David Duchovny Breaks Down His Career, from 'The X-Files' to 'Californication' | Vanity Fair

Dude is a legend. Californcation was a really enjoyable show. I watched it multiple times

This man means so much to 80s and 90s kids.

Californication is my all time favorite show, it introduced me to a lot of great music.
It was a parody done right, him being a writer and Charlie being an actual agent irl, everything was just perfect

The awesome thing about The X-Files is that the plot never ages cuz conspiracy theories never get old...its about secrets that have never truly been revealed even 30yrs later, making the show always interesting and entertaining, like the episodes could have been written yesterday! Truly amazing!! And Moulder and Scully are freakin awesome!!

I love David, I grew up watching "X Files", and he always impresses me in every project he's a part of. "The Truth is out there!"

I can't believe they just glossed over his career as an author! He's a fabulous writer with such a fluid and witty voice.

I can't believe they left out Evolution (2001). That was my introduction to Duchovny. I loved that movie as a kid!

This guy is a laid back legend ....you can't accuse him of of over acting cos he's the opposite ....HE'S THE DUDE .....hes a total minimalist....

I really miss Hank Moody. Each year, it was like a rendez-vous with an old friend. I can't believe this tv show is...15 years old in 2022 !!

I like how he recognizes how good he had it with The X-Files and that the doubts he had after doing the show for 6 or 7 years weren't valid. I think we always think the grass is greener elsewhere, but sometimes we are living our best lives right now.

He’s a pure legend, but honestly I think the highlight of his career so far is X-Files. It’s just so authentic, he as well as Gillian and Mitch have cemented X-Files, the story, and those characters in cinema history. They’re irreplaceable, truly a show that can never be remade, and that’s legendary.
That’s why David and Gillian are my heroes 💙

The X files is probably one of the greatest shows ever. The first 5 seasons anyway. It brought my childhood discussions sitting around the beach fire with my brothers looking at the sky to an amazing new level. It was as if we dreamed it up and the universe responded.

My brother showed me x-files when I was 12 years old and it has been my favorite show ever since. Thank you, David, for being such a huge part of my teenage years

Californication was such an incredible show, it just captured and portrayed a certain atmosphere in a way I haven't seen done since.

I’ve been a fan of The X-Files short of a year now and it’s completely taken over my life! I adore David so much and these videos show exactly why! He’s just so cool!!

I love David Duchovny! He is probably the most self aware actor out there.

I'm so glad David talked about Denise, she's my favorite and I too wish he did more episodes! I also love him so much as Mulder, I really need to rewatch X-Files again! Both shows are my two favorite shows of all time and they changed television forever. I need to watch more things he's been in, he's amazing.

Californication and X-files are definitely in my top ten shows of all time:)

The X files might be one of the best tv shows ever. And honestly, Gillian and David made the show

Duchovny rules in every part he plays. Californication and X-Files are excellent and timeless.

Absolute tragedy Evolution was left out of this. Duchovny is hilarious in that movie. Very underrated fun early 00s movie.

Californication is the best show I've ever watched. The music. The story. The characters. The best.

Men of culture. Writer, Actor, Singer at the same time. High quality life.

The X-Files was one of the best shows in history.

I agree with David, Aquarius was a fantastic show that ended too soon.

My pops, used to break his back to catch X-Files on Sunday nights. He taped over a few of my elementary school plays because he didn't want to miss it. I recently watched the pilot to X-Files and I'm hooked. I'm not even mad my pops taped over all my childhood memories.

I have recently started watching X Files with my kids. We try to watch one episode a night. They are really enjoying it. It reminds me of watching it with my mum when I was their age.

Always loved this man. He brings peace and calm to my soul.

David is awesome! He so multi-talented and does a wonderful job with each of his endeavors!

Return to Me with Minnie Driver was my favorite movie of his after his stint with the X-Files. Yes, it's a total rom-com, but the actors that play Minnie Drivers family in the movie, in the Italian restaurant made it such an easy watch.
Check it out if you haven't seen it.

Wish he spoke more.about Evolution. Love that movie.

Why didn’t he talk about “House of D?” That movie was judged so quickly before the critics gave it a chance! He wrote it and directed it with Robin Williams!

He's got that Keanu Reeves chill/calm thing about him. Legend, X-Files was my favourite show growing up. I wanted to be Mulder and wanted to be with Scully, incredible casting.

Definitely X files .. there will never be anything like it again. Best show you could've ever done David!

Respect! Great actor. Loved his chemistry with Gillian Anderson.

As much as I love him as an actor, I love his music which not much people said about here. My favorite songs are the "Passenger" and the "Stars". Thank you David

I'm on my 3rd or 4th rewatch of The X-Files, which has been one of my favourite shows of all-time since it originally aired in the 1990's. David and Gillian MADE the show what it was, along with the great side characters and the talented staff working behind the scenes.

Great voice great actor what more do you need

David is so lovely. I have met him quite a few times and he is always kind and interested in his fans. 💜

Great- a very underrated actor. Subtle. Loved Californication. The first episode had me thinking I was in for a lewd, immature series, but I stuck with it and found it had so much more to offer. The whole cast were great.

As a kid I looked forward to every episode of The X-Files, I also recorded many episodes on VHS. And the ever-living main theme...Good memories.

The 1st 4 seasons of Californication are quite possibly some of my favorite moments on tv
I always dug the fact that serious Hank Moody was basically David Duchovny.

X-Files Forever!
Man, I wish we'd get more X-Files seasons with Mulder and Scully.

David ❤️ Ouço direto os álbuns dele, são ótimos.

Californication was different. The entire series has been like a third parent to me.
The series had so much humor, was often very emotional and conveyed mostly good values. A bunch of fun, kind-hearted people taught me the importance of family and the importance of keeping rock 'n' roll and pursuing the things in life that are important to you. Karen once said something like "Take the things you love and build your life out of them". Wonderful.

Aquarius was great. I really wish they could've kept going. Such a bummer they didn't get to tell the rest of the story. I feel like it was just starting to get really interesting. Just imagine the court scenes and the investigation. Could've been a really cool take on the Manson story.

Brilliant actor with an incredible career. I'll watch anything he's in. Usually if he chooses it, the project is really interesting.

Recently rewarched X-Files for the second time all the way through and still holds up. That liver eating dude still gives me the creeps. Funny how that theme song used to scare the crap out of me. Hank was great too, Californication was so much fun to watch, and you can tell David had fun playing him.

Aquarius is/was fantastic. Just watched it on Netflix a few months ago. He is believable. Sometimes actors are good at a role but it still feels like acting even with the really big movie stars.

It amuses me that he didn't see the x files as a "movie worthy" franchise... and then made two movies based on the x files.
As well as the number of young actors, such as Ryan Reynolds who played bit parts and then went on to become really famous. The x files was huge!

The X-Files had a huge influence on me since the 90s (turning 36 this year). I turn to rewatches whenever facing lowpoints in life and will forever be grateful to David for co-creating Fox Mulder.

X files was my favourite show as a kid and still love it today, currently rewatching every episode on Disney plus

David Duchovny is a delicacy of an actor. Love him.

Thanks to my father I've been interested in the paranormal and supernatural my whole life. I am happy the rolls fell in line for those 2. I still have most seasons of X-Files backed up on my phone swapping the other seasons out every so often. I even share the same Birthday as David. Seems like a great guy out of character and he creates those characters well enough where the characters don't stretch between movies or TV parts unless it's necessary.

X-Files and Californication is two of my favorite shows. You`re a legend David Duchovny

He was my childhood idol with X Files. Amazing!! I even tried to copy his style back then.

I'm not sure why, but they overlooked Duchovny's magnificent performance in the 1991 masterpiece 'Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead'. His outstandingly moving performance as 'Bruce' was an absolute triumph, and perhaps the greatest characterisation that has ever graced the screen. It is undoubtedly the pinnacle of his career, showcasing - flawlessly - his immense talent, and should be accorded the recognition it deserves. The fact that he didn't receive more accolades for the masterclass he displayed is nothing short of shameful, and Vanity Fair did him a savage disservice by omitting any mention of it.

Mulder is the greatest TV hero of all time - I loved watching his genuine and passionate pursuit of the truth.

This is really good at what he does. I mean Californication was really a job well done. Every single season was good. The nudity became less but who cares, all the cast nailed their characters. Especially David. His performance especially for those who had seen and known Mulder was truly respectable.

respect how frank he is here. X-Files is one of my top TV shows at all time (one of the few I finished to the end, usually I do not have that patience :-)), the first episode came as a surprise and then I could not help to wait for the next episode. I appreciated the chemistry with Scully and the subtle and rare display of mutual affection and vulnerability which is make it more interesting. Otherwise, yes Aquarius was a nice attempt.

Nice to see the artist and not just the famous Hollywood facade. His artistic talents matured pretty well, can not wait to see him in actual and future works.

God, I loved David in Californication, the writing and story were amazing, I at least come back to it once a year. I will say that I absolutely hated the final season, even though it was still full of some amazing writing the story was just so thrown together at the last minute to wrap it up. I think a long lost child of Hank was such a bad concept to unnecessarily fill a gap when Madeleine left the show. Besides that, I hated the character Levon.
I remember David saying that "Hank shouldn't have gotten the happy ending". And I absolutely agree with that, but I think if I had any creative input the last season would have been Hank and Charlie trying to get it right one last time. And it wouldn't have ended with Hank dying but Karen. Hank should have lived his life to excess until it finally broke around him and this time he couldn't fix it.

I enjoyed his performance as Dr. Eugene Sands in Playing God (1997). I know it's probably not the greatest film, but David certainly did a good job in that performance.

Bring this man back for more movies or shows and a spot in the mcu or dceu

The X-Files intro theme, classic of the 90s. The X-Files for me was my first ever 'cared for' TV show, one that I would actually want to follow by episode and by season (and I did, even as a teenager). My best TV shows have been X-Files, Deep Space Nine, and finally the one and only StarGate SG-1. Nothing else since then really touched those 'big three', they are the trifecta of TV shows for me.

Archivos X es la mejor serie que vi. No importa que otras me hayan parecido increíbles; la estética, el guión, los efectos_ hay que ver que estamos en los 90_ y los actores impresionantes

I know that maybe David is not that proud about Hank Moody, but that character kinda save's me.
I was in a deep depression, feeling tottally lost. And then, someday i watch Californication (probrably on 2007) for the first time, and i've found myself again, thanks to Hank, not all of me, but a least a little peace of myself. I saw myself in the funny parts, the loving, the caring about the family, and i've learn some new tricks about the ladies too, it was so much fun, so much freedom. I own so much for all of this. This show was my only company in so many lonely and dark times. I know that David probrably will never read this poor english message, but thank you for everything man. You're the Best Madafacka in the world. You made me laught so much, the lessons in his friendship with Charlie, and also his flaws was a great teacher too, this show, was so complete and human.
Ps: My daughter's name is Rebeca, and she's so beatiful and smart as the one on the show.

Thank you for not glossing over Kalifornia. It's an amazing movie that often gets overlooked.

Nothing can be at the same level as xfiles… this was historic

He was awesome in Californication, he was super quick with the wit part of it. Great writing and execution.

I have loved him since Twin Peaks he is so talented with everything

David is amazing, both as actor & singer!❤️ Was lucky to visit his gig in Vienna in 2019, he has excellent voice!❤️❤️❤️

X-files rules. Still does. All the one-off monster-of-the-week episodes are the gold of that series I think.

The X-Files and Californication are two of my favorite shows of all time! Love David Duchovny!

Edit to add: How impressive is it that this man's hair hasn't changed in 30+ years?
X-files was a major part of my childhood. I grew up watching that show with my family, and since I grew up in Roswell I was really into the alien stuff. 😂

*"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the next best time is now"* I consider this to be best motivational quote I've heard in a very long time. But motivational quotes are useless if you don't practice what you preach*

One of my favorite actors, thanks David 🙏🏻

I agree with him on aquarius. That show would have thrived on Netflix and a couple more seasons it was a great show

Parabéns ao David, o Mulder influenciou e inspirou uma geraçao de garotos que sonhavam e se toranaram Agentes . Graças ao David a "verdade sempre estará lá fora!".
Congratulations to David, Mulder influenced and inspired a generation of kids who dreamed and became Agents. Thanks to David the "truth will always be out there!".

Sure I've known him my whole life as Mulder but then I read his novel, Miss Subways, and I like it a lot. He actually can write and he should write more.

Grew up with X-Files. Changed my life in a great way.

He seems so chill, like a good consistent flow to him, calm demeanor and what not.

Love this video! Thank you Vanity Fair and David Duchovny!

X-files is one of the greatest shows out there yet it feels so underrated and forgotten about compared to the other great shows...the sopranos, the wire etc X-files was ahead of the times

Duchovny is a legend

I'm surprised he hasn't talked about "Red Shoe Diaries" It would've been interesting to see what got him into saying yes in the first place to that show and how he became friends with Zalman King.

Gotta love him. True to himself.

David is an absolute don, such a sound guy, he's aged like a fine wine too, good looking dude with a real calming voice.

Huge fan of his shows and albums, I hope I can get around to his books sometime soon.

I remember watching The X Files in the year 1993-94 and started watching it again.... One of the best best series. Just waiting for my twin daughters to grow up so that I can introduce them to this world...

Pity no one remembers the films Duchovny did before Twin Peaks. Some great indie stuff in there - he was part of Henry Jaglom's original stable. (I also notice no acknowledgement of his soft-core stuff with _Red Shoe Diaries,_ LOL)

I'd like to see more of David in movies. Maybe a DC or MCU movie? I could also see him as a John Wick type of character since he has such a calm deminor, but could be ruthless at the same time.

He’s so right about cable quality shows on NBC. They blame the series when really it’s viewers not trusting NBC not to cancel so we tune in for season 2 and boom they still leave us hanging.

Thanks David, this was awesome to see. Hank Moody shaped my outlook with the ladies and music.
I wouldn't be the same me without it.

Californication was and is still right up there with the all-time great tv series

Man.... X-Files was this huge chunk of my childhood... My family would sit in front of the tv in the 90's and be mesmerized by each week... Now that my older brother and folks are gone, it's a fond memory I can hold on to, memories of being a kid with my entire family all in one room

Some buddy needs to make this man’s life a biopic

i agreed on his opinion on aquarius.. it’s a shame that show didn’t get season 3 - it was really funny and entertaining. it should have been on netflix :(

Evolution (2001) directed by Ivan Reitman, and co-starring Orlando Jones, Julianne Moore and Sean William Scott definitely should've been included here.

This man is a National Treasure!