David Duchovny is a man of many talents. He’s a singer, songwriter, celebrated author, and, of course, the iconic Agent Fox Mulder in “The X-Files” and Hank Moody in Showtime’s “Californication.” Despite his impressive resume, Duchovny is not Danny Tanner, Uncle Joey, or Uncle Jesse Katsopolis from “Full House.” While “Full House” was a staple of many childhoods, Duchovny’s early TV preferences leaned towards edgier shows like “Max Headroom,” “Moonlighting,” “Night Tracks,” “21 Jump Street,” “Alf,” and the groundbreaking “Twin Peaks.”
In “Twin Peaks,” Duchovny’s role as Agent Denise Bryson introduced audiences to more of David Lynch’s innovative storytelling. Given Duchovny’s body of work, it’s clear he was never meant to fit the mold of the jovial father figure Danny Tanner, the comedic Uncle Joey, or the Elvis-inspired Uncle Jesse.
Recently, Duchovny has been promoting his new Audible project, recorded during the pandemic lockdown. On “Ellen,” he shared, “It was my first time out in L.A., and they brought me out for different shows. I ended up with the ‘Full House’ stuff, and they just kept on trying to plug me into different characters. And clearly, I was wrong for every single one.” Crisis averted, indeed.
After his stint with Lynch, Duchovny moved on to “The Red Shoe Diaries,” a show with a decidedly edgier tone. His big break came in 1993 with “The X-Files,” where his chemistry with Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully captivated audiences. “The X-Files” became a cultural phenomenon, putting Fox on the map alongside “The Simpsons.” Both shows have maintained fervent fan bases, with demands for movies and show revivals.
Duchovny’s latest audiobook, “The Reservoir,” explores the life of a former Wall Street veteran named Ridley during the pandemic. It’s a compelling narrative that offers a unique perspective on our current world. Additionally, Duchovny is set to appear in Judd Apatow’s “The Bubble,” a film about actors stuck in a pandemic bubble at a hotel. The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Rob Delaney, Leslie Mann, Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Armisen, and Karen Gillan. Duchovny’s third album, “Gestureland,” also showcases his musical talents, drawing inspiration from artists like Tom Petty, Chris Isaak, and Uncle Tupelo.
In a recent episode of his “Fail Better” podcast, Duchovny revealed that he auditioned for all three leading male roles on “Full House”: Danny Tanner (played by Bob Saget), Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), and Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier). Despite his efforts, Duchovny was rejected for each role. He admitted that sitcom acting was never his forte.
“I auditioned for all three parts on ‘Full House,'” Duchovny said. “At first, they had me for, I think, the dad. And then they had me for the Stamos character. And then they had me for the other guy. I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get one of these, and it’s going to change my life.'”
During that period, Duchovny was auditioning for numerous sitcom pilots, hoping for a breakthrough that would help him pay his rent. However, he acknowledged that he was not suited for the sitcom style of acting. “I did not know how to do that sitcom stuff,” he said. “I don’t know what they were thinking, that they thought I was going to exist in that world. I mean, I guess I could have learned, but I wasn’t ready for that kind of energetic performance that they need.”
“Full House” premiered in 1987, but Duchovny’s big break came a few years later with “The X-Files” in 1993. The show ran for 11 seasons and 218 episodes, with Duchovny and Anderson reprising their roles in two movies: 1998’s “The X-Files” and 2008’s “The X-Files: I Want to Believe.”
Before landing his iconic role as Fox Mulder, Duchovny hoped “Full House” would be his big break. He auditioned for all three male lead roles, only to be turned down each time. Duchovny first tried for Danny Tanner, a role initially given to John Posey for an unaired pilot before Bob Saget took over. He then auditioned for Jesse Katsopolis, which went to John Stamos. His final attempt was for Joey Gladstone, ultimately played by Dave Coulier.
“I auditioned for all three parts on ‘Full House,'” Duchovny explained. “At first, they had me for, I think, the dad. And then they had me for the Stamos character. And then they had me for the other guy. I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get one of these, and it’s going to change my life.'”
Duchovny believed that any of these roles could have been his big break. At that time, he “just needed to be able to pay my rent too.” However, it wasn’t meant to be, as Duchovny struggled with the sitcom style of acting. “I was really bad at that kind of stuff,” he admitted.
Ultimately, Duchovny’s path led him to “The X-Files,” where he found his true calling. His journey serves as a reminder that sometimes, the roles we don’t get can lead us to the ones we’re meant to play.
Source: Variety, AV Club
