David Duchovny

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
David Duchovny
David Duchovny 2011 Shankbone.JPG
Duchovny at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2011
Born David William Duchovny
(1960-08-07) August 7, 1960 (age 52)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater Princeton University (B.A., English Literature)
Yale University (M.A., English Literature)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s) Téa Leoni (1997-2011; separated; 2 children)

David William Duchovny (born August 7, 1960) is an American actor, writer, and director. He is best known for playing Fox Mulder on The X-Files and Hank Moody on Californication, both of which have earned him Golden Globe awards.[1]

Contents

Early life [edit]

Duchovny was born in New York City, New York. He is the son of Margaret "Meg" (née Miller), a school administrator and teacher, and Amram "Ami" Ducovny (1927–2003),[2] a writer and publicist who worked for the American Jewish Committee.[3][4][5] His father was Jewish, from a family that immigrated from Poland and Ukraine.[6] His mother is a Lutheran emigrant from Aberdeen, Scotland, U.K.[7][8][9] His father dropped the h in his last name to avoid the sort of mispronunciations he encountered while serving in the Army.[3][10][11]

Education [edit]

Duchovny attended Grace Church School and The Collegiate School For Boys; both are in Manhattan. He graduated from Princeton University[4] in 1982 with a B.A. in English Literature. He was a member of the Charter Club, one of the university's eating clubs. In 1982, his poetry received an honorable mention for a college prize from the Academy of American Poets. The title of his senior thesis was The Schizophrenic Critique of Pure Reason in Beckett's Early Novels.[12] Duchovny played a season of junior varsity basketball as a shooting guard and centerfield for the varsity baseball team.

He received a Master of Arts in English Literature from Yale University and subsequently began work on a Ph.D. that remains unfinished.[4] The title of his uncompleted doctoral thesis was Magic and Technology in Contemporary Poetry and Prose. At Yale, he was a student of popular literary critic Harold Bloom.

Career [edit]

Duchovny appeared in an advertisement for Löwenbräu beer in 1987. He appears in two scenes in Working Girl (1988). He had a recurring role as a transvestite DEA agent on the series Twin Peaks and played the narrator/host in the long-running Showtime erotica/softcore TV series Red Shoe Diaries. In 1992, he played the role of Rollie Totheroh, in the biographic film Chaplin, directed by Richard Attenborough, and based on the life of Charlie Chaplin. In 1993, Duchovny began starring in the science fiction series The X-Files as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder, a conspiracy theorist who believed his sister had been abducted by aliens.[4] The show emerged as a cult hit and quickly became one of The Fox Network's first major hits. Also in 1993, Duchovny was cast alongside Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis, in the Dominic Sena-directed thriller, Kalifornia.

David Duchovny at a Golden Globe after party in January 2009.
Duchovny and Gillian Anderson at The X-Files: I Want to Believe[13] premiere in July 2008.

During The X-Files run, in between the fifth and sixth seasons, Duchovny co-starred alongside Gillian Anderson in a 1998 motion picture that continued the X-Files storyline, titled The X-Files: Fight the Future.[4] He remained with the series until quitting in 2001, partly because of a contract dispute that occurred after season seven finished filming.[14] Duchovny appeared in half of the season eight episodes, but did not appear in season nine until the series finale in 2002. He also provided the voice for a parody of his Fox Mulder character in an episode of The Simpsons, titled The Springfield Files. Duchovny was nominated for four Emmy Awards[15]

Duchovny caused controversy when it became public that he was the primary reason for which filming of The X-Files series was moved from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Los Angeles in 1998. Many residents of Vancouver were upset with Duchovny over scripted jokes on Late Night with Conan O'Brien about the city's heavy rainfall; he joked, "Vancouver is a very nice place, if you like 400 inches of rainfall a day." He also stated, "Of course, I'm tired of the rain. But if I wasn't married to a woman that lives in L.A. I'd stay in Vancouver. It's a lovely city."[16] During the run of The X-Files, he also made several guest appearances in the cult TV satire The Larry Sanders Show, playing himself, but adding a strong attraction to Sanders. In the final episode of the series, he performed a parody of Sharon Stone's 'flashing' scene from Basic Instinct and a parody of "Dr. Hannibal Lecter" being introduced to Agent "Clarice Starling" in The Silence of the Lambs.

Duchovny has guest hosted Saturday Night Live twice (May 13, 1995 and May 9, 1998). Both shows were season finales. In 2000 he starred in the feature film Return to Me, a romantic comedy/drama directed by Bonnie Hunt and co-starring Minnie Driver and Carroll O'Connor. In 2001 Duchovny played a hand model in the Ben Stiller comedy, Zoolander. He also played the role of Ira Kane in the movie Evolution alongside Seann William Scott that same year. He appeared in a celebrity edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in May 2000. He got to the $250,000 question, but answered his $500,000 question incorrectly and lost $218,000, leaving him with $32,000. He appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy! in 1995 and 2010.

Duchovny provided the voice of Ethan Cole in the 2005 video game, Area 51, as well as that of the title character "XIII" in the 2003 video game XIII. In 2003 Duchovny starred in the 84th[17] episode of the HBO show Sex And The City. He played the role of Jeremy, Carrie Bradshaw's high-school ex-boyfriend, who has committed himself to a Connecticut mental health facility. In 2005 Duchovny, who had already made his directorial debut with an episode of The X-Files, wrote, directed, and appeared in the feature film House of D.[4] The film starred Anton Yelchin, Robin Williams, and Duchovny's wife Téa Leoni in a coming-of-age tale.[4] It received mostly poor reviews[18] and little box office success.[19] Duchovny also directed an episode of Bones (Episode 211, "Judas on a Pole") during its second season.

Duchovny currently plays Hank Moody, a troubled novelist in Showtime's series Californication. The portrayal landed him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Comedy or Musical in 2007.[20]

According to X-Files creator Chris Carter, Duchovny turned out to be one of the best-read people he knew.[21] After getting the role, Duchovny thought the show wouldn't last for long or that it wouldn't make as much impact as it did. Executive producer Frank Spotnitz called portraying actor Duchovny "amazingly smart". He further stated that Duchovny was behind some of the main characteristic ideas behind Mulder.[22]

Personal life [edit]

Duchovny married actress Téa Leoni on May 6, 1997. In April 1999, Leoni gave birth to a daughter, Madelaine West Duchovny. Their second child, a son, Kyd Miller Duchovny, was born in June 2002. Duchovny is a former vegetarian and, as of 2007, is a pescetarian.[23][24]

On August 28, 2008, Duchovny announced that he had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for treating sex addiction.[25][26] On October 15, 2008, Duchovny's and Leoni's representatives issued a statement that they had separated and had been for several months prior to this announcement.[27] A week later, Duchovny's lawyer said that he plans to sue the Daily Mail over an article it ran that claimed he had an affair with Hungarian tennis instructor Edit Pakay while still married to Leoni, a claim that Duchovny has denied.[28] On November 15, 2008, the Daily Mail retracted their claims.[29] After getting back together, Duchovny and Leoni once again split on June 29, 2011.[30]

Awards and nominations [edit]

Emmy Award [edit]

  • 1997 – Nominated – Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – The Larry Sanders Show
  • 1997 – Nominated – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – The X-Files
  • 1998 – Nominated – Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series – The X-Files
  • 2003 – Nominated – Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series – Life with Bonnie

Golden Globe [edit]

  • 1995 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
  • 1996 – Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
  • 1997 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama – The X-Files
  • 1998 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series– Drama – "The X-Files"
  • 2007 – Winner – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
  • 2008 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
  • 2009 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
  • 2011 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication
  • 2012 – Nominated – Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy – Californication

Filmography [edit]

Film [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Working Girl Tess' friend
1989 New Year's Day Billy
1990 Denial John
1990 Bad Influence Club goer
1991 Julia Has Two Lovers Daniel
1991 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Bruce
1991 The Rapture Randy
1992 Ruby Officer Tippit
1992 Beethoven Brad
1992 Venice/Venice Dylan
1992 Chaplin Rollie Totheroh
1993 Kalifornia Brian Kessler
1997 Playing God Dr. Eugene Sands
1998 The X-Files: Fight the Future FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder
2000 Return to Me Bob Rueland
2001 Evolution Dr. Ira Kane
2001 Zoolander JP Prewitt
2002 Full Frontal Bill / Gus
2004 Connie and Carla Jeff
2004 House of D Tom Warshaw Writer, director
2005 Trust the Man Tom
2006 Queer Duck: the Movie Tiny Jesus
2006 The TV Set Mike Klein
2007 Things We Lost in the Fire Brian Burke
2007 The Secret Dr. Benjamin Marris
2007 Quantum Hoops Narrator
2008 The X-Files: I Want to Believe FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder
2009 The Joneses Steve Jones
2012 Goats The Goat Man
2013 Phantom Bruni completed
2013 After the Fall John Fareri post-production
2013 Relative Insanity Trent pre-production

Television [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1990–1991 Twin Peaks DEA Agent Denise/Dennis Bryson (TV series, 3 episodes)
1992 Baby Snatcher David Anderson Television film
1992–1997 Red Shoe Diaries Jake Winters (TV series, 10 episodes)
1993–2002 The X-Files FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder (TV series, 176 episodes)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama
Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama
Nominated-Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama (1996, 1998–1999)
Nominated-Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Television Friends (shared with Gillian Anderson)
Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1997–1998)
Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television (1997–1999)
Nominated-Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama
Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (1996-2000)
Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1997–1999)
1995–1998 Saturday Night Live Himself (TV series, 2 episodes)
1996 Space: Above and Beyond Handsome Alvin (TV series, 1 episode: "R&R")
1995–1996 The Larry Sanders Show Himself (TV series, 2 episodes)
Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1997 The Simpsons FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder (TV series, 1 episode: "The Springfield Files")
1997 Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man Richard (TV series, 1 episode: "The Girls of Route Canal")
2002 Life with Bonnie Johnny Volcano (TV series, 2 episodes)
Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
2003 Sex and the City Jeremy (TV series, 1 episode: "Boy, Interrupted")
2007–present Californication Hank Moody Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy
Nominated-Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (2009-2010, 2012)
Nominated-Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy
Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The best of Hank Moody: Quotes & clips". Cuzoogle. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  2. ^ "SSDI". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. 2010-07-15. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  3. ^ a b Hecker, Don R. (September 2, 2003). "Amram Ducovny, 75, Late-Blossoming Novelist". The New York Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Stated in interview on Inside the Actors Studio
  5. ^ "David Duchovny Biography (1960-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  6. ^ http://thebrooklynink.com/2012/08/20/47060-a-literary-classic-of-coney-island-comes-to-digital-life/
  7. ^ "Craig Ferguson 8/10/10C Late Late Show David Duchovny". Youtube.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 

    "... my father being a Russian Jew ..."

  8. ^ "My Kind of Day - David Duchovny". Radio Times. Dec 1995. 

    My relatives are Scottish, so I think my Scottish audience is important. Some are in Glasgow, but my mum's from Aberdeen. I hear it's grey there - like my mum. The name's Russian, but New York is my home. That's where I'm from.

  9. ^ "David Duchovny DuchovnyNet - Article: A Man and His 'X'". Duchovny.net. 1997-10-26. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 

    "I like that I look like my father and mother put together--that's a Russian Jew and a Scottish Lutheran, and I like that it all looks mixed up. . . . I'm sure my nose wasn't an asset until I was David Duchovny. Before that, it was, like, 'Yeah, that kind of Jewish-looking guy with the kind of big nose.' "

  10. ^ "David Duchovny DuchovnyNet - Article: Cult Times 1997". Duchovny.net. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  11. ^ http://www.grouchoreviews.com/interviews/84
  12. ^ Duchovny, David William. The Schizophrenic Critique of Pure Reason in Beckett's Early Novels. 1982.
  13. ^ Glen Schaefer (March 12, 2008). "Filming of the X-Files sequel wraps". Vancouver Province. Retrieved March 12, 2008. 
  14. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1337685.stm BBC News
  15. ^ David Duchovny Emmy Nominated
  16. ^ "Mike Roberts, Vancouver Province". Mjq.net. 1997-10-16. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  17. ^ "Boy, Interrupted". Hbo.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  18. ^ "House of D". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  19. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372334/business/ IMDb
  20. ^ "Hollywood Foreign Press Association 2008 Golden Globe Awards For The Year Ended December 31, 2007". HFPA. 2007. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved December 13, 2007. 
  21. ^ Carter, Chris. "Casting Mulder". BBC News. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
  22. ^ Spotnitz, Frank. "Amazingly Smart". BBC News. Retrieved July 12, 2009. 
  23. ^ He stated on the November 16, 2007 episode of Live with Regis and Kelly that he is no longer vegetarian but still does not consume red meat.
  24. ^ Hochman, David. "The X-Man Cometh". Men's Health. 
  25. ^ "David Duchovny's Sex Rehab Not Because Of Affair: Report". Huffington Post. February 10, 2008. 
  26. ^ "Duchovny enters rehab for sex addiction". MSNBC. August 28, 2008. 
  27. ^ Fleeman, Mike (2008-10-15). "David Duchovny & Téa Leoni Separated 'For Several Months'". People.com. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  28. ^ "The Ex Files: David Duchovny Sues Paper over Affair Story". TV Guide. October 21, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008. 
  29. ^ "David Duchovny". The Daily Mail. November 15, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008. 
  30. ^ "David Duchovny and Tea Leoni separated". Retrieved march, 2012. 

External links [edit]