William B. Davis


















William B. Davis

Toulouse Game Show 2011 - William B Davis - P1280944-CROP.jpg
William B. Davis in 2011

Born
William Bruce Davis
(1938-01-13) January 13, 1938 (age 80)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality
Canadian
Occupation
Actor, director
Years active
1949–present
Spouse(s)
Emmanuelle Davis (m. 2011)
Children
2 daughters, Melinda and Rebecca
Website
williambdavis.com

William Bruce Davis (born January 13, 1938) is a Canadian actor and director, best known for his role as the Cigarette Smoking Man on The X-Files. Besides appearing in many TV programs and movies, Davis founded his own acting school, the William Davis Centre for Actors Study. In his personal life, Davis is an avid water-skier, lectures on skepticism at events such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry's CSICon, and advocates for action on climate change. In 2011 Davis published his memoir, Where There’s Smoke .... The Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man.




Contents





  • 1 Early life and education


  • 2 Career


  • 3 Personal life


  • 4 Skepticism


  • 5 Filmography

    • 5.1 Film


    • 5.2 Television



  • 6 References


  • 7 External links




Early life and education


Davis was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a lawyer father and psychologist mother.[1] He began his acting career as a child in 1949, in radio drama and summer stock theatre. His cousins Murray and Donald Davis ran the Straw Hat Players in Ontario in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and rehearsed in the basement of Davis' house. When they needed a boy they gave William his first professional acting job. He went on from there to have a career as a boy actor on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio before his voice broke.[2][3] In 1955 he enrolled in the University of Toronto to study philosophy, but actively pursued a career as an actor alongside future actor Donald Sutherland. In 1959, he graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy. While at university he switched his attention from acting to directing and with his partner, Karl Jaffary, took over and ran the Straw Hat Players for four years.[4]



Career


In 1960 Davis went to England to train at LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). He worked in the UK for the next five years directing in repertory theatres and acting schools. He was artistic director of the Dundee Repertory Theatre.[5] His last position in the UK was as an assistant director at The National Theatre of Great Britain[6] under Laurence Olivier where he worked with Albert Finney, Maggie Smith, Derek Jacobi, and Ronald Pickup among others.[3] He returned to Canada in 1965 to work at The National Theatre School of Canada and soon, at the age of 28, was appointed artistic director of the English Acting Section.[7] During this period he was also active as a freelance director at major Canadian theatres. In 1971 he joined the newly formed Drama Department at Bishop's University in Lennoxvile, Quebec. While there he became the founding artistic director of Festival Lennoxville, a professional summer theatre that ran for the next decade.[8]


Returning to Toronto in the late seventies Davis spent several years as a radio drama director and on the faculty of Humber College. In demand as an acting teacher during this period, he resumed acting after an absence of nearly twenty years. Davis earned a number of roles on stage and film before accepting the position of artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School, which required relocating with his wife and family. Davis writes in his memoir, "And so, in the fall of 1985, we hitched our second hand boat to our second hand car and drove across the country".[9]


While his time at the Vancouver Playhouse was short-lived, he remained in Vancouver where he founded his own acting school, The William Davis Centre for Actors Study,[7] a training ground for several future stars including Lucy Lawless.[10] Acting roles became more frequent leading to his iconic role, The Smoking Man (also referred to as "The Cancer Man"), on The X-Files where he made frequent appearances for the next nine years. In addition to The X-Files, Davis has played a wide range of roles, on series from Stargate SG-1 to Smallville and a host of television movies and other projects. From time to time he attends fan conventions, signing autographs and copies of his memoir.[11]


In recent years Davis has returned to directing for theatre and film. He wrote and directed three short films and co-wrote and directed several episodes of a television series for CBC Television, 49th & Main. In 2011 he directed two plays for The United Players of Vancouver, Waste by Harley Granville Barker and Hay Fever by Noël Coward.[12][13][14] Most recently he directed The Habit of Art (2013) by Alan Bennett, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily (2015) by Katie Forgette and Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons at the Jericho Arts Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.[15][16]


During that period, he also aired in 10 episodes of the Canadian hit show Continuum as Older Alec Sadler on Showcase. Most recently, Davis reprised his iconic X-Files role in the six-episode Season 10.[17]



Personal life


Despite being known for his smoking character, Davis quit smoking in the 1970s; when The X-Files started up, he was given a choice between herbal cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes. At first, he chose to use tobacco cigarettes, but switched to herbal because he was afraid of becoming addicted to them again.[11][17] Davis used his notoriety on the show to assist the Canadian Cancer Society in its programs to combat smoking.[18] In 2014, Davis donated his investments that support fossil fuels to the David Suzuki Foundation in an effort to both ethically invest, and help fund work to fight climate change.[19] Davis is a passionate advocate for action in response to climate change, believes it is a critical issue of our time and speaks on the subject often.[20][21] Taking action on a personal level, Davis drives a Tesla powered by hydroelectricity.[21]


He is also a former national champion water skier and for a time held various records in older age divisions. In a conversation with Brendan Beiser, Davis states he holds the record for tricks in his age category, adding "I did hold the slalom record until this past year until some young whippersnapper of 65 from Ontario took the record away from me".[2]


In 2011, Davis married Emmanuelle Herpin.[20] He has two daughters, Melinda and Rebecca, from an earlier marriage. He also has two grandchildren.



Skepticism




William B. Davis participating in "Skepticism and the Media" panel at CSICon 2011 in New Orleans


While on The X-Files, Davis was constantly challenged by The X-Files fans about his non-belief in the paranormal and aliens.[22] Davis credits Barry Beyerstein and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI) for introducing him to the skeptic community. Davis became increasingly involved in the skeptical movement and began to give lectures as a skeptical spokesman at universities across North America and at skeptic conventions, including CSI's CSICon in New Orleans.[23]


When asked about his belief in the paranormal at the London Film and Comic Con in 2010, Davis replied, "The onus is on you to prove the extraordinary ...I did a lot of research and saw where a lot of the arguments were wanting."[11]


Interviewed by Jacob Fortin on guilt about being a skeptic on a show that Richard Dawkins campaigned against, Davis replied that at first he had some trepidation until realizing that Dawkins "had no evidence whatsoever and presented none" that the show encouraged people to think uncritically. "The show is fiction... it isn't a documentary." In another interview with Justin Trottier of Centre for Inquiry Canada Davis answered similarly, adding that from his own informal polls of audiences of X-Files fans it seemed there was no greater belief in the paranormal than the normal population and he comforted himself with this thought.[24]


Asked about a debate Davis moderated with alien abduction believer John E. Mack, Davis said that many people expected him to support Mack, but they discovered that he was "way on the other side". Davis recounted that he had some great discussions with Mack; "He was brilliant... he was wrong, but he was very good... One of the problems with human intelligence is that we are so good at defending ideas that we arrived at irrationally."[25]



Filmography



Film


































































































































































































































































































































































YearTitleRoleNotes
1983

The Dead Zone
Ambulance Driver

1985

The Cuckoo Bird
Ted
Television movie
1985

Head Office
University Dean

1987

Deadly Deception
Lawyer
Television movie
1987

Sworn to Silence
Peter Massio
Television movie
1987

The Little Match Girl
Dr. Sam Easton
Television movie
1989

Beyond the Stars
Hal Simon

1989

Matinee
Heath Harris
Television movie
1989

Look Who's Talking
Drug Doctor

1990

Anything to Survive
Dr. Reynolds
Television movie
1990

It
Mr. Gedreau
Television movie
1991

Omen IV: The Awakening
Lawyer (uncredited)
Television movie
1991

The Hitman
Dr. Atkins

1992

Diagnosis Murder
Marvin Parkins
Television movie
1994

Heart of a Child
Vern
Television movie
1994

Beyond Suspicion
Capt. Dick Roth
Television movie
1994

Don't Talk to Strangers
Huddleston
Television movie
1995

Dangerous Intentions
Group Leader

1995

Not Our Son
Police Chief (uncredited)
Television movie
1995

Circumstances Unknown
Gene Reuschel
Television movie
1995

Courting Justice
Dr. Alexander
Television movie
1996

Unforgettable
Dr. Smoot

1996

The Limbic Region
Teacher
Television movie
1998

The X-Files

The Smoking Man

1998
The Last Tzaddik
Mr. Drazien
Short film
1998

Voyage of Terror
Dr. Norman Ellisy
Television movie
1999

Murder Most Likely
Detective Inspector
Television movie
2000

Perpetrators of the Crime
Henderson

2000

Killing Moon
Ed
Television movie
2000

Becoming Dick
Dr. Hardwin
Television movie
2001

The Proposal
Agent Frank Gruning

2001

Out of Line
Russell

2001

Mindstorm
Parish

2001

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back

The Smoking Man
Uncredited
2001

Andhrax
Tye Crow

2002

Polished
Phillip
Short film
2002

Aftermath
Deputy Director Edwards

2002

Damaged Care
Dr. Sam Verbush
Television movie
2002

Body & Soul
Dr. Edward A. Esseff

2002

Saint Sinner
Father Michael
Television movie
2002

100 Days in the Jungle
N/A
Television movie
2003

Broken Saints
Benjamin Palmer

2003

Arbor Vitae
Old Soul
Short film
2003

Word of Honor
Lewis Kaplan
Television movie
2004

Snakehead Terror
Doc Jenkins

2004

The Cradle Will Fall
Dist. Atty. Alex Myerson
Television movie
2004

Lyon King
Finance Minister
Short film
2004

Packing Up
Jenkins
Short film
2005

The Cost of Living
Mark Mortinson
Short film
2005

The Last Round
Mitchell

2005

Max Rules
Rick Brinkley

2005

Dark Pines
Shannon Fraser
Television movie
2006

The Janitors
Harvey
Short film
2006

Dark Storm
General Killion
Television movie
2006

Her Fatal Flaw
Richard O'Brien
Television movie
2006

Sisters
Dr. Bryant

2006

The Secret of Hidden Lane
Judge Landers
Television movie
2007

The Messengers
Colby Price

2007

Judicial Indiscretion
Senator Garland Wolf
Television movie
2007

Numb
Peter Milbank

2008

The Femme Fatale
Sam
Video short film
2008

A Pickle
Mack
Short film
2008

Passengers
Jack

2008

Reverse
Chris
Short film
2009

Possession
Dr. Creane

2009

Something Evil Comes
Mr. Dutton
Television movie
2009

The Shortcut
Benjamin Hartley

2009

The Thaw
Ted

2009

Damage
Veltz

2009

Web of Desire
Dr. Charles Friedman
Television movie
2010

Blob
The Boss
Short film
2010

Medium Raw: Night of the Wolf
Dr. Robert Parker
Television movie
2010

Flowers for Norma
Older Gentleman #2
Short film
2010

Amazon Falls[26]
Calvin

2011

Goose on the Loose
Alphonse David

2011

Behemoth
William Walsh
Television movie
2011

Rise of the Damned
Doctor

2012

The Tall Man
Sheriff Chestnut

2012

The Package
Dr. Willhelm

2013

Stonados
Ben
Television movie
2013

Singularity Principle
Lawrence Cason

2014

Focus
Mr. Grant

2016

Residue
Lamont

2016

Abduct
Zane

2016

2BR02B: To Be or Naught to Be
Granddad
Short film
2017

Death Note
Radio Host

2018

Game Over, Man!
Ray Security


Television


















































































































































































YearTitleRoleNotes
1984

SCTV Channel
Man on the phone
Episode: "Half Wits Save the World Parade"
1986

The Beachcombers
Dave Douglas
Episode: "Trial Balloon"
1987

Danger Bay
Norris
Episode: "High Five"
1987

Airwolf
"Company" official
4 episodes
1987

21 Jump Street
Mr. Wiedlin
Episode: "Mean Streets and Pastel Houses"
1988

Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future
Arvin
Episode: "Judgement"
1988

Danger Bay
Jack Kane
Episode: "Racing Against Time"
1988

21 Jump Street
Mr. Wickenton
Episode: "Champagne High"
1988

Wiseguy
Curant
Episode: "The Merchant of Death"
1989

Wiseguy
Inspector #2
Episode: "People Do It All the Time"
1991

21 Jump Street
Judge Harrison
Episode: "Crossfire"
1991

MacGyver
Judge
Episode: "Trail of Tears"
1991

The Commish
Don Chesley
2 episodes
1992

Street Justice
Badgely
Episode: "Homecoming"
1992

Nightmare Cafe
Doctor
Episode: "Sanctuary for a Child"
1993

North of 60
Inspector Nelson
Episode: "Out of the Blue"
1993–2002,
2016, 2018

The X-Files

The Smoking Man
41 episodes
1995

Sliders
Prof. Myman
Episode: "Eggheads"
1995

The Outer Limits
Ed
Episode: "The Conversion"
1996

Poltergeist: The Legacy
Dr. Bill Nigel
Episode: "Do Not Go Gently"
1996

The Outer Limits
John Wymer
Episode: "Out of Body"
1999

Mentors
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Episode: "The Truth Is in Here"
2000

The Fearing Mind
Michell Cofax
Episode: "Gentlemen Caller"
2001

First Wave
Sagon
Episode: "Checkmate"
2001

The Outer Limits
Dr. Biemler
Episode: "Worlds Within"
2001

Mythquest
Head Priest
Episode: "The Oracle"
2001

Andromeda
Professor Logitch
Episode: "Pitiless as the Sun"
2003

Smallville
Mayor William 'Billy' Tate
2 episodes
2004

Kingdom Hospital
Dean Swinton
Episode: "The Young and the Headless"
2004

Murdoch Mysteries
Alderman Godfrey Shepcote
Episode: "Expect the Dying"
2005

Tilt
Father Mike
Episode: "Nobody Ever Listens"
2005

Robson Arms
Dr. Carlisle Wainwright
10 episodes
2005–2006

Stargate SG-1
Ori Prior Damaris
2 episodes
2006

Supernatural
College Professor
Episode: "Scarecrow"
2006

Canadian Comedy Shorts
Finance Minister
Episode: "Episode #10.9"
2007

Masters of Science Fiction
The President
Episode: "The Awakening"
2008

Fear Itself
Father Chris
Episode: "In Sickness and in Health"
2009

Caprica
Minister Chambers
Episode: "Pilot"
2010

Human Target
Whitey Doyle
Episode: "Run"
2012–2014

Continuum
Older Alec Sadler
8 episodes
2013-14

R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
Plumberg

Grandfather


Episode: "Bad Egg"

Episode: "Grandpa's Glasses"


2013-14

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Episode: "Truth Be Told"
2015

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Episode: "The Impossible Dream"


References




  1. ^ Davis, William B. (2011). Where There's Smoke: Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man, a Memoir. ECW Press. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-77041-052-7. 


  2. ^ ab Brendan Beiser (June 16, 2008). "William B. Davis - This Conversation". This Conversation TV. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  3. ^ ab "William B. Davis on Fame Dragon Con 2010". September 12, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  4. ^ Fred Euringer (2000). A Fly on the Curtain. Oberon Press, 978-0778011415. page 103.


  5. ^ Davis, p. 112


  6. ^ "History 1960-1969". National Theatre School of Canada. 2008. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  7. ^ ab "Program Advisory Committee". Vanarts. 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  8. ^ "Festival Lennoxville". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. November 17, 2006. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  9. ^ Davis, p. 210


  10. ^ "Expanded Bio for Lucy Lawless". Lotolux. Retrieved December 16, 2011. 


  11. ^ abc "William B. Davis Interview". LSQTV 2010. July 18, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 


  12. ^ "Past Plays 2010 - 2011". United Players of Vancouver theatre company. Retrieved February 18, 2015. 


  13. ^ "William B. Davis - News". Official site of William B. Davis. Retrieved December 16, 2011. 


  14. ^ "Past Plays 2011 - 2012". United Players of Vancouver theatre company. Retrieved February 18, 2015. 


  15. ^ "Past Plays 2013 - 2014". United Players of Vancouver theatre company. Retrieved February 18, 2015. 


  16. ^ "SEASON 2014 - 2015". Jericho Arts Centre. Retrieved February 15, 2015. 


  17. ^ Nuytens, Gilles (October 11, 2005). "Interview with William B. Davis". The Sci Fi World. Retrieved July 11, 2009. 


  18. ^ "Potpourri". Tobacco Control. Retrieved December 3, 2011. 


  19. ^ Sentes, Rachel (December 11, 2014). "Actor's Divestment from Oil Used to Support Suzuki Foundation". Scribd. Retrieved February 18, 2015. 


  20. ^ ab "William B. Davis - Personal". Official Site of William B. Davis. Retrieved February 14, 2015. 


  21. ^ ab "William B. Davis Fan Page". Facebook. May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2015. 


  22. ^ Allison Cossitt (March 1998). "Cigarette-Smoking Man". Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved December 7, 2011. 


  23. ^ John Semley (October 18, 2011). "Random Roles: William B. Davis". A.V. Club. Retrieved October 26, 2011. 


  24. ^ X-Files' William B. Davis AKA Cigarette Smoking Man on Atheism, Skepticism and Life (Video). Think Again! TV. March 2, 2012. 


  25. ^ Jacob Fortin (December 22, 2011). "The Good Atheist Podcast: Episode 154". The Good Atheist. Retrieved December 25, 2011. 


  26. ^ "William B. Davis, Amazon Falls, Toronto Film Festival". Real TV Films. October 5, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2011. 



External links





  • William B. Davis on IMDb

  • williambdavis.com






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