Young Americans, 1991, unnumbered page

cooperman

"Diane, I´m talking to Young Americans magazine about 'Twin Peaks', David Lynch and my part in 'The Doors' movie." Kyle MacLachlan tells us where Special Agents go when they die - straight into successful film roles and Ruffles crisp ads!!!

Kyle MacLaclan deserves an Oscar. Anyone who can pretend to love cherry pie the way he did in 'Twin Peaks', when he actually rates it one of his most detested foods alongside cabbage and boiled bacon, is a pretty amazing actor! Apple pie is Kyle´s actual favourite but try as they mightthere was no way the catering crew could make it look like cherry. In the end, berry pie and a bottle of food colouring were transformed into the now world-famous cherry and Kyle just about managed to gobble it down with delight at Ed´s Diner. What a display of acting!

"I went to drama school for three years, he chuckles, "just to learn how to do that."

Kyle was born in Yakima, Washington in 1959, te eldest of three sons. He did indeed complete three years at acting school and was at a bit of a loose end after working with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival company when he was asked to audition for the lead in the David Lynch science-fiction movie, 'Dune'.

Lynch was searching all over the States for the perfect hero for the movie, his only specification was that he should be a complete unknown.

"I went down to Los Angeles to meet David and I had lunch with him," says Kyle. "He doesn´t really like to talk about the project, he just like to talk about whatever comes up. So we talked about the North West because we´re both from there, and we talked about red wine. You just had to sort of try to find common ground, which I think we did."

It certainly seemed to work, because Kyle clinched the part of Paul Atreides in 'Dune' and even though the movie completely belly-flopped at the box office, he and David Lynch began a long-term friendship. Hollywood´s hippest director again chose Kyle for the lead in his next movie, 'Blue Velvet' which became one of the most talked-about films of the 80´s.

Kyle then nipped off to star in a low-profile film called 'The Hidden' before David Lynch once again tracked him down to tell him about a peach of a role he´d written for him in a new TV series that had "cult hit" written all over it.

From the moment Agent Cooper started dictating to Diane about his arrival in the town of Twin Peaks, Kyle MacLachlan became one of the most famous faces on television. The link between MacLachlan and Lynch is so strong that some say that Kyle is really the eccentric producer´s younger brother. Even Kyle´s live-in girlfriend, Lara Flynn Boyle (Donna in 'Twin Peaks') reckons they´re mighty similar characters. "Kyle can be a bit eccentric," she says. "I mean he really does go on about how good a cup of coffee is for hours!"

For a while, it did seem that David Lynch was the only director who would hire him, but Kyle just had rave notices for his part in the Oliver Stone movie 'The Doors'. Kyle starred as keyboard player - Ray Mazerek [sic] and his neatly-groomed hair was replaced by flowing locks and mutton chop sideburns. Agent Cooper as a hippy? Almost unthinkable!

Kyle even learned to play keyboards for the part. "I can play on one level," he says. "But for the requirements of the movie I had to be a pro, so that´s where the special effects come in!"

He certainly seems to have had a groovier time making the movie than its star, Val Kilmer.

"Val was under a lot of pressure playing Jim Morrison," he says. "Jim is such a legend to so many people and it was a part lots of people had tried for (including Tom Cruise and John Travolta), so we didn´t exactly sit around cracking jokes."

Kyle also has another movie out called, 'Don´t Tell Her It´s Me'. It stars Steve Guttenberg, Jami Gertz and Shelley Long. "I´m uh, third-billed. You can´t win ´em all! It´s not a 'big' movie and it won´t bring me much attention, I guess but if the fans out there like the thing, then it´s worth it," he says.

Off-screen, Kyle describes himself as an actor who´s been very lucky. He says that he´s good-natured if not antagonised. A loyal friend who expects loyalty in return. His favourite hobby is collecting roles. "Acting is my hobby," he says. "Nothing in my life comes close to interesting me like acting."

As for parts he´d like to play in the future.

"First, anything by David Lynch. Second, depends on the script," he smiles.

A third series of 'Twin Peaks' could be in the pipeline. "Obviously it won´t be about Laura Palmer´s murder, but there could be scope for Agent Cooper to investigate other crimes," Kyle says mysteriously. Look out the berry pie ...