What Happened To The X-Files' Main Villain, The Cigarette Smoking Man?

The Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) might've been written as an extra in the pilot episode of "The X-Files," but he takes an actively antagonistic role throughout the show's 11-season run, becoming one of the best "X-Files" characters in the process. As the Cigarette Smoking Man's ties to the Syndicate grow more complex over the series, he dies a total of three times.

In Season 7, Episode 22 of "The X-Files", titled "Requiem," the Cigarette Smoking Man dies after Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea) shoves him down a flight of stairs, but he is revealed to be alive in Season 9's finale, "The Truth." In this episode, the big bad is seemingly defeated after being blown to bits by rocket-propelled grenades in New Mexico. 

Although presumed dead for 14 years, the Cigarette Smoking Man returns in the much-anticipated Season 10 premiere "My Struggle." His villainous chapter comes to a permanent close after Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) shoots him in the "X-Files" series finale, pushing him off a pier into turbulent waters. 

The events that transpire in the "X-Files" series finale are brilliant and convoluted. Jackson Van De Kamp, aka William (Miles Robbins), uses his powers to make the Cigarette Smoking Man believe that he is Mulder, causing our villain to mistakenly shoot him. Mulder uses this opportunity to shoot the Cigarette Smoking Man and throw him into the ocean.

Although the character's death feels definitive this time, Carter's 2018 interview with Den of Geek suggests otherwise. Emphasizing the Cigarette Smoking Man's ability to heal, Carter states that the character "has powers to rejuvenate," which explains his "minor scarring" in the final season despite his near-fatal experiences. "So, is he dead? That's a question that remains to be answered," Carter noted in the same interview.

Carter's statement remains cryptic, especially since his vision for "The X-Files" is far from complete. "I have a big reveal for everyone, and I'm excited to do that if we ever have another chance," he told IGN, touching upon his plans for a potential Season 12.

Carter also acknowledged Ryan Coogler's reboot of "The X-Files" as its own creative lane, while expressing his interest in continuing to expand the franchise. "I do have another story or a series or a movie in [which] I want to explore that storyline that I've set up so carefully," he concluded, referring to the big reveal in the series finale and its potential implications for the future.