David Duchovny

The Early Years

David William Duchovny was born August 7, 1960 in New York City, New York, to Amram and Margaret Duchovny. He has a brother, award-winning director Daniel and a sister, Laurie. After attending the prestigious Collegiate School for Boys in New York (he was class valedictorian), he graduated from Princeton University and later from Yale University with bachelor and master's degrees in English Literature. He started work on his Ph.D., but has yet to finish. While in college he played both basketball and baseball.

He began acting while attending Yale, performing in several college plays. He would soon commute to New York City to study at the Actor's Studio under the guidance of Marcia Haufrecht. One of his first acting jobs was in a 1987 Löwenbräu beer commercial, which led to a part in the box office fiasco, New Year's Day. While the movie was not a hit, David Duchovny did get noticed and soon dropped out of the doctorate program at Yale. He soon landed a few more small movie parts, all of which brought him to a recurring role on Twin Peaks as transvestite DEA agent Denise. He later narrated the long-running Showtime series The Red Shoe Diaries.

His Big Break: The X-Files

With Gillian Anderson

In 1993, a little television show called The X-Files made David Duchovny and his character Agent Fox "Spooky" Mulder, a household name. While the actor felt connected to the part when he auditioned, he also felt it wouldn't last long. He was wrong. The X-Files, which also saw the rising success of actress Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully). Everyone wanted to know if a romantic relationship would start between the two characters (it never happened).

The show lasted nine seasons and many times over the years, Duchovny tried leaving, but was always drawn back. Besides winning several awards, The X-Files allowed David Duchovny a chance to write and direct episodes. The show brought him more success as an actor than anything he had previously done.

Californication

After The X-Files ended, David Duchovny was sporadically seen on television and the big screen. He landed parts in a variety of films, but none offered him quite the same success. It wasn't until Californication came to Showtime in 2007. Duchovny plays a sex-addicted, alcoholic writer whose wife and daughter left him. The show, picked up for a second season in 2008, also received a Golden Globe Award for Duchovny's portrayal.

More Television and Movie Success

With wife Téa Leoni

David Duchovny has appeared in numerous television and big screen movies over the years. Some were hits, while others weren't:

• Television
  • Sex and the City (2003)
  • Life with Bonnie (2002)
  • The Simpsons (1997)
  • The Red Shoe Diaries (1992-2001)
  • Twin Peaks (1990-1991)

• Movie
  • The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
  • Things We Lost in the Fire (2007)
  • Trust the Man (2005)
  • Connie and Carla (2004)
  • Full Frontal (2002)
  • Zoolander (2001)
  • Evolution (2001)
  • Return to Me (2000)
  • The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998)
  • Playing God (1997)
  • Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991)
  • Working Girl (1988)

Personal Life

On May 6, 1997, Duchovny married to actress Téa Leoni. Together, the Hollywood couple has two children: Madeline West and Kyd Miller. They reside in New York City, New York, after selling their Malibu, California home in September 2008 to actor Mel Gibson for $11.5 million.

In August 2008, the actor voluntarily entered rehab for treatment of a sexual addiction. It is unknown as to what triggered his decision, but has received support from his family. Just days after he was admitted, Leoni canceled her appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival where her movie Ghost Town was set to premiere. Because Duchovny portrays sex-crazed writer on Californication, some critics wonder if he will have to give up his role as part of his therapy or if he will have trouble breaking character. In the 1990s', rumors swirled that he was sex addict based on interviews Duchovny had with several magazines. However, the actor and his wife dismissed them.

Awards and Honors

• Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy, Californication (2008)
• TV Guide Award, Favorite Actor in a Drama, The X-Files (1999)
• American Comedy Award, Funniest Male Guest Appearance in a TV Series, The Larry Sanders Show (1999)
• Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Drama, The X-Files (1997)
• Golden Satellite Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama, The X-Files (1997)
• TV Prize, Best Foreign TV Personality - Male, The X-Files (1997)
• National Television Award, Most Popular Actor, The X-Files (1996)
• Universe Reader's Choice Award, Best Actor in a Genre TV Series, The X-Files (1995)

David Duchovny Trivia

• Duchovny is former vegetarian who does not eat red meat.
• He speaks French, Latin and Hebrew.
• He dated actresses Sheryl Lee and Perrey Reeves in the 1990s.
• Was named one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" in 1996.