After Dinner Speakers: David Duchovny, Phil Tufnell, Barbara Bush

Actor. Born August 7, 1960, in New York City. Duchovny was the second of three children born to Amram, a Russian author and publicist for the American Jewish Committee, and Meg, a Scottish-born teacher. The couple divorced in 1972, and the Duchovny children were primarily raised by their mother. In 1973, Duchovny won a scholarship to the prestigious Collegiate Prep School in Manhattan, where his classmates included John F. Kennedy Jr. and actor Jason Beghe. Duchovny earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and a masters degree in English literature from Yale University, where he prepared for a teaching career in the Ph.D. program. While working on his thesis, Duchovny strayed from the academic path to pursue a full-time acting career. He performed on stage and in the coffeehouses of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, making his first professional appearance in a Lowenbrau beer commercial. In 1987, Duchovny dropped out of Yale and spent the next few years struggling to make a name for himself. He made his feature film debut in Working Girl (1988) in a minor role. Eventually, he relocated to Los Angeles where he tried his hand at television. He briefly appeared on the series Twin Peaks, in which he gave a notable performance as a transvestite detective. In 1991, he landed his first two leading roles in the independent films Julia Has Two Lovers and The Rapture (1991). Shortly after, he took supporting roles in the more credible films Ruby and Chaplin (both 1992). In 1993, he was cast opposite up-and-coming actors Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis in the thriller Kalifornia. Duchovny maintained moderate success in films, but his TV appearances were what elevated him to stardom. His recurring role as the love-lorn narrator on Showtime’s anthology Red Shoe Diaries (1992-97) established him as a sex symbol. In 1993, he reluctantly accepted the part of cynical agent Fox Mulder on FOX’s The X-Files. Ironically, it turned out to be his wisest career move to date. The paranormal drama teamed Duchovny with actress Gillian Anderson. Despite initial low ratings, the show erupted into a phenomenon with acclaim from critics and fans alike. Duchovny’s performance earned him a 1997 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series. He and Anderson reprised their roles for the silver screen in 1998’s full-length feature The X-Files: Fight the Future. Most recently Duchovny starred in the romantic comedy Return to Me (2000), opposite Minnie Driver and Carroll O’Connor. In 1997, he married actress Tea Leoni, with whom he has one daughter, Madelaine West.