David Duchovny - Actor Profile

David Duchovny

Acting
Freshness: Jan 19, 2026
50Total Films
8.7 Highest Rated
Born: Aug 7, 1960
Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA

About David Duchovny

David William Duchovny (born August 7, 1960) is an American actor, writer, and director. He is best known for playing Fox Mulder on The X-Files and Hank Moody on Californication, both of which have earned him Golden Globe awards Duchovny was born in New York City, New York in 1960. He is the son of Margaret "Meg" (née Miller), a school administrator and teacher, and Amram "Ami" Ducovny (1927–2003), a writer and publicist who worked for the American Jewish Committee. His father was Jewish, from a family that immigrated from the Russian Empire and Poland. His mother is a Lutheran emigrant 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 B.A. in English Literature. He was a member of 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 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. Duchovny is a former vegetarian and, as of 2007, is a pescetarian. On August 28, 2008, Duchovny announced that he had checked himself into a rehabilitation facility for treating sex addiction. On October 15, 2008, Duchovny's and Leoni's representatives issued a statement revealing they had separated several months earlier.A week later, Duchovny's lawyer said that he planned to sue the 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 retracted their claims. After getting back together, Duchovny and Leoni once again split on June 29, 2011.

Career Statistics & Market Influence

Analyzing the cinematic journey of David Duchovny reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.

Genre Dominance: Drama

The majority of David Duchovny's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.

The "Box Office" Signature

With a 24% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), David Duchovny remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Red Shoe Diaries 3: Another Woman's Lipstick, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.

Best David Duchovny Movies Ranked

Must-watch hits from David Duchovny's career based on audience ratings.

Complete Filmography & Success Status

Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of David Duchovny.

YearMovieCharacterSuccessMore
2024 Reverse the Curse Marty Fullilove Average Similar →
2024 Adam the First James Average Similar →
2024 Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World Narrator (voice) Flop Similar →
2023 What Happens Later Bill Flop Similar →
2023 Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Bill Baterman Average Similar →
2023 You People Arnold Average Similar →
2022 The Estate Richard Flop Similar →
2022 The Bubble Dustin Mulray Flop Similar →
2020 The Craft: Legacy Adam Average Similar →
2013 Louder Than Words John Fareri Average Similar →
2013 Phantom Bruni Average Similar →
2012 Goats Goat Man Average Similar →
2012 FOX 25th Anniversary Special Self Hit Similar →
2010 The Joneses Steve Jones Average Similar →
2008 The X Files: I Want to Believe Fox Mulder Average Similar →
2007 Quantum Hoops Narrator Super Hit Similar →
2007 The Secret Dr. Benjamin Marris Average Similar →
2007 Things We Lost in the Fire Steven Burke Hit Similar →
2007 The TV Set Mike Klein Average Similar →
2006 Queer Duck: The Movie Tiny Jesus (voice) Flop Similar →
2005 Trust the Man Tom Flop Similar →
2004 House of D Tom Warshaw Average Similar →
2004 Connie and Carla Jeff Average Similar →
2002 Red Shoe Diaries: Forbidden Zone - Flop Similar →
2002 Full Frontal Gus Flop Similar →
2001 Zoolander J.P. Prewitt Average Similar →
2001 Evolution Dr. Ira Kane Average Similar →
2000 Return to Me Bob Rueland Hit Similar →
1999 SNL: The Best of Adam Sandler Pauline (archive footage) (uncredited) Hit Similar →
1998 The X-Files Agent Fox Mulder Hit Similar →
1998 Inside The X-Files Self Hit Similar →
1997 Playing God Dr. Eugene Sands Average Similar →
1996 Red Shoe Diaries Movie 10: Some Things Never Change Jake Winters (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1994 Red Shoe Diaries 4: Auto Erotica Jake Winters (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1993 Red Shoe Diaries 3: Another Woman's Lipstick Jake Winters (archive footage) Super Hit Similar →
1993 Kalifornia Brian Kessler Hit Similar →
1993 Red Shoe Diaries 2: Double Dare Jake Winters (archive footage) Flop Similar →
1992 Chaplin Rollie Totheroh Hit Similar →
1992 Red Shoe Diaries Jake Winters Flop Similar →
1992 Baby Snatcher David Anderson Average Similar →
1992 Venice/Venice Dylan Hit Similar →
1992 Beethoven Brad Average Similar →
1992 Ruby Officer Tippit Flop Similar →
1991 The Rapture Randy Average Similar →
1991 Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead Bruce Average Similar →
1990 Julia Has Two Lovers Daniel Flop Similar →
1990 Bad Influence Clue Goer with Glasses Average Similar →
1990 New Year's Day Billy Flop Similar →
1990 Denial John Flop Similar →
1988 Working Girl Tess's Birthday Party Friend Hit Similar →

David Duchovny - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best movie of David Duchovny?

According to audience ratings, the best movie starring David Duchovny is "Red Shoe Diaries 3: Another Woman's Lipstick" with a rating of 8.7/10.

How many movies has David Duchovny acted in?

David Duchovny has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.

What are some other popular movies by David Duchovny?

Other notable films include "Quantum Hoops", "Chaplin", and "FOX 25th Anniversary Special".