Twin Peaks is the greatest television program of all time; it’s just a fact. 20 years later it’s still hard to fathom how co-creators David Lynch and Mark Frost’s dreamlike soap opera, murder mystery and wacky comedy got away with what it did, changing the TV landscape and pop culture forever as a result.
Like all successful series its cast’s fortunes have been a mixed bag, but while none are as tragic as James Marshall (who played hog-rider James Hurley, who has been plagued by illnesses and surgeries) or Frank Silva (the malevolent Bob, dying at age 45 from complications with AIDS), let’s take a look at the ups and downs of some noteworthy cast members’ careers. One of the reasons Twin Peaks was so fascinating to watch was the way it mingled well-known former stars with blossoming upcoming talent and recognisable “it’s that guy!” type character actors.
Joan Chen as Jocelyn Packard and Piper Laurie as Catherine Martell
In a casting coup the makers landed Piper Laurie as their resident scheming temptress Catherine Martell. The well-known and respected actress, nominated for three Academy Awards before this role, brought the gravitas that comes with an experienced actor and remains a fan favourite. Similarly, Peggy Lipton had all but retired after her hit series The Mod Squad ended in 1973, but returned as Norma Jennings, romantically conflicted diner owner and maker of one fine cup of coffee. Both Laurie and Lipton have continued working in film and television, but two West Side Story alumni, Richard Beymer (sinister Benjamin Horne) and Russ Tamblyn (kooky Dr Jacoby), are rarely seen anymore.
The flipside to Twin Peaks’ comeback stories was how it propelled many young actors to instant, worldwide fame, but who sadly became trapped in celebrity’s own version of The Black Lodge. Sherilyn Fenn was shot most prominently into stardom on the back of her Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated performance as Audrey Horne, the wise, teenage minx. Her post-Twin Peaks career was derailed by her role in the infamous Boxing Helena, written and directed by David Lynch’s daughter Jennifer, but has since carved a career as a notable “guest star” in popular shows like Gilmore Girls and Boston Public.
Peggy Lipton as Norma Jennings and Mädchen Amick as Shelly Johnson
Many of the youngsters from Twin Peaks followed a similar trajectory to Fenn throughout their careers. Mädchen Amick’s role as the domestic abuse victim Shelly Johnson lead to a resume that reads like a rollcall of pop culture television of the ‘90s and ‘00s with everything from ER to Gossip Girl. Dana Ashbrook, as Laura Palmer’s football jock boyfriend Bobby Briggs, did much the same from Law & Order: SVU to Dawson’s Creek. They, along with Kimmy Robertson (ditzy secretary Lucy Moran) and Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer herself), utilised their breakthrough cult success to build careers as highly sought after bit players. Never able to step out from the shadow cast by the landmark series, but with faces that audiences see and recognise as “that person from Twin Peaks!”
Sherilynn Fenn as Audrey Horne and Kyle MacLachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper
Several already known actors used Twin Peaks to springboard them onto further career goals. Kyle MacLachlan was well on his way to being a successful actor after his breakout role in David Lynch’s 1987 film Blue Velvet, but after the success of Twin Peaks he continued to find work, most prominently on Sex & the City, Desperate Housewives and in films Showgirls and Mao’s Last Dancer. Joan Chen, known from her work in Oscar-winning The Last Emperor would go on to become a bigger star through Asian cinema and Australian films The Home Song Stories and Mao’s Last Dancer.
Lara Flynn Boyle as Donna Hayward and James Marshall as James Hurley
Perhaps most famous of all is Lara Flynn Boyle. Having passed on starring in David Lynch’s film prequel Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Boyle progressed with a bountiful career that included six seasons, and an Emmy nomination, for The Practice as well as praised performances in films Happiness and Red Rock West, not to mention her side-career as a wacky paparazzi target, wearing tutus at awards shows, dating Jack Nicholson and getting ridiculous plastic surgery.
Meanwhile, some of the series’ most successful players were the little known faces that only appeared in small roles on the plot’s fringes; Billy Zane and Molly Shannon appeared long before big roles in Titanic and Saturday Night Live respectively. Most notable are David Duchovny and Heather Graham, whose short-lived stays in Twin Peaks are amongst the most memorable. Duchovny played Dale Cooper’s DEA Agent buddy Denise Bryson (yes, he played a woman) early in his career and went on to bigger lead roles on The X-Files and Californication. Graham, meanwhile, played Dale Cooper’s love interest Annie Blackburn in the series’ final episodes before building a career that includes acclaimed films Boogie Nights, Austin Powers 2 and The Hangover.
David Duchovny as DEA Agent Denise Bryson
Whether they were known before or not, it’s hard to argue that the cast of Twin Peaks have somehow managed to keep their careers more or less alive. Some have obviously been more successful than others, but for all of them Twin Peaks looms large as one of the highest of acting peaks. Where are they now? Just turn on your TV and find out.
The fifth picture is miscaptioned. The young man with Lara Flynn Boyle is James Marshall as “James Hurley,” not Dana Ashbrook as “Bobby Briggs.”
Thanks JSun- I’ve changed it over now. This was an error made in editing, not made by the author of the piece, Glenn Dunks.
Must go back and watch more Twin Peaks!
I LOVE PEGGY LIPTON!!!