Sunday, Sept. 3, will bring a finale to the saga of “Twin Peaks,” one of the greatest cult classics in television history – but not all the actors who’ve been on the show, either in its original run 25 years ago or during the relaunched series of 2017, are still with us for the big goodbye. Today, we mourn those performers who didn’t make it to see the end of the show that, perhaps more than any other single TV series, led the way toward the television Renaissance we’ve been enjoying over the past two decades. Right from the “Twin Peaks” series debut in 1990, viewers were captivated by the offbeat, surreal tale of the congenial FBI Agent Cooper and his small-town quest to discover who killed Laura Palmer. A soap opera infused with equal parts mystery, horror, and ironic comedy, there was nothing else like it in its day. Retro 1950s chic tinged with 1990s grunge, an eerie soundtrack, intense colors – in many ways, “Twin Peaks” was more poetry than prose. When the show ended abruptly after just two seasons, fans grieved for the loss of the eccentric characters they had come to know and love. Now, decades later, the 2017 Showtime reboot is finally letting fans old and new see the fates of many of the same characters from the original series – those who’ve returned to the screen, and those whose actors have died since the original debuted. So, grab a piece of cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee, and join us as we remember those “Twin Peaks” actors who have passed away.
Warren Frost (1925 – 2017)
Warren Frost (1925 – 2017) was the father of “Twin Peaks” co-creator Mark Frost. He acted in a handful of TV shows in the 1950s and then taught at the University of Minnesota and was the artistic director of a theater in St. Paul, Minnesota. Frost became an active character actor later in his life. He played local coroner Dr. Hayward on “Twin Peaks.” He also had a recurring role as the father of George Costanza’s fiancée, Susan Ross, on “Seinfeld.”
Frost appeared on 30 episodes on the original run of “Twin Peaks.” He made an appearance in one episode of the Showtime reboot before he passed away.
Albert Rosenfield goes on a rant in the Twin Peaks morgue and ends up taking a punch from Sheriff Harry S. Truman.
Miguel Ferrer (1955 – 2017)
Miguel Ferrer (1955 – 2017) played the acerbic FBI forensic analyst Albert Rosenfield who is brought in to help on the Laura Palmer case. Rosenfield talks down to the local authorities, even getting into a fight with Sheriff Truman (Michael Ontkean). Ferrer reprised his role as Rosenfield in the 2017 “Twin Peaks” reboot. He filmed his scenes before he died from throat cancer at the age of 61. The series was released after his passing and is his last on-screen performance.
Jack Nance (1943 – 1996)
Jack Nance (1943 – 1996) starred in Lynch’s first feature film “Eraserhead,” and after that, Lynch cast Nance in nearly all his projects. In “Twin Peaks,” Nance played sawmill gaffer Pete Martell, who is married to the scheming Catherine (Piper Laurie). Nance’s death was a strange tragedy: On Dec. 29, 1996, according to People magazine, he went to lunch with two friends who noticed Nance had a black eye. He told them he’d started a fight with a kid in the parking lot of a Winchell’s Donuts shop, and he ended getting punched – “I guess I got what I deserved.” Complaining of a headache, he went home and died the next morning from a subdural hematoma.
Catherine Coulson (1943 – 2015)
Catherine Coulson (1943 – 2015) was married to fellow “Twin Peaks” actor Jack Nance from 1968 – 1976. The character actress was best known for her role as the enigmatic log lady Margaret Lanterman on Peaks. She first met David Lynch in 1971 and worked as Assistant Director on his first movie “Eraserhead.” Her log carrying lady was one of the most bewildering and memorable characters on the cult series. Coulson’s log lady appears in two episodes of the 2017 version, which she filmed before her death. The first episode of the reboot is dedicated in her memory.
View Catherine Coulson’s obituary
Don S. Davis (1942 – 2008)
Actor and real life military veteran Don S. Davis (1942 – 2008) played the eloquently spoken Major Briggs. In a chat with the Sci Fi Channel in 2002, Davis talked about getting the role on “Twin Peaks.”They were casting the ‘Twin Peaks’ pilot and my agent sent me out to the audition. I met David [Lynch] and didn’t actually read for him — we just visited. … David liked me and started writing for me. He liked the chemistry I had with other players. That was the luckiest break I could have had. There are at least a dozen people who are lifelong friends because of that show. It was a life-changing experience.”
The Log Lady has an important message for Major Briggs.
Dan O’Herlihy (1919 – 2005)
Irish born actor Dan O’Herlihy (1919 – 2005) had a long successful acting career. His first acting role came in 1944 and his last in 1998. He starred as Robinson Crusoe in Luis Bunuel’s film version in 1954. He played the ill-fated lumber tycoon Andrew Packard on “Twin Peaks.” Here is a great scene from the series featuring O’Herlihy, Jack Nance and the brilliant Piper Laurie.
Michael Parks (1940 – 2017)
Versatile actor Michael Parks (1940 – 2017) portrayed French-Canadian drug runner Jean Renault on “Twin Peaks.” Parks first came to fame as the star of the series “Then Came Bronson” in 1969. Later in his career he had supporting roles in Quentin Tarntino’s “Kill Bill” movies and appeared in two Kevin Smith films.
Frank Silva (1950 – 1995)
Frank Silva (1950 – 1995) was a set designer for “Twin Peaks.” He previously worked on other David Lynch films. According to Lynch, he was upstairs in the Laura Palmer house, near Silva as he worked, and suddenly realized that Silva might have a place in the show after catching him on camera when his reflection appeared in a mirror. Lynch then cast Silva as the character of Killer Bob, a dark spirit who haunts Laura.
In this frightening scene, Laura Palmer’s mother (Grace Zabiskie) has a vision about Killer Bob hiding behind Laura’s bed.
