We are first introduced to the character in the X-Files episode “Squeeze,” and Tooms was the brainchild of that episode’s writers, Glen Morgan and James Wong.
This dynamic duo would go on to create some of the most memorable early episodes, and many of their scariest ideas had equally frightening inspirations. For their stretchy serial killer, however, the main motivation was remarkably down to Earth.
Morgan later said that he was early into his X-Files writing career when he had a crazy question for Wong. Looking at the ventilator shaft outside the office they shared, Morgan’s question was as simple as it was creepy. “What if we were working here late at night and some guy came through that thing?”
