Lara Flynn Boyle

Lara Flynn Boyle (born March 24, 1970) is an American actress. She is known for playing Donna Hayward in the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). After appearing in Penelope Spheeris's comedy Wayne's World, Boyle had a lead role in John Dahl's neo-noir film Red Rock West (1993), and in the psychological thriller The Temp (1993), followed by roles in Threesome and Baby's Day Out (both in 1994), Cafe Society (1995), Happiness (1998), and the villainous Serleena in Men in Black II (2002). From 1997 to 2003, she starred in the ABC series The Practice, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Early life Boyle was born in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of Sally Flynn, a clerical worker, assistant, and manager, and Michael L. Boyle. Her paternal grandfather was U.S. Representative Charles A. Boyle. She has Irish, German, and Italian ancestry. She is named after a character in Boris Pasternak's novel Doctor Zhivago. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and graduated from Chicago Academy for the Arts.

Career In 1986, Boyle landed a small part in John Hughes's teen comedy film Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which earned her a SAG card, though her scenes were deleted from the final cut of the film. Subsequently, Boyle had a supporting role as Jackie Bradford in the television miniseries Amerika, followed by guest appearances on episodes of the series Jack and Mike and Sable (all in 1987).

After a string of supporting roles, Boyle landed a lead role in the Gary Sherman horror film Poltergeist III (1988), which was distributed by the media company MGM. Although she was cast as Ginny Danburry in Peter Weir's drama film Dead Poets Society (1989), her scenes were ultimately deleted from the final cut.

In 1989, Boyle rose to international prominence when David Lynch cast her as Donna Hayward in the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). The series focused on the murder of the high school Homecoming Queen Laura Palmer, with Boyle portraying Laura's best friend. Her main storyline focused on her trying to solve the mystery of who killed Laura. The series premiered April 8, 1990, on ABC and subsequently became one of the top-rated series of 1990, but a decline in ratings ultimately led to its cancellation after its second season in 1991. Boyle appeared in all 30 episodes.

When discussing Lynch's direction, Boyle stated, "I remember, in the pilot, I did a very long scene that we had to shoot 30 or 40 times. David came up to me and said quietly, in my ear: 'Think of how gently a deer has to move in the snow…' It was strange direction. But that's what I thought of, and it worked. We were at the helm of a piece of heaven on Twin Peaks and we just went where David Lynch told us. That might sound very obscure but it really is true. How he sees the world is how we should all see the world."

In 1994, Boyle was cast as Alex in the comedy Threesome, Laraine Cotwell in Baby's Day Out, and Ida Muntz in The Road to Wellville. That same year, Boyle appeared in the television films Past Tense and Jacob. In 1995, she was cast as Pat Ward in the mystery film Cafe Society. In 1997, she portrayed Marianne Byron in the film Afterglow. The following year, Boyle portrayed Helen Jordan in Todd Solondz’s controversial comedy-drama film Happiness.

Boyle auditioned for the title role in David E. Kelley's Ally McBeal. Although she lost out to Calista Flockhart, Boyle impressed Kelley enough to cast her in the role of Assistant District Attorney Helen Gamble in his other 1997 series, The Practice. She starred on The Practice until 2003, when, in a dramatic attempt to revamp the show and cut costs, she was dismissed along with most of the cast. For her performance as Helen Gamble, she received an Emmy nomination as well as several Screen Actors Guild ensemble cast nominations. Boyle also made a crossover appearance in the role of Helen Gamble in an episode of Ally McBeal, and an uncredited guest appearance on the same show in its final season.

In 2002, Boyle played a lead role in the blockbuster feature film Men in Black II, as the villainous shapeshifting alien Serleena. She also guest-starred on one of the last episodes of Ally McBeal, this time as Tally Cupp, and had a recurring role on several episodes of Huff.

In 2005, Boyle joined the cast of Las Vegas for a seven-episode stint as Monica Mancuso, a new hotel owner. She played Barbara Amiel in the television film Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story, about Amiel and her husband, Conrad Black. Boyle also guest-starred as an ambitious reporter involved with the suspects in a possible murder in the Law & Order 2008 episode "Submission".

In 2009, Boyle portrayed Mary in Baby on Board. The same year, Boyle was cast as Betty McBain in the independent film Life Is Hot in Cracktown. In 2010, she starred as Kathy in Cougar Hunting. In 2013, Boyle portrayed Witch Agnes in the horror comedy film Hansel & Gretel Get Baked. In 2015, she portrayed Ms. Donley in the film Lucky Dog.

In 2020, after a five-year break, she returned to acting to star as Grace in the film Death in Texas alongside Ronnie Gene Blevins, Bruce Dern, and Stephen Lang.

Personal life Boyle dated her Twin Peaks co-star Kyle MacLachlan from 1990 until 1992, and was married to John Patrick Dee III from 1996 to 1998. She then dated comedian David Spade, whom she left for actor Jack Nicholson after Nicholson asked her out in front of Spade while the three were smoking weed together; Boyle was 29 and Nicholson was 62 at the time, and Spade later found out they were together from a paparazzi report on a car crash they were in. Boyle and Nicholson went public with their romance at the 1999 Emmy Awards ceremony and reportedly split up in late 2000. On December 18, 2006, Boyle married real estate investor Donald Ray Thomas II in San Antonio, Texas.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Heather Deleted scenes 1988 Poltergeist III Donna Gardner 1989 How I Got into College Jessica Kailo Dead Poets Society Ginny Danburry Deleted scenes 1990 Sarah Ackerman 1991 Rosarita Mobsters Mara Motes Eye of the Storm Sandra Gladstone 1992 Where the Day Takes You Heather Wayne's World Stacy Equinox Beverly Franks Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female 1993 Kris Bolin Red Rock West Ann McCord / Suzanne Brown 1994 Threesome Alex Baby's Day Out Laraine Cotwell Ida Muntz 1995 Cafe Society Pat Ward 1996 Tanya Mulhill 1997 Farmer & Chase Hillary Red Meat Ruth Afterglow Marianne Byron Cannes Man Herself 1998 Happiness Helen Jordan Susan's Plan Betty Johnson 2000 Chain of Fools Karen 2001 Speaking of Sex Emily Paige 2002 Men in Black II Serleena Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress 2006 Land of the Blind First Lady Fwiends.com Yuppie girl Short film 2007 Have Dreams, Will Travel Ben's Mother 2009 Baby on Board Mary Radcliffe Life Is Hot in Cracktown Betty McBain 2010 Cougar Hunting Kathy 2013 Hansel & Gretel Get Baked Witch Agnes Also associate producer 2015 Lucky Dog Ms. Donley 2020 Death in Texas Grace 2023 Mother, Couch Linda

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Jack and Mike Leslie Episode: "Quality of Mercy" Amerika Jackie Bradford 5 episodes Sable Melanie Waterston Episode: "Toy Gun" 1989 Terror on Highway 91 Laura Taggart Television film Jennifer Levin 1990–1991 Twin Peaks Donna Hayward 30 episodes1991 The Hidden Room Nicole Episode: "Splinters of Privacy" May Wine Cammie Television film 1994 Past Tense Tory Bass / Sabrina James Jacob Rachel 1995 Legend Theresa Dunleavy Episode: "Skeletons in the Closet" 1997–2003 Helen Gamble 116 episodesNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama SeriesNominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1999–2001) 1998 Ally McBeal Episode: "Making Spirits Bright" Since You've Been Gone Grace Williams Television film 2002 Ally McBeal Tally Cupp Episode: "Tom Dooley" 2004–2005 Huff Melody Coatar 5 episodes 2005–2006 Las Vegas Monica Mancuso 8 episodes 2006 Col Kennedy Television film Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story Barbara Amiel 2008 Law & Order Dawn Talley Episode: "Submission"