Actor Kyle MacLachlan has revealed he offered an emotional apology to his ex-girlfriend Laura Dern for having a years-long affair with his Twin Peaks co-star Lara Flynn Boyle.
The 67-year-old American actor confessed he was not his best self during their romance, which ended after he admitted to cheating on Dern with Boyle while filming the iconic mystery drama series.
Speaking about that period in his life, MacLachlan told The Sunday Times magazine: "I was not my best self during the years I was with Lara, let's just say. I learnt some things the hard way. But you know, it happened for a reason, and then with Linda [Evangelista], that exposed me to another completely different world."
MacLachlan was still in a relationship with Dern when he began seeing Boyle, now 56. After starting the affair during production of Twin Peaks, he eventually confessed his infidelity to Dern, leading to their breakup.
Relationship with Laura Dern and Blue Velvet
MacLachlan and Dern, 59, first met on the set of the 1986 mystery film Blue Velvet, directed by David Lynch. The couple began dating in 1985 and remained together for four years. Blue Velvet launched MacLachlan's Hollywood career and established Dern as a leading star, who went on to gain acclaim in major productions such as Big Little Lies.
Despite their breakup, MacLachlan and Dern maintained a close friendship over the decades, supported by mutual social circles and deep mutual respect. MacLachlan explained that he remained in contact with Dern partly due to shared friends, adding, "but also, ultimately, I've realised what an amazing person she is and I really want her in my life."
The former couple also stayed close friends with Blue Velvet director David Lynch and their co-star Isabella Rossellini. In 2019, Lynch was presented with an honorary Oscar by MacLachlan, Dern, and Rossellini. Following the ceremony, in front of Lynch and Rossellini, MacLachlan apologised to Dern for having cheated on her.
Reflecting on the apology, MacLachlan said: "We'd spoken about it in the past but there was something about doing it in front of David and Isabella too that made it really cathartic. It was very emotional for me, to be honest."
Romance with Linda Evangelista and family life
Following the end of his relationships with Dern and Boyle, MacLachlan began dating former supermodel Linda Evangelista, whom he said he was enamoured with. The pair met during a Barneys New York photo shoot and became engaged in the mid-1990s. They were together for about six years before splitting in 1998.
In 1999, MacLachlan met his wife Desiree Gruber. The couple married in 2002 and later welcomed their son Callum, who is now 18 years old.
Tribute to filmmaker David Lynch
MacLachlan also paid tribute to legendary filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away last year. Lynch's family announced the news of his passing on social media, marking the end of a career that spanned five decades.
The four-time Oscar-nominated director was best known for acclaimed movies including Eraserhead, Wild At Heart, Lost Highway, and Mulholland Drive, as well as Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks. MacLachlan credited the visionary filmmaker for his entire career after starring as Special Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks and Jeffrey Beaumont in Blue Velvet.
