• Born in Davenport, Iowa and is of Italian, German, and Irish ancestry
• Diagnosed with dyslexia, enrolled at The Chicago Academy for the Arts
• Gained recognition as an actress in the Screen Actors Guild for a small role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
• Notable role in television pilot “Northwest Passage” and “Twin Peaks”
• Appeared in various films such as “Men in Black II”, “Baby on Board”, and “Hansel & Gretel Get Baked”
• Married Donald Ray Thomas and has retired from acting since 2015



Known for movies

Short Info

Date Of BirthMarch 24, 1970
SpouseDonald Ray Thomas, John Patrick Dee III
MarkDeep husky voice
FactGrew up in Chicago, Illinois with Robin Tunney.


Who is Lara Flynn Boyle?

Lara Flynn Boyle was born on 24 March 1970, in Davenport, Iowa, USA, and is a producer as well as an actress, best known for her role in the television series “Twin Peaks” in which she portrayed Donna Hayward. She is also known for portraying Stacy in the film “Wayne’s World”.

The Riches of Lara Flynn Boyle

As of early-2020, Lara Flynn Boyle’s net worth is estimated to be over $10 million, earned through a successful career in acting in the entertainment industry for nearly three decades. She hasn’t been active in any production or acting work since 2015, effectively retiring from the career, though a possibility of a return remains.

Happy Birthday wishes to Lara Flynn Boyle.

Posted by Twin Peaks Festival on Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Early Life and Education

Lara Flynn grew up in Davenport, where her father worked as a manager of a store while her mother did clerical duties as a part of her job. She is of Italian, German, and Irish ancestry – her parents named her after a character from the novel “Doctor Zhivago” written by Boris Pasternak. At a young age, her father left the family, leaving her to struggle financially with her mother.

She was also diagnosed with dyslexia, which is a disorder characterized by difficulty in reading and spelling words. Despite this, it did not stop her interest in pursuing a career in the performing arts.

She and her mother lived in Chicago, Illinois, and after matriculating from high school, she enrolled at The Chicago Academy for the Arts. The school is known for its training in professional-level arts in various fields, including animation, filmmaking, musical theatre, visual arts, dance, and music.

Career Beginnings

Following the completion of her degree, she quickly took up various auditions, first being recognized as an actress by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) for a small role in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, even though her scenes were cut from the final version of the film.

Lara Flynn Boyle

The following year, she made her first on-camera appearance in the miniseries “Amerika”m which aired on ABC, in an alternate timeline where the Soviet Union took over the US that required no bloodshed.

After a few guest appearances in several shows, she then landed a leading role in “Poltergeist III”. The film featured her alongside Tom Skerritt and Nancy Allen, and is the final film of the “Poltergeist” series, following the story of a woman being tormented by evil spirits, while she lives in a high-rise apartment. Nearing the 1990s, she was cast in one of her biggest roles in the television pilot “Northwest Passage”, which set the stage for her most notable appearance “Twin Peaks”.

The mystery show follows the story of an FBI agent as they investigate the death of a home-coming queen in an apparent murder. The show was canceled after its second season, but has maintained a strong international cult following, considered by some as one of the greatest television series of all time.

Continued Acting Career

With her relative success in “Twin Peaks” more opportunities opened up for Boyle, including being featured in several prolific magazines, such as “Rolling Stone”, and a role in “The Rookie” which was directed by Clint Eastwood.

During the 1990s, she had a string of film projects, including “Eye of the Storm”, “Mobsters” and “Backward”. She was set to reprise her role in the film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” following the cancellation of the show, but ultimately passed on the project due to other projects she was working on.

She gained more fame as she appeared in the comedy “Wayne’s World”, which starred Mike Myers in the film based on the sketch of the same name popularized by “Saturday Night Live”. Afterwards she worked on the film “Red Rock West”, which saw her star alongside Nicolas Cage and Dennis Hopper. The neo-noir film was well received in the independent scene leading to a theatrical release, and was a hit, particularly due to its art style.

Later Career

She also appeared in “Baby’s Day Out”, and in “The Practice” in the role of Assistant District Attorney Helen Gable which was written specifically for her; he stayed with the show for six years until she was cut among many cast members due to budget constraints, and despite her performance gaining an Emmy nomination. The legal show follows the story of lawyers who often encounter conflict in ethics with their legal practice.

In 2002, she was cast as the villain in “Men in Black II”, portraying a shape-shifting alien in the film starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, a sequel to the 1997 hit “Men in Black”.

In the 2000s, her work significantly lessened as she took fewer projects. Some of her prominent roles included “Las Vegas” in which she portrayed the new hotel owner Monica Mancuso, and the film “Baby on Board”, which starred her alongside Heather Graham. One of her last projects was the film “Hansel & Gretel Get Baked”, which also starred Molly Quinn and Michael Welch. The film is an adaptation of the popular “Hansel and Gretel” fairy tale, this time incorporating marijuana into the story. She was also set to appear in the film “Death in Texas”, which has been in post-production for a few years with no sign of being released any time soon.

Personal Life

Boyle is known to have been in a few prominent romances during her career. In 1990, she was in a relationship with Kyle MacLachlan who was her co-star in “Twin Peaks” – they stayed together for two years before breaking-up. Four years later, she married John Patrick Dee III in a marriage that lasted just two years. She also dated actor David Spade, and then actor Jack Nicholson. The two were even involved in a car crash, and stayed together until 2000. Six years later, she married Donald Ray Thomas, a real-estate investor, and they reside in San Antonio, Texas. She has expressed no desire to return to acting since 2015. She has never had any children.

General Info

Full NameLara Flynn Boyle
Date Of BirthMarch 24, 1970
Height1.68 m
ProfessionActor, Model
EducationChicago Academy for the Arts, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseDonald Ray Thomas, John Patrick Dee III
ParentsMichael L. Boyle, Sally Boyle

Accomplishments

AwardsNational Board of Review Award for Best Cast
NominationsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
MoviesMen in Black II, Wayne's World, Red Rock West, Baby's Day Out, Poltergeist III, Dead Poets Society, The Temp, Speaking of Sex, Land of the Blind, Where the Day Takes You, Hansel & Gretel Get Baked, Mobsters, The Road to Wellville, Susan's Plan, How I Got into College, Cougar Hunting, Afterglow, Life...
TV ShowsLas Vegas, The Practice, Twin Peaks, Sable, Amerika, Jack and Mike, The Hidden Room

Social profile links

Marks

#Marks / Signs
1Very slender figure
2Deep husky voice
3Cat-like blue eyes
4Dark hair and pale skin

Quotes

#Quote
1I had such a great mom and I know that I'd never be that mom. I wouldn't want to bring a child into this world unless I could be.
2Coffee and smoking are the last great addictions.
3I'm Irish Catholic, so a Democrat by blood. But I'm one hundred per cent for Bush. I want my president to be like my agent - not afraid of people, but wants my best interest.
4(Cosmo Magazine, April 2005 issue) Look, I love being famous. I'm not one of those people who feels like, Why won't they leave me alone? If I care only about the craft of acting, I'd be doing dinner theater in Iowa. But the attention on you gets to a point where it's beyond invasive - it's scary.
5(On what happened when she started out in the film business) When I used to go to auditions, I would be told "If Winona Ryder doesn't get it, you will.". Hollywood makes so many movies - surely Winona can't do ALL of them!

Facts

#Fact
1She has Irish ancestry on her father's side, and German, Irish and Italian ancestry on her mother's side.
2Made the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, along with Sherilyn Fenn and Mädchen Amick while promoting Twin Peaks (1990). [October 1990]
3Attended the Piven Theater Workshop in Evanston, Illinois.
4Good friends with Chris Isaak and Nina Siemaszko.
5Received her SAG (Screen Actors Guild) card working on Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), even though all of her onscreen time wound up on the cutting room floor.
6As a young child, she was extremely shy. Overcame her shyness by taking Irish folk dancing, art classes, and working in a local improv class.
7Is dyslexic
8She was reportedly a passenger in Jack Nicholson's Mercedes when the car collided with another car in the Hollywood Hills on July 8, 1999. She was dating David Spade at the time, and reportedly fled the scene for fear of being seen romantically with Nicholson.
9Grew up in Chicago, Illinois with Robin Tunney.
10Auditioned for the title role in Ally McBeal (1997), which went to Calista Flockhart.
11Was named after the Julie Christie character in Doctor Zhivago (1965).
12Mother, Sally Boyle, is her assistant.
13Attended and graduated from the Chicago Academy for the Arts.
14Moved to Los Angeles, California with her mother the day after her high school graduation.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Lucky Dog2014Ms. Donley
Hansel & Gretel Get Baked2013Witch Agnes
Cougar Hunting2011Kathy
Life Is Hot in Cracktown2009Betty McBain
Baby on Board2009Mary Radcliffe (as Laura Flynn Boyle)
Law & Order2008TV SeriesDawn Talley
A West Texas Children's Story2007Ben's Mother
Insatiable2007TV Series
Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story2006TV MovieBarbara Amiel
The House Next Door2006TV MovieCol Kennedy
Fwiends.com2006ShortYuppy Girl
Land of the Blind2006First Lady
Las Vegas2005-2006TV SeriesMonica Mancuso
Huff2004-2005TV SeriesMelody Coatar
Crazy2005TV MovieSophie
The Practice1997-2003TV SeriesHelen Gamble
Men in Black II2002Serleena
Ally McBeal1998-2002TV SeriesTally Cupp / Helen Gamble
Speaking of Sex2001Dr. Emily Paige
Chain of Fools2000Karen
Susan's Plan1998Betty Johnson
Happiness1998Helen Jordan
Since You've Been Gone1998TV MovieGrace Williams
Afterglow1997Marianne Byron
Farmer & Chase1997Hillary
Red Meat1997Ruth
The Big Squeeze1996Tanya Mulhill
Legend1995TV SeriesTheresa Dunleavy
Cafe Society1995Pat Ward
Jacob1994TV MovieRachel
The Road to Wellville1994Ida Muntz
Baby's Day Out1994Laraine Cotwell
Past Tense1994TV MovieTory Bass / Sabrina James
Threesome1994Alex
Red Rock West1993Suzanne Brown
The Temp1993Kris Bolin
Equinox1992Beverly Franks
Wayne's World1992Stacy
Where the Day Takes You1991Heather
Eye of the Storm1991Sandra Gladstone
The Hidden Room1991TV SeriesNicole
Mobsters1991Mara Motes
Twin Peaks1990-1991TV SeriesDonna Hayward
The Dark Backward1991Rosarita
The Rookie1990Sarah
May Wine1990TV MovieCammie
Terror on Highway 911990TV MovieLaura Taggart
The Preppie Murder1989TV MovieJennifer Levin
Dead Poets Society1989Ginny Danburry (scenes deleted)
How I Got Into College1989Jessica Kailo
Poltergeist III1988Donna Gardner
Sable1987TV SeriesMelanie Waterston
Amerika1987TV Mini-SeriesJackie Bradford
Jack and Mike1987TV SeriesLeslie

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Hansel & Gretel Get Baked2013associate producer
A West Texas Children's Story2007co-producer

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Twin Peaks1990TV Series performer - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Creature Featurettes2002Video documentaryHerself
MIB ADR2002Video documentary shortHerself
HBO First Look2002TV Series documentaryHerself
Jackass Backyard BBQ2002TV Movie documentaryHerself / Guest
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1993-2002TV SeriesHerself
Last Call with Carson Daly2002TV SeriesHerself
Hollywood Salutes Nicolas Cage: An American Cinematheque Tribute2002TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
MIIB: Secret Files2002Video shortHerself
Saturday Night Live2001TV SeriesHerself - Host
2001 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards2001TV SpecialHerself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show1998-2001TV SeriesHerself
7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards2001TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Oustanding Performance by Ensemble in Drama Series
The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards2001TV SpecialHerself - Audience Member
The World Sports Awards2001TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
3rd Annual TV Guide Awards2001TV SpecialHerself
My VH1 Music Awards2000TV Special documentaryHerself - Presenter
VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards2000TV Special documentaryHerself
The 52nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards2000TV SpecialHerself - Audience Member
6th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards2000TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Oustanding Performance by Ensemble in Drama Series
The 57th Annual Golden Globe Awards2000TV SpecialHerself - Presenter: Best TV-Series - Comedy / Musical
The 51st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1999TV SpecialHerself - Nominated: Outstanding Supporting Actress in Drama Series
MADtv1999TV SeriesHerself
Saturday Night Live 251999TV Special documentaryHerself (uncredited)
Late Show with David Letterman1999TV SeriesHerself
5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards1999TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Oustanding Performance by Ensemble in a Drama Series
1st Annual TV Guide Awards1999TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards1999TV Movie documentaryHerself - Audience Member
The 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1998TV SpecialHerself - Co-Presenter: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Cannes Man1997Herself
Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen1996TV Series documentaryQuote Reader
The 1995 ESPY Awards1995TV SpecialHerself
1994 MTV Movie Awards1994TV SpecialHerself
The 9th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards1994TV SpecialHerself - Nominee: Best Supporting Female
MTV Video Music Awards 19911991TV SpecialHerself - Audience Member
The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1991TV SpecialHerself - Audience Member
Entertainment Tonight1990TV SeriesHerself / Donna Hayward
The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards1990TV SpecialHerself - Audience Member
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1990TV SeriesHerself
Clint, 'The Rookie' & Me1990TV MovieHerself
The Philanthropist2008TV MovieHerself (uncredited)
4th Irish Film and Television Awards2007TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
The Tony Danza Show2005TV SeriesHerself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien2001-2005TV SeriesHerself
Live with Kelly and Michael2005TV SeriesHerself
Before, During and 'After the Sunset'2005Video documentaryHerself, at the premiere
The Oprah Winfrey Show2005TV SeriesHerself
'Huff': Around the Edges2004TV Short documentaryHerself
Punk'd2003TV SeriesHerself
ESPY Awards2003TV SpecialHerself - Presenter
The 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards2003TV SpecialHerself - Presenter: Actress in a Television Series Drama

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Entertainment Tonight2015TV SeriesHerself
Gylne tider2010TV Series documentaryDonna Hayward
Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again2010TV Special documentary
La noche desesperada2007TV MovieHerself
Canada A.M.2006TV SeriesBarbara Amiel
Biography2004TV Series documentaryHerself
E! 101 Most Starlicious Makeovers2004TV Movie documentaryHerself
Twin Peaks/Cop Rock: Behind the Scenes1990TV Movie documentaryDonna Hayward

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1998NBR AwardNational Board of Review, USABest Acting by an EnsembleHappiness (1998)
1997Jury AwardFt. Lauderdale International Film FestivalBest Ensemble CastAfterglow (1997)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2003Razzie AwardRazzie AwardsWorst Supporting ActressMen in Black II (2002)
2002Stinker AwardThe Stinkers Bad Movie AwardsWorst Supporting ActressMen in Black II (2002)
2001ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
2000OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
2000ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
1999Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
1999OFTA Television AwardOnline Film & Television AssociationBest Actress in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
1999ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesThe Practice (1997)
1994Independent Spirit AwardIndependent Spirit AwardsBest Supporting FemaleEquinox (1992)
1992CableACECableACE AwardsActress in a Dramatic SeriesThe Hidden Room (1991)
1991Soap Opera Digest AwardSoap Opera Digest AwardsOutstanding Heroine: Prime TimeTwin Peaks (1990)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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