With degrees from Princeton and Yale, Duchovny initially intended to join the ranks of English lit academics before switching to acting. After a variety of supporting film and TV parts — including a flashy role as a cross-dressing DEA agent on the surreal series
Twin Peaks — he landed his signature role as an alien-obsessed FBI agent on
The X Files in 1993. His innate intelligence coupled with his good looks and seductive, skeptical smirk made him an instant sex symbol. During the series' eight-year run, he made the leap to big-screen leading man (
Playing God,
Evolution, the disappointing
X Files feature), but neither his performances nor the box-office receipts proved that he was a movie star. He also branched out into writing and directing, helming a number of
X Files episodes and the 2004 indie flick
House of D. Off screen, Duchovny dated a string of beauties (Sheryl Lee, Perrey Reeves) before settling down with Téa Leoni in 1997.
David Duchovny Fast Facts:
- One of his classmates at the Collegiate School (where he was valedictorian) was John F. Kennedy Jr.
- Taught English at Yale.
- First acting job was in a beer commercial.
- Initially believed that The X-Files would flop. It turned out to be a hit. He was injured more than once during its run, including cuts, burns and a separated shoulder.
- Appeared in 1995 on Celebrity Jeopardy opposite Lynn Redgrave and Stephen King, and led for most of the match. He lost to King in Final Jeopardy, failing to name the store that hosted an event to announce a Truman Capote literary fund (Tiffany).
- Filed a lawsuit against 20th Century Fox in 1999 claiming the company had cheated him out of millions of dollars in profits from the syndication rights to The X-Files. The suit was eventually settled and he continued starring in the series.
- Played doctors in three films: Playing God (1997), Evolution (2001) and The Secret (2006).
- "[Duchovny's] one of the moodiest people I've ever met," his X-Files costar Gillian Anderson observed in a 1996 TV GUIDE article. "But you forgive him because he's so charming and can be so sweet and funny."
- David Duchovny Relationships:
- Amram Duchovny - Father
- Daniel Duchovny - Brother
- Kyd Miller Duchovny - Son
- Laurie Duchovny - Sister
- Madelaine West Duchovny - Daughter
- Margaret Duchovny - Mother
- Téa Leoni - Wife
- David Duchovny Awards:
- 1996 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1997 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Winner
- 1998 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1999 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 2003 Emmy: Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series - Nominee
- 1997 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 1998 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series - Nominee
- 2008 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Winner
- 2009 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy - Nominee
- College:
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ (AB in English Literature, 1982); Yale University, New Haven, CT (MA in English Literature)
