X-Files Villain William B. Davis: Where Is He Now, 7 Years Later?

From 1993 to 2018, in the cult series X-Files, William B. Davis played one of the greatest villains in television history: C.G.B. Spender, better known as “the Cigarette Smoking Man.” As a master puppeteer pulling the strings of government conspiracies, he embodied a lingering threat for many years, constantly challenging agents Mulder and Scully.

A Memorable Villain

Thirty-two years ago, when the actor first portrayed him in the pilot of the series, he had no idea he would leave a lasting impression on fans. At that time, he was 55 years old, and his acting career was already well underway.

After 43 episodes of orchestrating conspiracies, William B. Davis made his final appearance as the notorious villain in 2018 during season 11. Since then, the actor has not retired! He continues to act, even at the venerable age of 87!

He was notably seen in two episodes of the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in 2019, playing Methuselah, a member of the Witches’ Council. Recently, he appeared alongside Kristin Kreuk in the crime show Murder in a Small Town.

No Retirement for William

William B. Davis also played a significant role in the sci-fi comedy series Upload, between 2020 and 2025. Over 16 episodes, he portrayed David Choak, an influential billionaire transferred to the virtual world of Lakeview. If you’re curious, it’s available on Prime Video.

Additionally, as a nod to X-Files, he lent his voice to the documentary about UFOs titled The Rendlesham UFO: The British Roswell. The film discusses the Rendlesham incident in Great Britain, where in 1980, a craft supposedly landed near a US base. The area continues to be a hotspot for UFO sightings, glowing orbs, and encounters with cryptic creatures.

Alongside his acting career, William B. Davis regularly participates in conventions related to X-Files and other events, where he signs autographs, gives interviews, and meets fans. He is also an author who has published several books, including one on his acting experience (On Acting … and life, 2022).

His autobiography, Where There’s Smoke…: Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man, a Memoir, was published in 2011. Moreover, the artist continues to offer insights and masterclasses on acting, life, and the profession. He lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife, Emmanuelle.

In any case, the character of the Cigarette Smoking Man still sticks with him, and he fully embraces it: “I like him because he’s not a typical villain. He believes he’s protecting the public,” he said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post in 2020. For Davis, this character breaks the mold of the traditional antagonist, as C.G.B. Spender was someone who believed he was protecting order or society, even if his methods were morally questionable.

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