William B. Davis
Biography
William B. Davis is a Canadian actor and director who was born in Toronto and began performing as a child, first with his cousins' Straw Hat Players and then in CBC radio drama. After studying philosophy at the University of Toronto, he trained at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London and directed in British repertory theater for five years, becoming artistic director of the Dundee Repertory Theatre and an assistant director for the National Theatre of Great Britain. In Canada he headed the English acting section of the National Theatre School and founded Festival Lennoxville. He later taught and directed radio drama and returned to acting, opening the William Davis Centre for Actors Study in Vancouver. He is best known as the Cigarette Smoking Man, whom he played on The X-Files for nine years and again in the tenth season, and he wrote and directed short films and episodes of 49th & Main.
88years old
Turns 89 on January 13in 64 days
- Born Toronto
- Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
- Also credited as William Bruce Davis
Movie Career
- Films
- 27
- Career span
- 34 years1989 to 2023
Genres
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Early training
Davis trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art starting in 1960, then spent five years in the UK directing in repertory theaters and acting schools.
Behind the camera
Davis started the William Davis Centre for Actors Study, an acting school of his own. Several future stars trained there, among them Lucy Lawless, an actress from New Zealand.
Behind the camera
Davis wrote and directed three short films. For CBC Television, he co-wrote and directed several episodes of the series 49th & Main.
A first
Davis went back to Canada in 1965 for a job at the National Theatre School of Canada, and at 28 he was named artistic director of its English acting section.
A change of course
Davis served as artistic director of the Dundee Repertory Theatre. His final job in the UK was at the National Theatre of Great Britain, where he assisted Laurence Olivier.
A change of course
In 1971 Davis joined the new drama department at Bishop's University in Lennoxville, Quebec. There he helped start Festival Lennoxville, a professional summer theater, and served as its founding artistic director for the next decade.
William B. Davis movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Jason Bourque directed two of these films. 26 actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Martin Sheen's page
Eric Keenleyside's page
Katharine Isabelle's page
Terry O'Quinn's page
Roger R. Cross's page
Jason BourqueDirector, 2 films, 2006 to 2013
All films by Jason Bourque
Also two films together20 more actors
- Stephen E. MillerDamage (2009) and Midnight Matinee (1989)
- Chelah HorsdalPossession (2009) and Passengers (2008)
- P. Lynn JohnsonWeb of Desire (2009) and Snakehead Terror (2004)
- Peter KelamisThe Thaw (2009) and Voyage of Terror (1998)
- Steve AustinThe Package (2012) and Damage (2009)
- Alistair AbellSisters (2006) and Snakehead Terror (2004)
- Don S. DavisBeyond the Stars (1989) and Midnight Matinee (1989)
- Paul JohanssonStonados (2013) and Midnight Matinee (1989)
- Garwin SanfordThe Tall Man (2012) and Unforgettable (1996)
- James KirkBehemoth (2011) and Web of Desire (2009)
- Jodelle FerlandThe Tall Man (2012) and The Messengers (2007)
- Paul JarrettDamage (2009) and Possession (2009)
- Monique GandertonThe Package (2012) and Numb (2007)
- Michael DaingerfieldThe Package (2012) and The Messengers (2007)
- Jessica McLeodIt's a Wonderful Knife (2023) and Stonados (2013)
- Gardiner MillarDark Storm (2006) and Snakehead Terror (2004)
- Nicholas HarrisonWeb of Desire (2009) and Dark Storm (2006)
- Stellina RusichVoyage of Terror (1998) and Unforgettable (1996)
- John HainsworthThe Package (2012) and Behemoth (2011)
- Grace VukovicIt's a Wonderful Knife (2023) and Stonados (2013)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What William B. Davis's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$255 million
6 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 27 films: 6 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 13 never in cinemas; 7 figure not found.
- 6Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 13Never in cinemas
- 7Figure not found
Highest grossing
The six biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$189M74.3% of the total
- 2$55M21.6% of the total
- 3$7.5M2.9% of the total
- 4$2.0M0.8% of the total
- 5$971K0.4% of the total
- 6$1K0.0% of the total
