Actor · Author · Podcaster · Winemaker
Kyle MacLachlan is an actor, author, podcaster, winemaker, and internet sensation whose career spans over four decades, marked by an array of distinctive roles across television, film, and voice work.
A native of Yakima, Washington, MacLachlan made his screen debut in David Lynch's Dune (1984) and followed up with Lynch-directed projects Blue Velvet (1986) and Twin Peaks (1990) — where his role as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper cemented him in the pop culture lexicon and for which he received two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe Award.
As an Author
Fictional Selves
A New York Times Bestseller
MacLachlan added New York Times best-selling author to his growing list of creative pursuits with his debut memoir, Fictional Selves, published in September 2026 from Crown, an imprint of Penguin Random House. The book is his account of forty years in Hollywood, from his unexpected casting in Dune, through Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks, to his later television work and his second life as a social media personality.
The book is built around doubles. Kyle writes alongside a nagging alter ego he calls "Other Kyle," and looks at himself through the characters he played and the roles he missed. He writes about fear of failure, fame, marriage and fatherhood, and about collaborators including David Lynch, Laura Dern, Dennis Hopper and Anthony Hopkins. Kyle narrates the audiobook himself.
Hardcover, ebook and audiobook · Hardcover ISBN 979-8-217-08632-0
Buy the book: Amazon · Barnes & Noble · Bookshop.org (indie bookstores)
Author photo: Sophy Holland
As an Actor
Acting: Film & Television
Working with some of cinema's most celebrated directors, MacLachlan has had the opportunity to bring a wide range of characters to life in The Doors (1991), The Flintstones (1994), Showgirls (1995), Inside Out (2015), Inside Out 2 (2024), and Blink Twice (2024).
Kyle's television credits include Sex & the City (2002), Desperate Housewives (2004), How I Met Your Mother (2010), Portlandia (2011), returning to the role of Agent Cooper in the revival of Twin Peaks (2017), the highly-acclaimed Amazon Prime Video series Fallout (2024), Overcompensating (2025), and The Lowdown with Ethan Hawke (2025).
Now watching
Fallout (Prime Video): Kyle stars as Hank MacLean, the former Overseer of Vault 33. Season 2 ran December 2025 to February 2026, and a third season has been announced.
The Lowdown (FX / Hulu): Kyle appeared in the first season of Sterlin Harjo's Tulsa noir drama starring Ethan Hawke. FX renewed it for a second season in January 2026.
Overcompensating (Prime Video): Kyle appears in the 2025 comedy series from Benito Skinner. Amazon renewed Overcompensating for a second season.
Selected credits
2025 — The Lowdown (FX/Hulu) — Donald Washburg (recurring)
2025 — Overcompensating (Prime Video) — John Scanlon (recurring)
2024– — Fallout (Prime Video) — Hank MacLean
2024 — Blink Twice (film) — Rich
2024 — Inside Out 2 (film) — Riley's Dad (voice)
2017 — Twin Peaks (revival) — Dale Cooper
2015 — Inside Out (film) — Riley's Dad (voice)
2011–18 — Portlandia — The Mayor
2010 — How I Met Your Mother — The Captain
2006–12 — Desperate Housewives — Orson Hodge
2000–02 — Sex and the City — Trey MacDougal
1995 — Showgirls (film) — Zack Carey
1994 — The Flintstones (film) — Cliff Vandercave
1991 — The Doors (film) — Ray Manzarek
1990–91 — Twin Peaks — Dale Cooper
1986 — Blue Velvet — Jeffrey Beaumont
1984 — Dune — Paul Atreides
What are we even doing?
Kyle's iHeart podcast exploring the creativity and drive behind a new generation of cultural icons, What Are We Even Doing?, launched in 2025 and will return for a second season in 2027.
The weekly show premiered September 18, 2025. Kyle talks with young Millennial and Gen Z actors, musicians, artists and creators about their work and the entertainment industry. Guests have included Kaia Gerber, Rachel Sennott, Simu Liu, Trixie Mattel and Dylan O'Brien.
Distributed by iHeartRadio's Elvis Duran Podcast Network and produced by Full Picture Productions. Follow @wawedwithkyle on Instagram and TikTok.
Listen: YouTube · Spotify · Apple Podcasts · iHeartRadio
Also from Kyle: Varnamtown
Kyle MacLachlan launched his award-winning true-crime podcast Varnamtown with Epic Magazine in 2024. Across eight episodes, Kyle and investigative journalist Joshua Davis chase a rumor that Pablo Escobar struck a deal with a tiny Southern coastal town in the early 1980s. The series won True Crime & Documentary Podcast at the 17th Shorty Awards.
Listen: Apple Podcasts · Spotify
Cabernet Sauvignon
Syrah
Red blend
Rosé
Chardonnay
Cabernet Sauvignon
As a Winemaker
Pursued by Bear
"Exit, pursued by a bear." — The Winter's Tale
When not on screen or in front of a microphone, Kyle combines process, patience, and creativity as the proud proprietor of his own wine label, Pursued by Bear, produced in Washington State and extremely well-regarded by wine aficionados around the world.
Kyle founded Pursued by Bear in 2005, and the winery has been producing Washington State wine for more than 20 years. It began as a partnership with the late Eric Dunham of Dunham Cellars, with a first release of Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Daniel Wampfler has made the wines since 2008.
The wines are sourced from Columbia Valley vineyards near Kyle's hometown of Yakima. The Pursued by Bear tasting room is located at 43 S. Palouse St. in downtown Walla Walla, Washington.
96 points
Top critic score: Jeb Dunnuck, for both the 2021 Pursued by Bear Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2021 Baby Bear Syrah.
The wines
Pursued by Bear — Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship
Baby Bear — Syrah, named for Kyle's son, Callum
Bear Cub — Red blend
Blushing Bear — Rosé
Twin Bear — Chardonnay
Twin Bear — Cabernet Sauvignon
As a Coffee Connoisseur
Brown Bear Mélange
A fan of "damn fine coffee" on and off screen, Kyle MacLachlan created Brown Bear Mélange, also called Kyle's Blend, with Walla Walla Roastery proprietor Thomas Reese in Walla Walla, Washington. The blend combines beans from Africa, Indonesia and Central America, made as a companion to his Pursued by Bear wines.
For the record
Quick Facts
Kyle MacLachlan is an actor, author, podcaster, winemaker, and internet sensation, known for Twin Peaks, Sex and the City and Fallout.
Born: February 22, 1959, Yakima, Washington
Education: University of Washington, BFA 1982
Awards: Golden Globe (1991); two Emmy nominations
Book: Fictional Selves (Crown, 2026), New York Times bestseller
Social: @kyle_maclachlan on Instagram (1.5M+ followers) and TikTok (1M+ followers)
Podcasts: What Are We Even Doing? (iHeart, 2025–; season 2 in 2027); Varnamtown (true crime, Epic Magazine, 2024)
Winery: Pursued by Bear, Walla Walla, WA, founded 2005; top score 96 pts (Jeb Dunnuck)
Family: Wife Desiree Gruber; son Callum
Lives: Los Angeles
Press & inquiries: KM2@fullpic.com
As an Internet Sensation
@kyle_maclachlan
on Instagram & TikTok
Kyle MacLachlan posts as @kyle_maclachlan on both Instagram and TikTok, where he has more than 1.5 million followers on Instagram and more than 1 million on TikTok.
Beyond acting, the ever-restless MacLachlan is ambitiously expanding his storytelling prowess by producing his own roster of projects across film, TV, audio, and social media. In 2024, Kyle reinvented himself on social media as a Gen-Z darling via his viral clips that sparked connections with notable names such as Charli XCX, Lorde, and Benito Skinner.
Follow: Instagram · TikTok