Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the
1996-97 season, David Duchovny once seemed an unlikely candidate to
become an actor. A native New Yorker, Duchovny attended Yale
University, where he received a graduate degree in English literature
to prepare for a career as a teacher. While at Yale, he began
commuting to New York to study acting and was soon appearing in
off-Broadway plays. In 1987, in the midst of his doctoral studies, he left
Yale to pursue acting full time.

Numerous roles soon followed. Before THE X-FILES, Duchovny was
probably best known for his memorable portrayal of Dennis/Denise, the
transvestite detective in the television series "Twin Peaks," and for his
performance opposite Mimi Rogers in the acclaimed feature film "The
Rapture." His most recent feature film was "Playing God," due out this
fall, and he also has just completed filming the first feature film version
of "The X-Files," which will be released in 1998.

Duchovny's other feature film credits include leading roles in
"Chaplin," "Beethoven," "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead,"
"Kalifornia" and the critically acclaimed "Julia Has Two Lovers."
Duchovny was also the host of cable's "The Red Shoe Diaries." He has
made two guest appearances on "The Larry Sanders Show," and on
"Space: Above and Beyond" and did voiceover appearances on "The
Simpsons" and "Duckman."

Duchovny is married to actress Tea Leoni.