Men in Black (The X-Files)
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In The X-Files television show, The Men in Black (MIB for short, and singular, Man in Black) refer, unofficially, to a group of enforcers employed by the Syndicate to take care of the dirty work of the conspiracy (i.e., murders, intimidation, sabotage, cover-ups, etc). Most of them were ex-military, highly trained, loyal, cold-blooded, mafia-style hitmen, who worked, as a front, in government agencies such as the FBI, DOD, and NSA. Some, mostly shown in comedic episodes, parodied the traditional view of MIBs from UFO lore. Most had no known civilian identities, though there were some exceptions. They tended to have few, if any, lines.
The Men in Black are analogous to the alien bounty hunters employed by the Colonists. The Men in Black were, however, not as reliable as the bounty hunters and though sometimes they were used initially it took the more capable Alien Bounty Hunters to complete difficult tasks. The Syndicate would use the bounty hunters only when absolutely necessary because of an increased risk of exposure. As of the series finale, it is assumed they have disbanded, as the New Syndicate (Super Soldiers) does not have as great a need to employ normal humans.
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[edit] Alex Krycek
[edit] X
[edit] The Cleaner/Crew Cut Man
| The X-Files character | |
 |
|
| The Cleaner | |
|---|---|
| Affiliated with | Men in Black |
| First appearance | The Erlenmeyer Flask |
| Last appearance | Red Museum (regular) The Truth (archive footage) |
| Portrayed by | Lindsey Ginter |
- The Cleaner: better known as Crew Cut Man, is a character from The X-Files. He is portrayed by Lindsey Ginter.
The Crew Cut Man is a MIB assassin/saboteur employed by the Syndicate, specifically by Cigarette Smoking Man. In the season one finale, "The Erlenmeyer Flask", Crew Cut Man is working with a couple of other Men in Black to terminate all evidence of a covert alien-human hybrid program, which Mulder was investigating. Mulder ends up being taken by the operatives, and Deep Throat, during the subsequent exchange for Mulder's life, is killed by Crew Cut Man.
Scully witnesses the murder and later, in the season two episode "Red Museum", she recognizes him during a case in remote Wisconsin, where secret experiments with alien DNA were being conducted. He is about his old business again, though working alone this time, and is eventually shot dead by a local sheriff as he tries to set fire to a warehouse where Mulder is trapped.
Like most Men in Black, little is known about Crew Cut Man. While Mulder was being held, his cell phone was left by Crew Cut Man unanswered, as he remarked that he had "this thing about unsecured lines."
[edit] Luis Cardinal/Hispanic Man
- Luis Cardinal: Initially only known as "Hispanic Man", he was a Nicaraguan mercenary working for Cigarette Smoking Man, briefly partnered with Alex Krycek, at which time he killed Scully's sister, Melissa, in a case of mistaken identity. Later taken into custody by the DC Police Department, and was then eliminated in prison to keep silent. His training included the Schools of the Americas. Played by Lenno Britos.
[edit] Red-Haired Man
- Red-Haired Man: NSA Man in Black who worked for the First Elder. Garroted several Japanese scientists. Nearly kills Mulder twice, but is eliminated by X in the season 3 episode titled "731". In the X-Files dvd collection, his name is given as "Malcolm Gerlach", though he is never named onscreen. Played by Stephen McHattie.
[edit] Grey-Haired Man
- Grey-Haired Man: First shown, along with other fellow MIB operatives, attempting to deter Skinner from reopening Melissa Scully's murder investigation. In "Herrenvolk", he dispatches X, per the orders of the Elder. He also appeared in "Memento Mori" and "Zero Sum". Originally intended to be Cigarette Smoking Man's henchman, but disappeared when the actor left. He is seen as a subordinate to both Cigarette Smoking Man and the Elder. He also comes quite close to killing Mulder. Played by Morris Panych.
[edit] Jose Chung's Men in Black
- Man in Black #1: From the comedic episode, "Jose Chung's From Outer Space". Tricked those who saw UFOs into questioning reality. Played by Jesse Ventura. He and his partner parodied the traditional Man in Black of conspiracy theories.
- Man in Black #2: Partner of #1. Bore an uncanny resemblance to Alex Trebek, who also actually played the part. As Men in Black are supposed to appear so ridiculous that stories of encountering them are widely disbelieved, this character's resemblance to Trebek is played up as a plot point, with Jose Chung interrupting Scully to inquire as to whether she really meant to bring up "Alex Trebek? The game show host?"
[edit] Plainclothes Man
- Plainclothes Man: A subordinate of X, who used him to relay information to Mulder, as it was too risky at the time for X to contact Mulder himself. He is eliminated by X at the end of the episode "Wetwired", in order to cover his tracks. Played by Tim Henry.
[edit] Dark Man/Moustache Man/Scott Garrett
- Dark Man/Moustache Man/Scott Garrett: Listed in the episode credits as "Scott Garrett" (but never named onscreen), and in the credits from The X-Files dvd collection as "Dark Man", but fans call him "Moustache Man". He was assigned to oversee a military cover-up of a plane crash caused by an alien spacecraft. He accidentally killed Agent Pendrell while attempting to shoot a defecting conspirator in Scully's protection. He was later abducted by aliens (most likely the Rebels), during an attempt to salvage alien technology. Played by Greg Michaels.
[edit] Scott Ostelhoff
- Scott Ostelhoff: Operative with DOD credentials who murdered the members of an expedition team that was attempting to excavate a recently discovered alien corpse, which was actually a fake. Also, he was assigned for an unknown length of time to surveil Mulder from the apartment above, and when caught by Mulder, is killed when he grabs his nearby shotgun. Subordinate of the Elder. Played by Steve Makaj.
[edit] Quiet Willy
- Quiet Willy: Ordered by the Elder to carry out the assassination of Cigarette Smoking Man, which failed. Later killed by alien Rebels while he was escorting Cassandra Spender. Named so because he has no lines of dialogue, and also after Willy Ross, the actor who portrayed him[citation needed].
[edit] The Shooter
- The Shooter: Only appeared in the season 5 finale, "The End". On orders from the Syndicate, he attempted to kill Gibson Praise with a sniper rifle during an international chess match, but failed and was taken into police custody. He was shot through the slot in his cell door by fellow MIB Black Haired Man, to keep quiet. He was a former NSA agent. Played by Martin Ferrero.
[edit] Black Haired Man
- Black Haired Man: First appears in the 5th season finale, "The End", where he executes The Shooter. In the X-Files movie, he is seen leaving a building before it is blown up, and also surveils at least one of Mulder's meetings with Alvin Kurtzweil. He also kidnaps Scully disguised as a paramedic, and nearly kills Mulder when he fires at him point blank. He is ordered to spy on Scully in "En Ami", and almost kills her via sniper rifle, but is dispatched by his superior, Cigarette Smoking Man. Played by Michael Shamus Wiles.
[edit] Morris Fletcher
- Morris Fletcher: Introduced in the two-part comedic standalone entitled "Dreamland". Handled security at Area 51. Frequently complains about his job and family, and often pokes fun at the Lone Gunmen. Later left in favor of the private sector. According to Morris, he came up with the name for the Aurora aircraft, and also invented Saddam Hussein, whose real name is John Gilnitz, and whom Morris first met at a dinner theater, where he performed in The King and I. Played by Michael McKean.
[edit] Howard Grodin
- Howard Grodin and Jeff Smoodge: Both worked with Morris at Area 51.
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