Lara Flynn Boyle

From 1997 to 2003, she starred in the ABC series The Practice, for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

• Name — Lara Flynn Boyle • Born — 24 March 1970 • Birthplace — Davenport, Iowa, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — * 1986–present • Relatives — Charles A. Boyle (grandfather)

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. Her father left when she was six, causing her and her mother to move to smaller quarters. Around this time, she was diagnosed with dyslexia. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and graduated from Chicago Academy for the Arts.

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. • Illustration — Boyle and Kyle MacLachlan arriving at the 43rd Primetime Emmy Awards in August 1991 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 October 1990, while promoting Twin Peaks, Boyle was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine along with her co-stars Mädchen Amick and Sherilyn Fenn. While starring on Twin Peaks, Boyle portrayed Sarah in Clint Eastwood's action film The Rookie (1990), Rosarita in Adam Rifkin's satirical comedy film The Dark Backward (1991), Mara Motes in crime film Mobsters (1991), and Sandra Gladstone in the romantic thriller Eye of the Storm (1991). Boyle also appeared in the television films Terror on Highway 91 and The Preppie Murder (both in 1989), as well as episodes of The Hidden Room (1991) and May Wine. Shortly after the cancellation of Twin Peaks, plans were being made for a feature film adaptation. Boyle was asked by Lynch to reprise her role as Donna Hayward in the psychological horror film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) but she was unable to commit to the project due to scheduling conflicts with her roles as Heather in Marc Rocco's drama film Where the Day Takes You (alongside her Twin Peaks co-star Kyle MacLachlan), Stacy in Penelope Spheeris's comedy film Wayne's World, and Beverly Franks in Alan Rudolph's crime drama Equinox. This led to her being replaced by actress Moira Kelly. In 1993, Boyle starred as Kris Bolin in the thriller film The Temp and portrayed the temptress Suzanne Brown in the neo-noir film Red Rock West alongside Nicolas Cage and Dennis Hopper. 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. • Illustration — Boyle and Kyle MacLachlan at the Governor's Ball held immediately after the 1990 Emmy Awards 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.

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.

• 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 • The — Jennifer Levin • 1990–1991 — Twin Peaks — Donna Hayward — 30 episodes • 1991 — 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 — The — Helen Gamble — 116 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated—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 — The — Col Kennedy — Television film • Shades of Black: The Conrad Black Story — Barbara Amiel • 2008 — Law & Order — Dawn Talley — Episode: "Submission"