
The Outer Limits (1995 TV series)
The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
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
Critical Eye
Critical Eye is a Discovery Science documentary series which looks into strange phenomena like aliens, crop circles, subliminal messages, bigfoot, fortune telling, and other paranormal activities.It is hosted by William B. Davis....
on the Science Channel. In 2011, he will also co-star in The Tall Man
The Tall Man (2011 film)
The Tall Man is an upcoming supernatural thriller. Filming took place in Salmo, British Columbia.-Plot:In the town of Cold Rock, there is a local superstition of a mysterious figure known as the Tall Man; a being who takes away children never to be seen again.After Julia 's son is kidnapped by a...
.
Skepticism
Davis credits Barry BeyersteinBarry Beyerstein
Barry L Beyerstein, Ph.D. was a noted scientific skeptic and professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia...
and CSICOP for introducing him to the skeptic community. Because of his notability he was approached by the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
and began to give lectures as a skeptical spokesman.
Filmography
- Stargate: The Ark of TruthStargate: The Ark of TruthStargate: The Ark of Truth is a 2008 Canadian-American military science fiction film written and directed by Robert C. Cooper. The film is the conclusion of Stargate SG-1 Ori arc, and picks up after the SG-1 series finale, but takes place before the fourth season of Stargate Atlantis. The Ark of...
(2008) – Damaris - Damage (2009) – Veltz
- BehemothBehemoth (film)-Plot :Two military agents are taking readings on Mount Lincoln near the town of Ascension. There is a quake and the woman dies with marks on her face. The man also dies though the two agents don't see it. Elsewhere, a man is injured in a work crew and dies for no apparent reason...
(2011) – William