He began acting at 11 when his cousins needed a boy actor for a murder mystery they were doing for a summer stock festival. In 1959 he earned a BA in Philosophy at the University of Toronto and was accepted at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He joined Britain's National Theatre in 1965. After this he had a succession of supporting roles in movies and TV programes. He was also Artistic Director of the Vancouver Playhouse Acting School.

William B. Davis opened his own school in Vancouver in 1985 (9?). It is The William Davis Centre for Actor's Study. It is an acting school for beginners and professionals.

In The X-Files he doesn't smoke real cigarettes. They are herbal and they "taste really bad." If he looks like he knows what he's doing its because he really smoked. He quit in the late 1970's. He is also a spokesman for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In 1996 he won the Canadian National water-skiing competition for his age group. He is also a certified downhill ski instructor.

William B. Davis has two children.

In the 7th season, Davis wrote the episode En Ami.

Earlier he said that if he isn't given a scene with Gillian Anderson, then he'd write one. And thats what he did. A whole episode with her.

Updates: William B. Davis is in a Canadian movie called Framed. He plays Ed. I'm in the US so I won't be able to tell you about it. Sorry.


Filmography (* indicates I've seen it)

Anthrax (2001)
Killing Moon (2000) (TV) .... Ed
Proposal, The (2000/I) .... Agent Frank Gruning
Smoking: Why Can't I Quit? (2000) (TV) .... Host
Murder Most Likely (1999) (TV) .... Detective Inspector
Last Tzaddik, The (1998) .... Mr. Drazien
*Perpetrators of the Crime (1998) .... Henderson
Voyage of Terror (1998) (TV)
X Files Game, The (1998) (VG) .... Cigarette Smoking Man
*X Files, The (1998) .... The Cigarette-Smoking Man
Limbic Region, The (1996) (TV) .... Teacher
Unforgettable (1996) .... Doctor
Circumstances Unknown (1995) (TV) .... Gene Reuschel
When the Vows Break (1995) (TV) .... Dr. Alexander
Dangerous Intentions (1995) .... Group Leader
Beyond Suspicion (1994) (TV) .... Captain Dick Roth
Don't Talk to Strangers (1994) (TV) .... Huddleston
Heart of a Child (1994) (TV) .... Vern
*"X Files, The" (1993) TV Series .... C.G.B. Spender 'The Cigarette-Smoking Man'
Diagnosis of Murder (1992) (TV) .... Marvin Parkins
*It (1990) (TV) .... Mr. Gedreau
Anything to Survive (1990) (TV) .... Dr. Reynolds
*Look Who's Talking (1989) .... Drug Doctor
Matinee (1988) (TV) .... Heath Harris
Head Office (1986) (as William Davis) .... University Dean
Cuckoo Bird, The (1985) (TV) .... Ted
Dead Zone, The (1983) .... Ambulance Driver