Deep Throat/Background Information

The Deep Throat character was based on the infamous Watergate informer of the same name. Writer and creator also claimed to have been inspired by Donald Sutherland's portrayal of "Mr. X" in the Oliver Stone movie JFK. According to Carter, he intended the character to be someone who comes from a mysterious, shadowy government, of which the public has no knowledge, and selectively helps Mulder and Scully when they reach a dead end or mistakenly follow the wrong lead in an investigation, without giving them too many answers. Somewhat surprisingly, the character's historic pseudonym is never mentioned on-screen until his final bona fide appearance in , the finale.
In the original shooting script of , the character is described as being in his fifties. In the scenes set in the Washington, D.C. bar, he is referenced only as "a man" but, as he approaches Mulder on the field in the episode's final scene, the character is once referred to as "a lone figure" before it is said that he is "now and forever to be known as Deep Throat." The script continues to refer to him as such, while also acknowledging the fact that he is a man.
Actor was intrigued to play the role of Deep Throat. "The mystery of a character who has unlimited sources of information, but also has enemies, makes for interesting acting work," he mused. "Since he wasn't clearly defined by the writers, I had a chance to pursue the role freely. That's interesting to do, because he could be a bad guy just as easily as a good guy." (X-Files Confidential, p. 34)
Hardin gave his own explanation for Deep Throat's identity. "I’ve always thought that Deep Throat was, to some extent, involved in a kind of ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the President, rather than holding a specific office. It would be so much easier to trace what he was doing or what he wasn’t doing if he were in a specific office. But in a kitchen cabinet situation, Deep Throat’s ability to know what’s going on in a broad spectrum of areas would be enormously enhanced. So that gives some explanation for the fact he seemed to know what any and all government organisations were doping, whether they happened to be the FBI, the CIA or you name it." (Starlog Issue 211, February 1995)
Deep Throat built up a strong cult following over the time he intermittently appeared in the first season. Despite this and the fact he enjoyed Jerry Hardin's portrayal of the character, Chris Carter made the decision to conclude his run on the series. By way of explanation, Carter stated, "The character had provided information in a very systematic and predictable way, and I was interested in exploring new ways of Mulder getting his information." Hardin himself revealed, "I was pushing to make the character a regular. I think they felt they needed to accede to my desires or get rid of me. So they decided to get rid of me." (X-Files Confidential, p. 34)
After viewers were shocked by Deep Throat's death at the end of the first season, Jerry Hardin was left with the impression that many people "connected strongly with that character." (, p. 94) Hardin used the phrase "Trust no one" while signing autographs for fans in Glasgow. "I signed a bunch of young chicks' backs and arms and necks with, 'Trust no one, Jerry Hardin," he remembered. (The Complete X-Files: Behind the Series, the Myths and the Movies, p. 53)
Category:Deep Throat