| Walter Skinner | |
|---|---|
| The X-Files character | |
 | |
| First appearance | "Tooms" (April 22, 1994) |
| Last appearance | "My Struggle IV" (March 21, 2018) |
| Portrayed by | Mitch Pileggi |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
| In-universe information | |
| Occupation | FBI Special Agent, Assistant Director of the FBI |
| Family | Sharon Skinner |
| Agents | Dana Scully John Doggett Fox Mulder Monica Reyes |
| Affiliations | Alvin Kersh The Lone Gunmen Brad Follmer C. G. B. Spender |
| Duration | 1994–2002, 2008, 2016, 2018 |
| Seasons | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 |
| Films | The X-Files, The X-Files: I Want to Believe |
FBI Assistant Director Walter Sergei Skinner is a fictional character portrayed by American actor Mitch Pileggi on The X-Files and its short-lived spin-off The Lone Gunmen, both broadcast on Fox.
In the science fiction-supernatural series, Skinner supervised the X-Files office, which is concerned with unresolved FBI cases of mysterious or possibly supernatural circumstances. Fox Mulder, the FBI agent in charge of the X-Files, considers the X-Files the truth behind the supposed conspiracy. Skinner was a main character in the ninth, tenth and eleventh seasons of the show and a recurring character throughout the first eight seasons.
Skinner made his first appearance in the first season 1994 episode "Tooms". At the start of the series, Skinner was dismissive towards Mulder's belief in extraterrestrial and other strange phenomena. However, throughout the series Skinner has moved on to respect and agree with Mulder's idea, which is finally proven in "Requiem", when he saw an alien spacecraft. Skinner has received critical acclaim and has become a fan favorite.
Pileggi received the role of Walter Skinner after "two or three" auditions for the role. Beginning with only a small cameo, his character frequently made more appearances during the second season.