Being typecast for the major portion of a career isn’t something many actors are fond of and David Duchovny made sure it didn’t end up being the case for him after he rose to prominence. Known for playing the lead in the acclaimed show, The X-Files, which ran for 11 seasons, the later years witnessed the actor taking a comedic gig, which wasn’t considered ideal for the actor at the time.
Despite enjoying massive success following his brilliance as Fox Mulder, the actor was adamant about making it big in the comedy realm, however, many felt it was a career-ending move.
David Duchovny’s Decision to Do Comedy Was Seen as a Career-Ruining Move
While moving on to playing more dark and serious characters, similar to Fox Mulder, might’ve appeared the logical thing to do, David Duchovny was against the idea of limiting himself to a certain style. And even before The X-Files wrapped up, he was ready to move on and follow in the steps of Ben Stiller and Will Ferrell, even though he had his doubts. Reasonably, many weren’t fond of the You People Star’s move, fearing this might sink his career. But despite being aware of the risks involved, his desire to Star in Californication was too strong to resist. He told Rolling Stone:
“After The X-Files, I wanted to do a comedy. But people weren’t looking at me that way because that show was perceived as dark and kind of brutal, even though it always had funny moments. At the time that I wanted to do a comedy, it seemed like most were underdog comedies, like ones with Ben Stiller, Steve Carell and Will Ferrell. I wouldn’t find myself believable in a world that Ben might do or Carell might do.”
To say that Californication was a success would be an understatement, as the show went on to run for seven seasons, further skyrocketing Duchovny’s career.
David Duchovny’s Love for the Artform Isn’t Limited to Acting
Since parting ways with Californication, David Duchovny went on to tackle more diverse roles, including a romantic drama Return to Me. However, the actor wasn’t content with performing onscreen, as he expressed his love for working behind the camera, but admitted it can be a pretty tiring process. Speaking with The Guardian, he expressed,
“I love directing: I did several episodes of The X-Files and Californication, and it was great. But I’m a little spoiled as an actor. You get to do your stuff and go home, and the longest you have to spend on a movie is three months. When you’re writing a movie, however, that’s going to be your job for a year and a half, at least.
Also read: X-Files Star David Duchovny Wants a X-Files Revival in Near Future
Although being typecast into a certain type of role isn’t always bad, with Paul Dano being the prime example, Duchovny’s decision to break the shackles only contributed to ascending his stardom.
Californication is available to stream on Paramount Plus.
Source: Rolling Stone
