Kyle MacLachlan | |
|---|---|
 MacLachlan in 2017 | |
| Born | Kyle McLachlan (1959-02-22)February 22, 1959 (age 66) Yakima, Washington, U.S. |
| Education | University of Washington (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Kyle MacLachlan[a][1] (/məkˈlɒklən/mək-LOK-lən;néMcLachlan, February 22, 1959)[2] is an American actor. He is best known for his collaborations withDavid Lynch, having portrayed his role asDale Cooper thrice inTwin Peaks (1990–1991,2017), which won him aGolden Globe and nominations for twoPrimetime Emmy Awards, and its film prequelTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), as well as playingPaul Atreides inDune (1984) and Jeffrey Beaumont inBlue Velvet (1986). MacLachlan's other film roles include Lloyd Gallagher inThe Hidden (1987),Ray Manzarek inThe Doors (1991), Cliff Vandercave inThe Flintstones (1994), Zack Carey inShowgirls (1995), and Riley's father in the two films of theInside Out film series (2015, 2024).
In addition toTwin Peaks, MacLachlan has had prominent roles on television such as Trey MacDougal onSex and the City (2000–2002),Orson Hodge onDesperate Housewives (2006–2012), The Captain onHow I Met Your Mother (2010–2014) andHow I Met Your Father (2022), the Mayor of Portland onPortlandia (2011–2018),Calvin Johnson onAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2014–2015), and Hank MacLean onFallout (2024–present).
MacLachlan was born Kyle McLachlan atYakima Valley Memorial Hospital inYakima, Washington.[3] His mother, Catherine (née Stone;[4] 1934–1986),[5] was apublic relations director for aschool district[6][7] and ahomemaker who was active incommunity arts programs.[8] His father, Kent Alan McLachlan (1933–2011),[1] was a stockbroker and lawyer.[4][8] Kyle hasScottish,German andCornish ancestry.[9] He grew up in Yakima as the eldest of three boys, alongside his younger brothers, Craig and Kent Jr.[8][10][1][11] MacLachlan graduated fromEisenhower High School in Yakima.[12] His mother left his father when he was 17,[7][13] and his parents divorced in his senior year of high school.[8][10][14]
MacLachlan was introduced to stage acting by his mother when she became director of a youth theater program for teenagers that she helped set up in Yakima.[7][8] She also sent him topiano lessons from the age of 9 to 14, when he also began to studyclassical singing.[8][15] While in high school, he performed in plays and in class musicals, acting in his first play at age 15.[6][8] In his senior year, he had the lead role of Brindsley Miller in a production ofPeter Shaffer's one-act playBlack Comedy, and performed as Henry Higgins inMy Fair Lady. In 1982, he graduatedcum laude with aBFA in drama from theUniversity of Washington (UW) as a student of the Professional Actor Training Program.[16][17] He initially planned tomajor in business[8] and also studiedclassical voice at UW,[18] but changed his focus to acting.[8]
The first film MacLachlan worked on wasThe Changeling (1980), part of which was shot on the University of Washington campus. He was paid $10 as anextra.[17]
In the summer of 1981, after his sophomore year at college, he played the lead in three roles at the Old Lyric Repertory Theatre inLogan, Utah, and the following summer with theOregon Shakespeare Festival inAshland, Oregon.[19]
MacLachlan made his film debut inDune (1984) in the starring role ofPaul Atreides.[20] MacLachlan was performing inMolière'sTartuffe at a Seattle-area theater when acasting agent forDune producerDino De Laurentiis began searching for a young lead and received multiple recommendations for him. After several screen tests, he hit it off with directorDavid Lynch, aided by their commonPacific Northwest backgrounds, and succeeded in winning the part.[8] This marked the beginning ofa creative partnership between MacLachlan and Lynch, who would go on to collaborate on four more projects before Lynch's death in 2025.[21]
AfterDune flopped and met with poor reviews from critics, MacLachlan found it difficult to find work. He moved toLos Angeles in 1985,[8][22] and auditioned for several films, includingTop Gun, but failed to win any roles, eventually dropping his agent.[8]
Lynch cast MacLachlan in the starring role of Jeffrey Beaumont inBlue Velvet (1986), which was received more positively.[8] Reflecting on his enduring relationship with Lynch in a 2012 interview, MacLachlan remarked: "David Lynch plucked me from obscurity. He cast me as the lead inDune andBlue Velvet, and people have seen me as this boy-next-door-cooking-up-something-weird-in-the-basement ever since."[23] Lynch biographer Chris Rodley described MacLachlan as an on-screen incarnation of Lynch's own persona.[24]
He starred in the 1987 science fiction action filmThe Hidden as FBI agent Lloyd Gallagher.[25] He also had a small role in the romantic comedyDon't Tell Her It's Me.
MacLachlan further collaborated with Lynch in the ABC television seriesTwin Peaks (1990–91), playingSpecial Agent Dale Cooper, reprising that role for Lynch's 1992 prequel filmTwin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Lynch commented on those roles in aGQ story about MacLachlan: "Kyle plays innocents who are interested in the mysteries of life. He's the person you trust enough to go into a strange world with."[6] MacLachlan also said he considered Lynch one of his mentors that had a "monumental impact" on him.[26] Lynch, who was known to allow his collaborative partners a large degree of control over their roles when working with him, rewrote scenes inBlue Velvet andTwin Peaks at the request of MacLachlan, who felt they were not right for his characters.[27]
MacLachlan appeared as musicianRay Manzarek inOliver Stone's 1991 filmThe Doors, aboutthe band of the same name.[28] He had previously turned down Stone's offer to play Chris in the 1986 moviePlatoon, which ultimately went toCharlie Sheen.[29] Also, in 1991, he played the role of a killer inTales from the Crypt.[30] In the1993 film version ofFranz Kafka'sThe Trial, with a screenplay byHarold Pinter, MacLachlan played the lead role of the persecuted Josef K.[31]
MacLachlan co-starred withSamuel L. Jackson as arookieprison guard inJohn Frankenheimer's 1994 Emmy-winningHBO filmAgainst the Wall about theAttica prison riots.[32] In 1994, he was also featured inThe Flintstones, a live-action movie adaptation of theanimated sitcom of the same name, portraying Cliff Vandercave, the movie's main antagonist, oppositeJohn Goodman asFred Flintstone andRick Moranis asBarney Rubble.[29]
In 1995, MacLachlan starred inPaul Verhoeven'sShowgirls. The movie was heavily panned by critics,[33] and it collected a record sevenGolden Raspberry Awards.[34] MacLachlan recalls that when he watchedShowgirls for the first time before the premiere, he thought it was "horrible". But he later realised that the movie was "inadvertently funny" and embraced for itscampiness.[29][35] According to MacLachlan, although he skipped the movie'spress tour, he had sat through the whole screening, contrary to reports that he walked out.[35]
From 2000 to 2002, MacLachlan had a recurring role in the American television seriesSex and the City, portrayingDr. Trey MacDougal, the one-time husband ofCharlotte York (Kristin Davis).[29] MacLachlan playedKing Claudius in the 2000 filmHamlet based onWilliam Shakespeare's play.[10] In the video gameGrand Theft Auto III released in 2001, he voiced the character of the sociopathic real-estate developer Donald Love.[36] In 2002, he made hisWest End debut inJohn Kolvenbach'sOn an Average Day withWoody Harrelson.[37][38]
In 2003, MacLachlan made hisBroadway debut as Aston in Harold Pinter'sThe Caretaker withPatrick Stewart.[39] He portrayed the spirit ofCary Grant in the 2004 filmTouch of Pink.[40] His resemblance to Grant had been previously noted in an episode ofTwin Peaks. That same year he also had a guest role inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, in which he played a psychiatrist who shot and killed asociopathic child who had murdered his son.[41] He was a guest star in the show again in 2011, as a politician whose son is involved in a rape accusation.[42]
In 2006, after starring in the short-livedIn Justice, MacLachlan appeared inDesperate Housewives as the mysterious dentistOrson Hodge.[29] He first appeared during the show's second season, and became a full-time cast member at the start of season three.[43][44] In 2007, MacLachlan was one of the presenters at theLondon leg ofLive Earth benefit concerts.[45] He appeared in the 2008 filmThe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.[46] In the American English version of the cult 2006Norwegian animated filmFree Jimmy released in 2008, he voiced the character of "Marius", a militantanimal rights activist.[47]
In 2010, after four years of playing Orson Hodge, MacLachlan decided to leaveDesperate Housewives as he found the commute from his home in New York City to the set inLos Angeles increasingly difficult since becoming a father in 2008.[48][49] However, he returned as a guest star in 2012 for season eight, the final season ofDesperate Housewives.[50] He also guest starred as George "The Captain" Van Smoot in seasons six, eight and nine ofHow I Met Your Mother, from 2010 until 2014.[51] He would reprise the role in the first season of the spinoffHow I Met Your Father in 2022.[52]
From 2011 to 2018, he played the role of Mayor ofPortland,Oregon, in theIFCcomedyPortlandia.[29][53] In 2013 and 2014 he appeared as prosecutor Josh Perotti in four episodes ofThe Good Wife.[54] In 2014 and 2015 he appeared in theMarvel Cinematic Universe television seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as villainCalvin Johnson / The Doctor.[55][56] In 2015, he voiced Riley Anderson's father in thePixar animated featureInside Out.[57] In January 2015, it was announced that MacLachlan would return as Special Agent Dale Cooper for the new limited television seriesTwin Peaks: The Return,[58] which debuted on May 21, 2017.[59] In an interview, MacLachlan said he doesn't understand all ofTwin Peaks, and that fans understand it much more than him.[26]
In 2018, MacLachlan starred as Isaac Izard, the main antagonist in the fantasy-horror family filmThe House with a Clock in its Walls.[60] In 2019, he appeared as a team owner inSteven Soderbergh'sHigh Flying Bird which was shot entirely on theiPhone 8.[61] Later that year, he co-starred inCarol's Second Act, from the writers ofBooksmart.[62] The series was canceled in 2020.[63]
At the11th Annual Governors Awards, held on October 27, 2019, MacLachlan and hisBlue Velvet co-star Laura Dern paid tribute to their friend and collaborator David Lynch, who received anAcademy Honorary Award for his work.[64]
In 2020, he reunited with hisHamlet co-starEthan Hawke, portrayingThomas Edison opposite Hawke'sTesla.[65] Later that year, he made an uncredited cameo appearance inHBO'sHow To with John Wilson, whichVulture described as "a glorious 14 seconds".[66] He then portrayedFranklin D. Roosevelt inAtlantic Crossing, which aired onMasterpiece in 2021.[67]
In 2022, MacLachlan co-starred withJon Hamm inConfess, Fletch[68] and was also cast asChief Justice Earl Warren inMiranda's Victim.[69] From 2023 to 2024, he returned to voiceover work with a guest-starring role onHulu'sFuturama[70] and reprised his role as Riley's dad inPixar'sInside Out 2 andDisney+'sDream Productions.[71]
MacLachlan also co-hosted and co-createdPodcastOne'sVarnamtown podcast withEpic Magazine co-founderJoshua Davis. The true crime series exploresVarnamtown, North Carolina's ties toPablo Escobar.[72]
In 2024, he was honored with theCanal+ Icon Award atCanneseries ahead of his role inAmazon'sFallout, the adaptation of thepopular video game series.[73] It was quickly renewed for a second season in April 2024[74] followed by an early renewal for a third season in May 2025.[75] In a review of the second season,The Seattle Times wrote that his increased screen time “gives the great actor room to be both goofy and menacing in equal measure, even when he’s not saying a word.”[76]
In September 2024, he was cast alongsideConnie Britton inOvercompensating, a college-set comedy series created by and starringBenito Skinner.[77] The series premiered in May 2025 to positive reviews[78] and was renewed for a second season in September 2025.[79]
In January 2025, theWGAW announced that MacLachlan wouldposthumously present theLaurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement to David Lynch,[80] who had died earlier that month.[81] MacLachlan had previously honored his longtime friend and collaborator with tributes inThe New York Times,[82]GQ[83] and on his personal Instagram account, where he wrote, "I was willing to follow him anywhere because joining him on the journey of discovery, searching and finding together, was the whole point. I stepped out into the unknown because I knew David was floating out there with me. It's like Agent Cooper says to Sheriff Truman inTwin Peaks: 'I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange.' I will miss my dear friend. He has made my world—all of our worlds—both wonderful and strange".[84]
In September 2025, MacLachlan appeared once again alongside hisHamlet andTesla co-star Ethan Hawke inFX’sThe Lowdown, a new series fromReservation Dogs creatorSterlin Harjo.[85] That same month, MacLachlan launched his second podcast,What Are We Even Doing?, a weekly series in which he interviews younger actors and artists about their creative processes. Distributed byiHeartRadio’sElvis Duran Podcast Network, the podcast has featured guests such asKaia Gerber,Dylan O’Brien, Benito Skinner, andCaleb Hearon.[86]
MacLachlan's mother died ofovarian cancer in 1986, aged 52, shortly beforeBlue Velvet was released.[6][10][13] She had been diagnosed while he was filmingDune in 1983, and delayed informing him of the diagnosis.[10][87] His father died of post-surgery complications in 2011.[4]
MacLachlan dated hisBlue Velvet co-starLaura Dern from 1985 to 1989.[6][88] Subsequently, he was in a relationship withTwin Peaks co-starLara Flynn Boyle from 1990 to 1992.[6][15] In 1992, after his relationship with Boyle ended, he began a relationship with supermodelLinda Evangelista after they met at aphoto shoot they did together forBarneys New York. According to MacLachlan, they had been engaged for a few years when their six-year relationship ended in 1998.[7][10][89]
In 1999, he met and began a relationship withpublicistDesiree Gruber.[10][13] Gruber runs her own public relations agency; she became anexecutive producer ofProject Runway in 2004.[37][90] MacLachlan moved to New York City because he was filmingSex and the City and Gruber was based there.[13] They were married on April 20, 2002.[11] Their son was born on July 25, 2008.[91] The family has residences in Los Angeles and New York.[18][92]
MacLachlan, awine lover, co-founded Pursued by Bear with vintner Eric Dunham in 2005 under Dunham Cellars inWalla Walla, Washington.[93][94] The name, inspired byShakespeare'sThe Winter's Tale, comes from thestage direction "Exit, pursued by a bear."[95] Recognized as one of Washington's top-rated labels, Pursued by Bear produces five wines: Twin Bear, Pursued by Bear, Baby Bear, Blushing Bear, and Bear Cub.[93][96]
In 2024, MacLachlan’sInstagram andTikTok accounts gained attention for his engagement withviral trends andpopular culture. His posts, which featured music and inspiration from artists likeLorde,Chappell Roan, andCharli XCX'sBrat, received positive reactions from the artists themselves. Multiple publications praised his ability to connect with aGen-Z audience and affectionately elevated him to "babygirl" status.[97][98][99][100][101]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Dream Breakers | Bobby O'Connor | Television film |
| 1990–1991 | Twin Peaks | Dale Cooper | 30 episodes |
| 1990 | Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Kyle MacLachlan/Sinéad O'Connor" |
| The American Experience | Narrator | Episode: "Insanity on Trial" | |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Earl Raymond Digs | Episode: "Carrion Death" |
| 1994 | Against the Wall | Michael Smith | Television film |
| Roswell | Jesse A. Marcel | ||
| 1995 | The Conversation | Harry Caul | Pilot |
| 1996 | Moonshine Highway | Jed Muldoon | Television film |
| 1997 | Windsor Protocol | Sean Dillon | |
| 1998 | Thunder Point | ||
| Route 9 | Booth Parker | ||
| The Invisible Man | Jack Griffin | Pilot | |
| 2000 | The Spring | Dennis Conway | Television film |
| 2000–2002 | Sex and the City | Trey MacDougal | 23 episodes |
| 2002 | Jo | Role unknown | Pilot |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Brett Morton | Episode: "Conscience" |
| The Librarian: Quest for the Spear | Edward Wilde | Television film | |
| 2005 | Mysterious Island | Cyrus Smith | |
| 2006 | In Justice | David Swain | 13 episodes |
| 2006–2012 | Desperate Housewives | Orson Hodge | 85 episodes |
| 2010–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | George Van Smoot / The Captain | 7 episodes |
| 2011 | The Doctor | Jason | Pilot |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Andrew Raines | Episode: "Blood Brothers" | |
| 2011–2018 | Portlandia | Mayor of Portland | 24 episodes |
| 2012 | Made in Jersey | Donovan Stark | 8 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | The Good Wife | Josh Perotti | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Believe | Roman Skouras | 12 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Calvin Johnson / The Doctor | 13 episodes |
| 2016 | Gravity Falls | Bus Driver | Voice, episode: "Weirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls"[102] |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks: The Return | Dale Cooper | 18 episodes |
| 2018 | American Dad! | Del | Voice, episode: "Paranoid Frandroid" |
| 2019–2020 | Carol's Second Act | Dr. Frost | 18 episodes |
| 2020 | How to With John Wilson | Himself | Episode: "How to Make Small Talk"; uncredited |
| Atlantic Crossing | Franklin D. Roosevelt | 8 episodes | |
| 2022 | Joe vs. Carole | Howard Baskin | 8 episodes[103] |
| How I Met Your Father | George Van Smoot / The Captain | 2 episodes | |
| 2023 | Lucky Hank | Dickie Pope | 2 episodes |
| 2023–2025 | Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures | Draiven Bosh | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2023–2024 | Futurama | Dung Beetle Majordomo, Himself | Voices, 2 episodes |
| 2024–present | Fallout | Hank MacLean | 8 episodes |
| 2024 | Dream Productions | Bill Andersen | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Primos | Bill | Voice, episode: "Summer of Sueños" |
| Overcompensating | John | 2 episodes[104] | |
| The Lowdown | Donald Washberg[105] | 8 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Dune | Paul Atreides | Likeness, credited with "Special Thanks" |
| 2001 | Grand Theft Auto III | Donald Love[102] | Voice |
| 2021 | Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | Voice Archival recordings Remaster ofGrand Theft Auto III only[106] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Tartuffe | Damis | Empty Space Theatre |
| 1988 | The Palace of Amateurs | Terrence Beebe | Minetta Lane Theatre |
| 2002 | On An Average Day | Jack | Harold Pinter Theatre |
| 2003–2004 | The Caretaker | Aston | American Airlines Theatre |
actor Kyle MacLachlan in 1959 (age 62);
