Lara Flynn Boyle
Lara Flynn Boyle | |
|---|---|
 Boyle at the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball in September 1990 | |
| Born | March 24, 1970 Davenport, Iowa, US |
| Alma mater | The Chicago Academy for the Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987–2014 |
| Spouse(s) |
John Patrick Dee III
(m. 1996; div. 1998)Donald Ray Thomas II
(after 2006) |
Lara Flynn Boyle (born March 24, 1970) is an American actress and producer. She is best known for her role as Donna Hayward in the ABC cult television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). After portraying Stacy in Penelope Spheeris's comedy Wayne's World (1992), Boyle had a lead role in John Dahl's critically acclaimed neo-noir film Red Rock West (1993), followed by roles in Threesome (1994), Cafe Society (1995), and Happiness (1998). From 1997 to 2003, Boyle portrayed Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in the ABC television series The Practice for which she was nominated a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Early life
Boyle was born in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Sally, a clerical worker, assistant, and manager, and Michael L. Boyle.[1][2] Her paternal grandfather was U.S. Representative Charles A. Boyle.[3] She has Irish, German, and one eighth Italian ancestry.[4] She is named after a character in Boris Pasternak's novel Doctor Zhivago. Her father left when she was 6 and her mother had to move to smaller quarters, and that time it was not voluntary. To add to her unhappiness, she was dyslexic.[5] She was raised in Chicago, Illinois and Wisconsin, and graduated from The Chicago Academy for the Arts.
Career
1986-1991: Career beginnings and Twin Peaks
In 1986, Boyle landed a small part in John Hughes's teen comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which earned her a SAG card, though her scenes were deleted from the final cut of the film. Subsequently, Boyle had a supporting role as Jackie Bradford in the television miniseries Amerika (1987), followed by guest appearances on episodes of the series Jack and Mike (1987) and Sable (1987).
After a string of supporting roles, Boyle landed a lead role in the Gary Sherman horror film Poltergeist III (1988), which was distributed by the media company MGM. Although she was cast as Ginny Danburry in Peter Weir's drama film Dead Poets Society (1989), her scenes were ultimately deleted from the final cut.
Twin Peaks gave me everything I have as an actor. It put me where I am now because it was so beautifully soulful, and I think it just brought out the best of the actors. There was no acting going on – we were living on Twin Peaks. It gave me my career.
—Boyle discussing the impact Twin Peaks had on her career.[6]
In 1989, Boyle rose to international prominence when David Lynch cast her as the investigative teenager Donna Hayward in Northwest Passage, the television pilot for the cult television series Twin Peaks (1990-1991). The series focused on the murder of the high school Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer, with Boyle portraying Laura's bestfriend. Her main storyline focused on her trying to solve the mystery of who killed Laura.
The series premiered April 8, 1990, on ABC and subsequently became one of the top-rated series of 1990, but a decline in ratings ultimately led to its cancellation after its second season in 1991.[7][8][9][10] Boyle appeared in all 30 episodes.
When discussing Lynch's direction, Boyle stated, "I remember, in the pilot, I did a very long scene that we had to shoot 30 or 40 times. David came up to me and said quietly, in my ear: "Think of how gently a deer has to move in the snow…" It was strange direction. But that's what I thought of, and it worked. We were at the helm of a piece of heaven on Twin Peaks and we just went where David Lynch told us. That might sound very obscure but it really is true. How he sees the world is how we should all see the world."[11]
In October 1990, while promoting Twin Peaks, Boyle was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine along with her costars Mädchen Amick and Sherilyn Fenn. While starring on Twin Peaks, Boyle portrayed Sarah in Clint Eastwood's action film The Rookie (1990), Rosarita in Adam Rifkin's satirical comedy film The Dark Backward (1991), Mara Motes in Michael Karbelnikoff's crime film Mobsters (1991), and Sandra Gladstone in the romantic thriller Eye of the Storm (1991).
Boyle also appeared in the television films Terror on Highway 91 (1989), The Preppie Murder (1989), as well as episodes of The Hidden Room and May Wine.
1992-2003: Red Rock West and early success
Shortly after the cancellation of Twin Peaks, plans were being made for a feature film adaption. Boyle was asked by Lynch to reprise her role as Donna Hayward in the psychological horror film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) but she was unable to commit to the project due to scheduling conflicts with her roles as Heather in Marc Rocco's drama film Where the Day Takes You (alongside her Twin Peaks costar Kyle MacLachlan), Stacy in Penelope Spheeris's comedy Wayne's World, and Beverly Franks in Alan Rudolph's crime drama Equinox. This led to her being replaced by actress Moira Kelly. In 1993, Boyle starred as Kris Bolin in the thriller film The Temp and portrayed the temptress Suzanne Brown in the neo-noir film Red Rock West alongside Nicolas Cage and Dennis Hopper.
In 1994, Boyle was cast as Alex in the comedy Threesome, Laraine Cotwell in Baby's Day Out, and Ida Muntz in The Road to Wellville. The same year, Boyle appeared in the television films Past Tense and Jacob. In 1995, she was cast as Pat Ward in the mystery film Cafe Society. In 1997, she portrayed Marianne Byron in the film Afterglow. Boyle auditioned for the title role in David E. Kelley's Ally McBeal. Although she lost out to Calista Flockhart, the actress impressed Kelley enough to create the role of Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in his other 1997 series, The Practice, specifically for her.[citation needed] The following year, Boyle portrayed Helen Jordan in the controversial comedy-drama film Happiness.
She starred on The Practice until 2003, when, in a dramatic attempt to revamp the show and cut costs, she was dismissed along with most of the cast.[citation needed] For her performance as Helen Gamble, she received an Emmy nomination as well as several Screen Actors Guild ensemble cast nominations. Boyle also made a crossover appearance in the role of Helen Gamble in an episode of Ally McBeal, and an uncredited guest appearance on the same show in its final season.[citation needed]
In 2002, Boyle played a lead role in the blockbuster feature film Men in Black II as the villainous shapeshifting alien Serleena. She also guest-starred on one of the last episodes of Ally McBeal, this time as Tally Cupp, and had a recurring role on several episodes of Huff.
2004-2014: Independent films and return to television
In 2005, Boyle joined the cast of Las Vegas for a seven-episode stint as Monica Mancuso, a new hotel owner. She played Barbara Amiel in the television film Shades of Black, about Amiel's controversial husband, Lord Conrad Black. Boyle also guest-starred as an ambitious reporter involved with the suspects in a possible murder in the Law & Order 2008 episode "Submission".[12]
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In 2009, Boyle portrayed Mary in Baby on Board. The same year, Boyle was cast as Betty McBain in the independent film Life Is Hot in Cracktown.[13] In 2010, she starred as Kathy in Cougar Hunting. In 2013, Boyle portrayed Witch Agnes in the horror comedy film Hansel & Gretel Get Baked. In 2014, she portrayed Ms. Donley in the film Lucky Dog.
Personal life
Boyle was in a relationship with Twin Peaks costar Kyle MacLachlan from 1990 to 1992. Boyle has been married twice. Her first husband was John Patrick Dee III, whom she married on August 11, 1996, and divorced two years later.[14] Later, Boyle dated Jack Nicholson. They went public with their romance at the 1999 Emmys, and remained together until the end of 2000.[15] Her current husband is Donald Ray Thomas II, a real-estate investor, whom she married on December 18, 2006, in San Antonio, Texas.[16] She has no children.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Heather | Scenes deleted |
| 1988 | Poltergeist III | Donna Gardner | |
| 1989 | How I Got into College | Jessica Kailo | |
| Dead Poets Society | Ginny Danburry | Scenes deleted | |
| 1990 | The Rookie | Sarah | |
| 1991 | The Dark Backward | Rosarita | |
| Mobsters | Mara Motes | ||
| Eye of the Storm | Sandra Gladstone | ||
| 1992 | Where the Day Takes You | Heather | |
| Wayne's World | Stacy | ||
| Equinox | Beverly Franks | Nominated-Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female | |
| 1993 | The Temp | Kris Bolin | |
| Red Rock West | Suzanne Brown/Ann McCord | ||
| 1994 | Threesome | Alex | |
| Baby's Day Out | Laraine Cotwell | ||
| The Road to Wellville | Ida Muntz | ||
| 1995 | Cafe Society | Pat Ward | |
| 1996 | The Big Squeeze | Tanya Mulhill | |
| 1997 | Red Meat | Ruth | |
| Farmer & Chase | Hillary | ||
| Afterglow | Marianne Byron | ||
| 1998 | Happiness | Helen Jordan | |
| Susan's Plan | Betty Johnson | ||
| 2000 | Chain of Fools | Karen | |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Serleena | Nominated-Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress |
| 2003 | Speaking of Sex | Dr. Emily Paige | |
| 2006 | Land of the Blind | First Lady | |
| Fwiends.com | Yuppie girl | Short film | |
| 2007 | Have Dreams, Will Travel | Ben's Mother | |
| 2009 | Baby on Board | Mary | |
| Life Is Hot in Cracktown | Betty McBain | ||
| 2010 | Cougar Hunting | Kathy | |
| 2013 | Hansel & Gretel Get Baked | Witch Agnes | also credited as associate producer[17] |
| 2014 | Lucky Dog | Ms. Donley |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Jack and Mike | Leslie | Episode: "Quality of Mercy" |
| Amerika | Jackie Bradford | 5 episodes | |
| Sable | Melanie Waterston | Episode: "Toy Gun" | |
| 1989 | Terror on Highway 91 | Laura Taggart | TV movie |
| The Preppie Murder | Jennifer Levin | TV movie | |
| 1990–1991 | Twin Peaks | Donna Hayward | 30 episodes |
| 1991 | The Hidden Room | Nicole | Episode: "Splinters of Privacy" |
| May Wine | Cammie | TV movie | |
| 1994 | Past Tense | Tory Bass/Sabrina James | TV movie |
| Jacob | Rachel | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Legend | Theresa Dunleavy | Episode: "Skeletons in the Closet" |
| 1997–2003 | The Practice | Helen Gamble | 116 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1999–2001) |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Helen Gamble | Episode: "Making Spirits Bright" |
| Since You've Been Gone | Grace Williams | TV movie | |
| 2002 | Ally McBeal | Tally Cupp | Episode: "Tom Dooley" |
| 2004–2005 | Huff | Melody Coatar | 5 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | Las Vegas | Monica Mancuso | 8 episodes |
| 2006 | The House Next Door | Col Kennedy | TV movie |
| Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story | Barbara Amiel | TV movie | |
| 2008 | Law & Order | Dawn Talley | Episode: "Submission" |
References
- ^ "Lara Flynn Boyle Biography (1970-)". www.filmreference.com.
- ^ "Marriage Announcement 4 -- No Title". Chicago Tribune. 1969-03-23.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ Kilian, Michael (1997-10-05). "Thanks, Ma Lara Flynn Boyle Remains Grounded By Her Chicago Roots". Chicago Tribune.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ "Lara Flynn Boyle Online – TWOH Interview – Page 3 of 6". Archived from the original on 2002-08-05.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Jamie Diamond. "Tough Cookie, Snug Retreat: At Home with Lara Flynn Boyle", The New York Times, 27 July 2002, page F6
- ^ "Twin Peaks: How Laura Palmer's death marked the rebirth of TV drama". thegaurdian. US. March 20, 2010.
- ^ Moldovan, Raluca (June 1, 2015). "'That Show You Like Might Be Coming Back in Style': How Twin Peaks Changed the Face of Contemporary Television". American, British and Canadian Studies Journal. 24 (1). doi:10.1515/abcsj-2015-0003. ISSN 1841-964X.
- ^ Williams, Rebecca (June 3, 2016). "Ontological Security, Authorship, and Resurrection: Exploring Twin Peaks' Social Media Afterlife". Cinema Journal. 55 (3): 143–147. doi:10.1353/cj.2016.0029. ISSN 1527-2087.
- ^ Garner, Ross P. (June 3, 2016). ""The Series That Changed Television"?: Twin Peaks, "Classic" Status, and Temporal Capital". Cinema Journal. 55 (3): 137–142. doi:10.1353/cj.2016.0020. ISSN 1527-2087.
- ^ Crouch, Ian (October 7, 2014). "Some Thoughts on the Planned Return of Twin Peaks". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
- ^ Anthony, Andrew (March 20, 2010). "Twin Peaks: How Laura Palmer's death marked the rebirth of TV drama". The Observer. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Details of "Submission", 2008 episode of Law & Order at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "Next stop: 'Cracktown' for 6 actors". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Skeels, Virginia (August 9, 2012). "Lara Flynn Boyle's leggings accentuate her matchstick-thin legs (but at least she's eating)". Daily Mail. London.
- ^ "Lara Flynn Boyle Weds" December 20, 2006 People Magazine
- ^ "Lara's reality show". Archived from the original on October 6, 2010.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ end credits and https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2081194/fullcredits?ref_=ttco_sa_1
External links
- 1970 births
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Chicago
- Actresses from Iowa
- Actresses from Wisconsin
- Actresses of Italian descent
- American film actresses
- American people of German descent
- American people of Irish descent
- American people of Italian descent
- American television actresses
- Living people
- People from Davenport, Iowa