1993 → 2026 · Cast then & now
The X-Files Cast: Then and Now
The cast then and now — with the original tribute song “I Want to Believe”.
About the series
The X-Files, then & now
The X-Files premiered in 1993, and ran for 11 seasons on Fox Broadcasting Company. This page follows Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), Walter Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea), Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) then and now, with real ages, 10 then-vs-now collector’s cards in this tribute and the original tribute song “I Want to Believe”.
The cast · 10 collector’s cards
Where is the The X-Files cast now (2026)?
The X-Files cast then and now: 10 collector’s cards, 1993 vs 2026, with real ages. Tap a card to flip it and watch them walk side by side.
Spotted something about The X-Files?
Missing a character, a wrong age or a favourite couple we should add? Send us a message — we read every one.
Watch the reels first on
FacebookInstagramTikTokYouTubeSpotifyThe song
“I Want to Believe”
Static whispers down the hall
Read the lyrics
Static whispers down the hall
Cold case files nobody recalls
Two believers, one cold trail
Chasing shadows, ghost of a tale
They erase it, bury it deep
But the truth won't ever sleep
Every file, every lie
Somewhere hidden in the sky
I want to believe, I want to believe
There's something out there watching over me
They said it's not real, but I still believe
I want to believe, I want to believe
Red door glowing in the dark
X marks the place we lost the spark
Lights above the empty field
What we saw, we can't unsee
They erase it, bury it deep
But the truth won't ever sleep
Every file, every lie
Somewhere hidden in the sky
I want to believe, I want to believe
There's something out there watching over me
They said it's not real, but I still believe
I want to believe, I want to believe
Somewhere the truth is waiting still
Somewhere beyond the window sill
I don't need the proof to feel
This is real, this is real
I want to believe, I want to believe
There's something out there watching over me
They said it's not real, but I still believe
I want to believe, I want to believe
I want to believe
I want to believe
Logged in to Spotify? You’ll hear the full song — otherwise a 30-second preview.
Stream “I Want to Believe” on SpotifyThe premiere list
Never miss a premiere.
One email when a new tribute song or series drops, with the YouTube and Spotify links. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Keep watching
More series
The X-Files in numbers
The cast, then & now
| Character | Actor | Then (1993) | Now (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Mulder | David Duchovny | 33 | 66 |
| Dana Scully | Gillian Anderson | 25 | 58 |
| Walter Skinner | Mitch Pileggi | 42 | 74 |
| Alex Krycek | Nicholas Lea | 32 | 64 |
| Cigarette Smoking Man | William B. Davis | 55 | 88 |
| John Doggett | Robert Patrick | 42 | 67 |
| Monica Reyes | Annabeth Gish | 29 | 55 |
| Melvin Frohike | Tom Braidwood | 45 | 78 |
| Richard Langly | Dean Haglund | 28 | 61 |
| John Fitzgerald Byers | Bruce Harwood | 30 | 63 |
Ages from verified birth dates, updated 02 November 2026.