'Cancer Man' from 'X-Files' on campus
Vol. 17, No. 7Oct. 16, 1997

'Cancer Man' from 'X-Files' on campus

"Men can never be free. They're weak, corrupt, worthless and restless. The people believe in authority. They've grown tired of waiting for miracle and mystery. Science is their religion. No greater explanation exists for them. They must never believe any differently if the project is to go forward."

-"Cancer Man" from The X-Files

William B. Davis, "Cancer Man" on The X-Files, will speak at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, in the Multipurpose Room of the Trabant University Center.

Tickets for his UD appearance, "The Truth Is Out There: The Stories Behind The X-Files" are $2 and are available now at the Trabant University Center Box Office.

Shrouded by shadows, veiled in a haze of cigarette smoke, "Cancer Man" sits at the center of the web of conspiracies that fuel The X-Files. The character, identified in the script only as "Cigarette Smoking Man" and tagged "Cancer Man" by Agent Mulder, has become a pop icon for those obsessed with UFOs and government cover-ups.

In his presentation, Davis shares his experiences on and off the set, from eerie coincidences to brushes with obsessed UFO followers and conspiracy buffs.

He also shares a glimpse into the darkness that surrounds us, a world where paranoia and obsession are the only tools for survival.

In real life, Davis' friends say he is a nice guy. He is the head of the William Davis Center for Actors' Studies in Vancouver and was the 1996 Canadian Water-skiing National Champion.

He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the University of Toronto and studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He is a former member of Britain's National Theatre and served as the artistic director of the National Theatre School of Canada's English Acting Program, before returning to acting at the age of 42.

He has appeared in a succession of supporting roles in movies and on television, including appearances in Look Who's Talking, MacGuyver and Wiseguy. He recently landed the part of the Bible-thumping preacher (another bad guy) on Showtime's The Outer Limits.

For more information on Davis' UD appearance, call 831-1296.

-Beth Thomas