David Duchovny Movies
Rocketing from obscure bit player to TV's resident über-sex god thanks to his role as FBI agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files, David Duchovny can claim to have had one of the 1990s' more remarkable career metamorphoses. Although his initial attempts to translate his TV stardom into celluloid success proved less than memorable, the tall, classically handsome actor has continued to enjoy a great deal of popularity, evidenced in particular by the countless estrogen-drenched internet shrines erected in his honor.Born in Manhattan on August 7, 1960, to a Jewish father and a Scottish mother, Duchovny did his undergraduate work at Princeton and then went on to pursue a Master's degree in English Literature at Yale. While working toward his degree, he began commuting to New York to study acting, and he was soon appearing in a few off-Broadway plays. His interest in acting ultimately eclipsed his dedication toward earning his degree, and Duchovny dropped out of Yale to pursue a career as a performer. He got his first break starring in a beer commercial, and in 1988, he made his film debut with a breathtakingly abbreviated appearance as a party guest in Mike Nichols's Working Girl. Work in a number of diverse and usually obscure films, including starring roles in Julia Has Two Lovers (1991), The Rapture (1991), and Kalifornia (1993), followed, but the actor was able to command a more steady paycheck from his TV work. Before The X-Files debuted in 1993, Duchovny was best-known to TV viewers as Dennis/Denise, Twin Peaks' resident transvestite detective.
As The X-Files steadily grew from cult favorite to mainstream success, becoming recognized as one of the most groundbreaking shows of the decade, Duchovny also began to enjoy both industry respect and huge audience popularity. Dubbed as the latest in a long line of thinking women's sex symbols, it was only a matter of time before he returned to the big screen, and with the 1997 thriller Playing God he did just that. Unfortunately, the film, which also starred Timothy Hutton and Angelina Jolie, was a huge flop, and aside from starring in the successful 1998 X-Files movie, Duchovny re-focused his energies on portraying his television alter ego. He returned to the screen in 2000 in the romantic comedy Return to Me, starring as a devastated widower who finds himself falling in love with the woman (Minnie Driver) who received his wife's heart in a transplant. Later that same year, Duchovny announced that he would be greatly diminishing his involvement with The X-Files, dismaying both fans and any number of 20th Century Fox executives; fortunately for all interested parties, he subsequently reached a settlement with Fox and announced he was returning full-time to the show. Lamenting the X-Files departure from storylines based on his popular character and citing respect for his fans, Duchovny vowed never to return to The X-Files in early 2001, though he did not rule out appearing in future features based on the popular series. That same year Duchovny appeared as a humorous varation on his "Spooky" persona in director Ivan Reitman's sci-fi comedy Evolution. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Veronica Hamel, who'd previously played a detective on the trail of a kidnapped baby, turns kidnapper herself in the made-for-TV The Baby Snatcher. After suffering a miscarriage, Hamel becomes convinced that she will lose her husband's love. Faking a new pregnancy, Hamel allows nine months to pass, then sneaks into the hospital maternity ward and steals another woman's infant. It takes the tireless efforts of Nancy McKeon, the baby's natural mother, to track down the clever but unhinged Hamel. Amazingly based on a true story, Baby Snatcher debuted on May 3, 1992. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Successful LA marketing analyst Michael Boll (James Spader) seemingly has it all-except a sense of self-confidence. Enigmatic drifter Alex (Rob Lowe) enters Michael's life and immediately begins to exert a negative influence. As Michael's self-esteem zooms (aided by generous dollops of sex and drugs) he allows himself to be dragooned into a life of crime by the demonic Alex. The "doppelganger" aspects of Bad Influence, and the film's many unexpected twists and turns, echo films of Alfred Hitchcock, especially Strangers on a Train. The film's boldest stroke is to cast the likeable Lowe as the bad guy (albeit a charming one) and the often villainous Spader as the malleable milquetoast. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Lowe, James Spader, (more)
Feeling that something is lacking in their lives, the family of suburbanite Charles Grodin adopts a stray St. Bernard puppy. The cute lite beast grows up to be the less-than-cute Beethoven, a sloppy, slobbery, oversized and extremely destructive animal. Beethoven also brings with him a lot of hidden baggage in the form of evil veterinarian Dean Jones, who'll stop at nothing to steal Beethoven for the purposes of his insidious lab experiment. Several sequels followed, beginning with 1993 Beethoven's Second. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, (more)
- 2007
Former X-Files star David Duchovny played for laughs rather than chills in this Hollywood-based Showtime dramedy, which first aired August 13, 2007. Duchovny was cast as writer Hank Moody, whose highly acclaimed best-selling novel "God Hates Us All" had been made into an innocuous romantic comedy film with Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise named "A Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The novel, alas, may have been the summit of Hank's literary career; after a lengthy professional slump, he was suffering from the mother of all midlife crises. To boost his tattered self-esteem, Hank had turned to booze and drugs, to say nothing of his innumerable one-night stands with an endless parade of nameless starlets, waitresses, and assorted floozies. As a result, his relationship with his 12-year-old daughter, Becca (Madeleine Martin), was somewhat shaky; while Becca's mother, Karen (Natascha McElhone), weary of Hank's self-destructive hedonism in particular and the L.A. scene in general, had become engaged to another man. At the same time, Hank's brief fling with a girl named Mia (Madeline Zima) would prove to sobering long-range ramifications...but we're getting ahead of ourselves. Rounding out the cast was Evan Handler as Charlie, Hank's agent and best friend (a unique combination in La-La Land!). The weekly Californication had originally been conceived as a theatrical feature by series creator Tom Kapinos, who'd been inspired by the famous cautionary bumper sticker "Don't Californicate Oregon." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
The eternally unlucky-in-love Roz (Peri Gilpin) begins dating one of Niles' (David Hyde Pierce) patients. Armed with the knowledge that Roz's new beau is a serial womanizer, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) agonizes over how to break the news to her without violating the standard psychiatrist-patient confidentiality. As a result of Frasier's veiled and somewhat convoluted warnings, Roz leaps to the conclusion that he himself has fallen in love with her. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2007
UCSB alumnus Rick Greenwald documents the final week of the Caltech basketball team's 2006 season. The Caltech team's 240-game conference losing streak has spanned two decades, and this season's lineup includes five valedictorians who never played high-school basketball. David Duchovny narrates as the determined athletes search for that ever-elusive single win. Despite being mocked by opposing fans and facing remarkable adversity, the Caltech players strive to maintain the dedication, discipline, and heart of a championship team. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Dow, Jordan Carlson, (more)
Born as a series of three-minute chucklers on Icebox.com (and aired later on the Showtime pay-cable network), veteran Simpsons-producer Mike Reiss' giddily irreverent tale of a homosexual duck (voiced by Jim J. Bullock) determined to re-define his sexual orientation comes flaming to life on the big screen courtesy of director/animator Xeth Feinberg. With special appearances by Conan O' Brien, Mark Hammill, David Duchovny, Tim Curry, Bruce Vilanch, and Billy West, this lightning fast collection of gags, pop-culture riffs, and catchy tunes follows the web-footed, unlucky-in-love fowl as he navigates the sometimes perilous gay scene. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim J. Bullock, Jackie Hoffman, (more)
- 1995
This 1995 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by David Duchovny and features musical guest Rod Stewart. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Rod Stewart, (more)
- 1998
This 1998 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by David Duchovny and features musical guest Puff Daddy. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Sean Combs, (more)
- 1996
When Larry (Garry Shandling) catches wind that the network reps may be grooming guest host Jon Stewart to fill a more permanent position on the show, an embittered Larry will stop at nothing to see that Stewart's career on The Larry Sanders Show is put on ice. With sabotage on the brain, Larry schemes to steal Stewart's illustrious guests and replace them with Charles Nelson Reilly. Meanwhile, Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) purchases an unreliable car from Elvis Costello, leaving the sidekick at odds with how to handle the situation. As the battle between the hosts pans out, Larry is somewhat disturbed at the affection showered upon him by David Duchovny, who seems to seek a bit more than Larry's friendship. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Desperate for an A-list guest as his final show draws ever closer, Larry (Garry Shandling) determines that he must overcome his discomfort with affectionate old friend David Duchovny in order to secure an appearance from the X-Files star. Meanwhile, Artie (Rip Torn) struggles to keep the emotional staff afloat in hopes of producing a memorable swan song for The Larry Sanders Show. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Fed up that he has been bumped from the show nine times in a row, comedian Jeff Cesario is somewhat placated by Larry's (Garry Shandling) promise that he will most certainly be on the next show. Complications arise when Artie (Rip Torn) and Larry discover that not only has the next show been booked solid, but Hank's (Jeffrey Tambor) father has died, and the grief-stricken co-host has demanded tribute time on the show. When Artie and Larry decide that a guest must be cut, who will it be? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Season two of The X-Files came to a pulse-pounding conclusion with the cliffhanger episode "Anasazi." Courtesy of a computer hacker known as The Thinker (Bernie Coulson), Mulder comes into possession of an encrypted diskette which turns out to contain evidence of a wide-ranging official cover-up of UFO landings. On a more personal note, the evidence on the diskette leads to an uncomfortable reunion between Mulder and his father (Peter Donat). Without spoiling the ending, it can be noted that at least one major character vanishes without a trace -- and this coincides with yet another sinister appearance by the Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis). Written by X-Files creator Chris Carter and series co-star David Duchovny, "Anasazi" originally aired May 19, 1995. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
Mulder and Scully attempt to clear their boss, Assistant Director Skinner (Mitch Pileggi), of a murder charge. It seems that Skinner met a woman (Amanda Tapping) in a singles bar, then woke up beside the woman's dead -- and desecrated -- body. Not surprisingly, Skinner has been set up as a patsy by a group of government conspirators. Even so, the two agents learn more than they want to know about Skinner's private life. Co-written by series star David Duchovny and Howard Gordon, "Avatar" was originally broadcast April 26, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1995
Part one of a two-part X-Files drama, "Colony" originally aired February 10, 1995. Told in flashback, the episode traces the events leading up to Mulder's reunion with his sister, who was abducted by aliens 20 years earlier. At least, the woman (Megan Leitch) claims to be Mulder's sister, but Scully is none too convinced. Meanwhile, the search goes on for a serial killer capable of changing his shape at the slightest provocation (Brian Thompson). Ending with a truly chilling cliffhanger, "Colony" was written by Chris Carter, creator of The X-Files. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Having proven that they were not above self-parody with the earlier episode "X-Cops," the folks responsible for The X-Files served up another dose of satire with the April 30, 2000, episode "Hollywood A.D." Agent Mulder is hired as a technical adviser when one of his previous X-Files cases is transformed into a Hollywood movie. Presented in flashback, the actual events of the case are amusingly contrasted with the movie version, in which Garry Shandling plays Mulder and Téa Leoni (real-life wife of series star David Duchovny) portrays Scully. As production of the film continues, the real Mulder and Scully try to solve a few mysteries left dangling during their original investigation of the case. In addition to his usual duties as Mulder, Duchovny also wrote and directed "Hollywood A.D." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Before the black oil, the Cigarette Smoking Man, and the threat of global alien colonization, there was just Fox "Spooky" Mulder (David Duchovny) researching FBI cases with a paranormal bent in his basement office and Scully (Gillian Anderson), the skeptical agent with a degree in medicine and directions to debunk Mulder's findings. Thus, The X-Files: Season One is relatively devoid of the vast government conspiracy for which the series would become known, and serves mainly as an introduction to the show's two protagonists. Mulder, despite his reputation, is no kook; best in his class and well-known for his criminal profiling abilities, the rogue agent chose his path in hopes of finding his sister, Samantha, whom he witnessed -- or, at least, believes he witnessed -- being abducted by aliens. As eager as Mulder is to find an unearthly solution to his cases, Scully is equally determined to find an answer more consistent with the laws of science. Alone, both agents are somewhat blinded by their respective philosophies, but as partners they are able to complement one another nicely, and Scully's initial task is thrown to the wayside for a deep friendship and mutual respect that would test the boundaries of work, and ultimately the planet itself. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
With Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) firmly established as the believer and the skeptic, respectively, the second season of The X-Files picks up where the first left off -- with the X-Files closed and both agents in FBI-style exile, forced to work on tedious, non-paranormal assignments. Of course, this doesn't last long; some of the series' most pertinent characters are introduced, such as the seemingly omnipresent Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis), a shadowy informant known only as X, and the double-timing Agent Alex Krycek (Nicholas Lea). The second season also marks the true launch of the complex X-Files mythology, and is home to one of the milestones of the series itself, namely, Agent Scully's own abduction and its far-reaching consequences, including the infamous "Purity Control." Mulder, meanwhile, continues to search for answers regarding his sister's abduction and finds several disturbing clues through visits to his father. Complicating issues further is the existence of a seemingly indestructible -- and quite possibly not of this world -- bounty hunter. Luckily, there are also plenty of monster-of-the-week episodes to turn to when the conspiracy gets too deep. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
The conspiracy spiraled even further in the third season of The X-Files, which picks up with FBI Agent Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) on a desperate search for her missing partner, Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny). Though Mulder was left for dead after having suffered serious bodily harm in a train explosion, a group of Navajo Indians nursed him back to health and offered what help they could to the agents' quest to find the ever-elusive truth. Considered one of the strongest seasons of The X-Files, the 24 episodes in the third season contain some of the most complex and integral aspects of the series' far-reaching mythology, including a heavily encrypted digital tape which may hold the key to government knowledge of intelligent extraterrestrial life, and perhaps even insight into Scully's own abduction. Alien life does, indeed, make an appearance on this season, though not in the form of a little green man. Rather, an insidious, ancient, and alien black oil is unearthed, leaving Mulder and Scully to question its potential impact on humankind, and what the government may already know. Of course, The X-Files wouldn't be complete without its stand-alone, or "monster-of-the-week," episodes, and this season is no exception -- from evil spirits to astral murder and killer cockroaches, The X-Files: Season Three has more than its fair share of earthly, if bizarre, occurrences to its name. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
Just when it seemed as though the conspiracy couldn't get any weirder, The X-Files: Season Four brought FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) even more nefarious government escapades with which to contend. In addition to the discovery of the Consortium, an elite international shadow government that includes the mysterious Cigarette Smoking Man (William B. Davis) among its membership, the bureau investigators are now privy to highly dangerous Alien Bounty Hunters, virus-carrying bees, and a cruel Russian experiment involving the extraterrestrial black oil. While Mulder is infected with the oil, Scully finds herself with her own potentially fatal affliction when the neck implant she had removed after her abduction appears to have caused the onset a rare form of cancer; several other alleged abductees, all female, are in the same deadly predicament. Meanwhile, the already small group of people Mulder and Scully trust outside one another continues to dwindle in size -- even the motives of steadfast Assistant Director Skinner (Mitch Pileggi) and Mulder's own mother are in question. In the midst of the cover-up, Mulder and Scully are still faced with their other assignments, which include a strange case of human inbreeding, past lives, shape shifting, and the ability to make oneself invisible. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
Now five years into their partnership, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) have developed a bond deep enough to contend with the conspiracy they're faced with both inside and outside their professional lives. Unfortunately, between Scully's cancer and Mulder's guilt regarding his role in her condition, any potential romance is shelved while Mulder searches to find a cure, and Scully, while unsuccessful, comes closer than anyone to proving the government's role in hiding their knowledge of extraterrestrial involvement on Earth from the people of the world. In addition to addressing some of the series' very early mythology, the vast alien cover-up continues to build; ultra-clairvoyant Gibson Praise (Jeff Gulka) is introduced, as well as Cassandra Spender (Veronica Cartwright), Agent Jeffrey Spender (Chris Owens), and Mulder's former flame, Diana Fowley (Mimi Rogers). Despite all the doom and gloom, The X-Files: Season Five nonetheless included some lighter fare, including a much-needed retrospective on Mulder's relationship with The Lone Gunmen, a town obsessed with talk-show host Jerry Springer, and a tale of vampirism as told from Mulder and Scully's wildly differing perspectives. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
The X-Files: Season Six marked an important moment in the evolution of the series in several ways -- for one, the show's production was moved from Vancouver to Los Angeles, but more importantly, the sixth season followed The X-Files: Fight the Future (i.e. the X-Files feature film). Armed with firsthand experience of the bee-carried alien virus and knowledge of the existence of the most classified government research facility yet, FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) are closer to the heart of the conspiracy than they have ever been. After some of the series' signature lighter fare -- in this case, a body-swapping scenario between Mulder and bored Agent Morris Fletcher (Michael McKean) in "Dreamland" and a tale of a baseball player who may have left his home planet due to love of the game ("The Unnatural") -- the season comes to a head when Scully travels to Africa to find the cause and cure for Mulder's neurological deterioration and finds the long-buried remains of an alien spacecraft. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, (more)
