-> 

v

"The worst thing a man can admit is 'I'm not 100 percent fulfilled by my family.' But it doesn't mean he doesn't love his family. I love my family, but I still want to work; I still want challenges. It took me a while to fall in love with the responsibility of family life, and it was a deep thing when I did." Balancing work and family isn't always easy, but David Duchovny worked hard to find a balance he could accept and be happy with, along with one that worked for the rest of the people in his life, too. His acting has spanned from The X Files all the way through the popular Californication, along with a number of other lesser-known roles. His private life has been rocky at times, but he's always made it through. How did he get started and where is he going next? Read on, and we'll tell you!

 -> 

v

A Simple Life in New York

Born in New York, Duchovny's father was a writer and publicist and his mother was a teacher and school administrator. He didn't come from a show business family, but he made his mark on Hollywood. Duchovny attended school in Manhattan, and then went to Princeton where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. His major was English Literature. He was part of an eating club, and has received honorable mention for his poetry. He also played basketball while at Princeton, at the Junior Varsity level. After Princeton, he went on to Yale, where he earned a Master of Arts in English Literature. He then started on a PhD, but never finished it. It's not known whether he will go back to school to finish it in the future.

 -> 

v

In 1987, Duchovny got his start in a beer advertisement. Then in 1988 he had a small role in Working Girl, where he appeared in just two scenes. When the series Twin Peaks began in 1990, Duchovny had a role as a DEA agent, and he narrated the Red Shoe Diaries on Showtime, as well. He also had a role in the 1992 film Chaplin. But it was his starring role in The X Files (1993), which made him a popular actor and a household name. The show was an instant hit and a cult classic, that rapidly became a major TV hit for The Fox Network. The show ran until 2002, and Duchovny admits he didn't expect it to become the hit that it did. It ran for 10 seasons, with more than 200 episodes, and helped Duchovny launch a career that continues today. Duchovny left the series in 2001.

The X Files was originally filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and was eventually moved to Los Angeles. There was some controversy surrounding Duchovny at the time, because it was believed that his demands were what had the show moved. He also made public remarks about the level of rain that Vancouver receives, which upsets some of its residents. But Duchovny assured everyone that Vancouver was a lovely place and that he wanted the show moved because he was married to a woman living in LA, not because of the weather. The issue died out just as quickly as it began, and Duchovny continued to be a favorite on the show. His remarks about Vancouver didn't appear to do him or his career any lasting harm.

 -> 

v

Being Good, and Being Smart

Duchovny has said, "If you're smart, you'll always be humble. You can learn all you want, but there'll always be somebody who's never read a book who'll know twice what you know." Knowing that he didn't know everything was one of the ways that Duchovny was better able to portray great characters. He took direction well and understood that there was always more to be learned about a character or a role. He has hosted Saturday Night Live twice, and has been in films such as Return to Me (2000), Evolution (2001), and Zoolander (2001). He's also been on Who Wants to be a Millionaire when they had their celebrity edition, and has appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy!, as well.

 -> 

v

From 2007 to 2014, Duchovny was in the series Californication, playing the troubled Hank Moody. He won a Golden Globe for his work on that show, and has received other awards for characters he has portrayed. Duchovny is an advocate for electric vehicles and environmentalism, and is a pescatarian after being a vegetarian for a number of years. He was married to actress Tea Leoni from 1997 to 2014. They have two children together, and are divorced. During their marriage, Duchovny was treated for addiction issues. Duchovny now lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York. He has published three books and released two albums, along with working on audiobooks for The X Files and other series.