Reflecting on the 33rd Anniversary of The X Files Character Deep Throat

The Cigarette Smoking Man came about unexpectedly. In the first episode of The X-Files, FBI Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is reassigned to the paranormal cases unit known as the X-Files to assist Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny). Mulder is obsessed with these cases, and the FBI assigns Scully to discredit his work.

The scene takes place in the office of FBI Division Chief Scott Blevins (Charles Cioffi). It contains four characters: Blevins, Scully, another man who asks her questions (Ken Camroux), and a silent man standing in the corner puffing on a cigarette.

As William B. Davis, who played the Cigarette Smoking Man, has explained, he was cast in a non-speaking part for the pilot episode without any hint of what the character would become. His steely look made the writers want to bring him back repeatedly. The Cigarette Smoking Man ultimately became one of the most intriguing and long-running characters in the series.

By contrast, the second episode of The X-Files introduced another mysterious figure intended to be a major recurring character. While he did not last as long as the Cigarette Smoking Man, he left a lasting impact on fans.

Deep Throat

In the second episode, named “Deep Throat,” Agents Mulder and Scully investigate the disappearance of an Air Force pilot in Utah. This follows a string of similar disappearances involving servicemen stationed at the same base. Mulder briefs Scully in a crowded DC bar, fearing surveillance at FBI headquarters. When Mulder visits the bathroom, a mysterious man in a suit (Jerry Hardin) warns him not to investigate. “The military will not tolerate an FBI investigation,” he cautions, adding that he can be of use in the future.

Mulder investigates anyway. In Utah, agents discover that Air Force pilots test aircraft built with alien technology. Mulder spots an experimental triangular craft before servicemen apprehend him and wipe his memory.

After abandoning the case, Mulder runs on a track in a DC park, where the same man approaches him again. Mulder explains that his memory was erased, and the man reiterates his offer to aid the X-Files. “I can provide you with information, but only so long as it’s in my best interest to do so,” the man says. Mulder asks his interest, and the man replies, “The truth.”

Their final exchange remains the most memorable. As the man walks away, Mulder asks, “They’re here, aren’t they?” The man stops, turns around, and says, “Mr. Mulder, they’ve been here for a long, long time.”

Deep Throat on The X-Files

The character was named after the real-life informant who provided journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein with information about the Watergate scandal, leading to the 1974 resignation of President Richard M. Nixon. While the show never explicitly stated that this was the real Deep Throat, the name gave The X-Files a real-world quality. Much like Deputy FBI Director Mark Felt, the real Deep Throat, the character represented an insider working to bring the truth to the public.

Jerry Hardin’s performance drew from actors who played Deep Throat on film, such as Hal Holbrook in All the President’s Men and Donald Sutherland in Oliver Stone’s JFK. In his early sixties at the time, Hardin played the role with a mix of guilt, world-weariness, mystery, and wisdom. Deep Throat’s intentions often remained unclear. He occasionally conspired against Mulder, yet viewers still trusted him and hoped he was honest.

Deep Throat appeared throughout the first season, cautioning Mulder, offering insight, and providing leads for new cases. His standout appearance occurs in the episode “E.B.E.” (extraterrestrial biological entity), where he explains that governments agreed to exterminate any living alien on Earth following the 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico. He reveals he is one of only three people tasked with carrying out this duty.

By the end of the season, Deep Throat reveals too much and is killed by other members of the government conspiracy. While the death felt earned within the plot, it occurred far too soon, leaving fans wishing the character had lasted beyond a single season. The writers later introduced substitutes to fulfill the same function, though none matched Hardin’s presence.

Deep Throat’s legacy

In the X-Files fandom, Deep Throat remains a beloved figure despite his short tenure. Many fans eventually concluded that standalone episodes surpassed the central alien conspiracy arc, which accumulated excessive lore and left questions unanswered over time.

During the first season, however, the conspiracy stood out as an engrossing element that kept viewers hooked. The show felt fresh, and audiences trusted the mystery would pay off, anchored heavily by the compelling presence of Deep Throat.

Source: Polygon