| Well-Manicured Man | |
|---|---|
| The X-Files character | |
| First appearance | "The Blessing Way" |
| Last appearance | The X-Files |
| Created by | Chris Carter |
| Portrayed by | John Neville |
| Duration | 1995—98 |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Nationality | English |
| Affiliated with | The Syndicate |
| Status | Deceased |
The Well-Manicured Man is a fictional character in the American science fiction television series The X-Files. He serves as an antagonist to FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), being a member of the sinister Syndicate the agents seek to foil. Introduced in the third season, the Well-Manicured Man served to highlight discord within the ranks of the Syndicate, and ultimately betrayed them by leaking information to Mulder before committing suicide in the series' first feature film.
The Well-Manicured Man was portrayed by John Neville in all of the character's appearances (eight episodes, and the feature film). According to the series' writers, the character represents a non-violent "voice of reason" amongst the series' antagonists. Neville's portrayal of the Well-Manicured Man has been positively received by critics, who have noted his "moral ambivalence" and "unnervingly genteel" manner.