The “Scully Effect” And Other Things You Never Knew About The X-Files

Hitler And Sadaam Hussein Inspired Another Character

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The show’s creators had an idea in mind for each character, but the Cigarette Smoking Man took inspiration to a new level. William B. Davis wanted his character to be the evilest one in the room, so he said that he took inspiration from real-life villains like Adolf Hitler and Sadaam Hussein.

The inspiration worked. The Cigarette Smoking Man was initially an extra and never meant to be a main character. Davis’ incredible acting literally took his character to front and center. The Cigarette Smoking Man became one of the most robust villains on TV who had a hand in every major U.S. government conspiracy you can think of.