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David Duchovny
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David Duchovny made his film debut in Working Girl (1988), as one of the guests hiding in the bathroom at Tess's surprise birthday party.
Privacy is something I have come to respect. I think when I was younger I wanted to tell everybody everything, because I thought I was so damn interesting. Then I heard the snoring.
David Duchovny
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David William Duchovny
7 August 1960, New York City, New York
David William Duchovny (born August 7, 1960) is an American actor, writer and director. He has won Golden Globe awards for his work as FBI Special Agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files and as Hank Moody on Californication.
Duchovny was born in New York City, New York, the son of Margaret "Meg" (née Miller), a school administrator and teacher, and Amram Ducovny (1927–2003), a writer and publicist who worked for the American Jewish Committee. David's paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine, and his mother is a Lutheran immigrant from Aberdeen, Scotland. His father dropped the h in his last name to avoid the sort of mispronunciations he encountered while serving in the Army.
Duchovny attended Grace Church School and The Collegiate School For Boys; both are in Manhattan. He graduated from Princeton University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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. He remained with the series until quitting in 2001, partly because of a contract dispute that occurred after season seven finished filming. 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.
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 Conan O'Brien's late night show 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." 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 also 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 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. The film starred Anton Yelchin, Robin Williams, and Duchovny's wife Tea Leoni in a coming-of-age tale. It received mostly poor reviews and little box office success. 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.
Paul Ruffino, the studio executive in charge of casting The X-Files show and later Duchovny's role model for the Hank Moody character on Californication, was very positive towards him. According to Carter, Duchovny turned out to be one of the best-read people he knew. 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.
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. 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. On October 21, 2008, Duchovny's lawyer said that he plans to sue the U.K.'s 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. On November 15, 2008, the Daily Mail printed a retraction stating that the story "is inaccurate and Ms. Pakay and Mr. Duchovny are only friends who used to play tennis occasionally". Duchovny and Leoni once again split on June 29, 2011.
Duchovny is a former vegetarian and a current pescetarian.
In 1996, People magazine named him one of its 50 Most Beautiful People.
On August 28, 2008, Duchovny announced that he had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for treating sex addiction.
Filed a $25 million lawsuit against the producers and syndicators of "The X Files" (1993) alleging he's been cheated of his contractual share of profits from series.
Daughter Madelaine West Duchovny born April 24th, 1999, 2nd child son Kyd Miller Duchovny born June 15th, 2002.
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1996]
Dated Sheryl Lee and actress Perrey Reeves (June 1994 to 1996).
When he isn't in Vancouver to shoot "The X Files" (1993), he resides in Malibu, California.
Played scholarship-level basketball during some of his high school and college career. He had an accident while playing basketball in high school which damaged his right eye.
Family: His father's name was Amram. From a Russian-Jewish family he was a Brooklyn-born publicist for the American Jewish Commitee, died on 23 August 2003 from heart disease. His mother's name is Margaret. She is of Scottish ancestry. Brother, Daniel Ducovny, sister Laurie, and a stepbrother named Jonathan Sahula. Duchovny means 'spiritual' in Russian.
He is known to be a sports fan, and has appeared on MTV's "Rock n' Jock Softball Game".
Is a former vegetarian but does not consume red meat.
While at Yale, he was classmates with Jennifer Beals, whom Duchovny suggested for a part on "The X Files" (1993) (it eventually went to Gillian Anderson).
Was partially responsible for moving the filming of "The X Files" (1993) series from Vancouver to California.
Has an allergic reaction to metal which prevents him from wearing his wedding ring at times.
Was the subject of the song "David Duchovny" by Bree Sharp.
He kept three dogs and four cats as a child.
He does a very good impersonation of Jeff Goldblum, as demonstrated during his appearance on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
Was ABD ("All But Dissertation") when he left Yale, so he never actually received his graduate degree. The title of his uncompleted doctoral thesis was "Magic and Technology in Contemporary Poetry and Prose."
Friends with actor Ron Eldard.
His mother taught at Grace Church School in N.Y.C. and had a portion of the building named after her when she retired.
Speaks French, Hebrew and Latin.
Stayed in 411 Witherspoon Hall his freshman year at Princeton.
Uncle of twin boys Gabriel and Luca (b. May 2004), sons of his sister Laurie and brother-in-law Michael Birnbaum.
Very good friends with Nicholas Lea, who played his nemesis Alex Krycek on "The X Files" (1993).
Appeared on the Celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2000. He was the first celebrity in the hot seat. He answered 13 questions correctly giving him $250,000 for his charity. However, he then answered his $500,000 incorrectly resulting in a $218,000 loss and he left with $32,000.
Checked himself into a rehabilitation center seeking treatment for sex addiction. Completed rehab on October 7, 2008. On October 15th just 8 Days after completing Rehab, David announced that he and his wife Téa Leoni had been separated for several months. April 2009 Rumors started circulating that the couple had recently reunited. Although neither David or Tea have confirmed reuniting. [August 2008]
Loves dogs. Hated making the scene where agent Mulder was being mauled by a dog and forced to attack the dog for The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008).
Is a New York Yankees Fan.
Former boyfriend of Maggie Wheeler.
Was best man at Mitch Pileggi's second wedding.
Birthday is two days before "The X Files" (1993) co-star Gillian Anderson). He is eight years her senior.
Celebrated his 10th birthday on Erraid, a small island off the west coast of Scotland.
Is the only actor to win a Golden Globe for both Drama and Comedy.
Is the only cast member of "The X Files" (1993) to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
Now Resides in New York City, New York ( Fall 2008 ).
I never, ever, ever cook. And I would never eat anything I might cook.
I'm half Jewish, half Scottish. It's hard for me to buy anything.
I've always been overly concerned about what people think which has resulted in a lot of inner turmoil. I try not to give a damn but inside I'm a huge ball of worry.
If you're smart, you'll always be humble. You can learn all you want, but there'll always be somebody who's never read a book who'll know twice what you know.
I'm frightened by the possibilities of my own lack of talent.
I think I'm nice enough to look at, but I think people make a big deal about my appearance. I think it was like hypnosis, like all of the sudden everybody's been trained: 'OK, now cluck like a chicken!' 'OK, now say David Duchovny's handsome!' I mean, I was a normal-looking kid, and whoever you are and whatever you look like, there are always things you want to change. I just remember that I wished I was blond. And I wished that my nose were smaller and my lips were smaller and my eyes were bigger... you know, everything.
[On his role as Agent Fox Mulder on "The X-Files"] "It's pretty workaday, people don't seem to realize: You get up, you take a shower, you read the paper, you play Mulder." (from June 1998 "Entertainment Weekly" interview)
[About "The X-Files"] "I get tired of people asking if I believe in what's presented on the show. They don't ask the guys on 'E.R.' if they believe in euthanasia." (from Oct. 1997 "Chicago Tribune" interview)
Fame does lead to money, which I don't have a close relationship with. I'm the kind of guy who never sees the money -- it all goes somewhere else. I don't understand it, I don't like to deal with it. I have a fear of not having it, because I grew up without it.
Any scene where I can use a pipette, I'm happy. - on one of his scenes from Evolution
About his on screen chemistry with Gillian Anderson: It is nice and natural with Gillian, It was nice to work with her again. I don't know why we have such good chemistry it is really mystical. We have always worked really well together. It is always easy to work with her.
People say the world changes all the time, and yet human nature remains the same. I think what's changed is the size of our cell phones.
On how his relationship with Gillian Anderson is now: It is very good yes it is. We have a very good relationship. Different than when it was when we were shooting the X-Files, we are both not exhausted all the time.
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