Nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the 1996-97 season, David Duchovny once seemed an unlikely candidate to become an actor. A native New Yorker, Duchovny attended Yale University, where he received a graduate degree in English literature to prepare for a career as a teacher. While at Yale, he began commuting to New York to study acting and was soon appearing in off-Broadway plays. In 1987, in the midst of his doctoral studies, he left Yale to pursue acting full time. Numerous roles soon followed. Before THE X-FILES, Duchovny was probably best known for his memorable portrayal of Dennis/Denise, the transvestite detective in the television series "Twin Peaks," and for his performance opposite Mimi Rogers in the acclaimed feature film "The Rapture." His most recent feature film was "Playing God," due out this fall, and he has also starred in the first feature film version of "The X-Files," which was released in 1998. Duchovny's other feature film credits include leading roles in "Chaplin," "Beethoven," "Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead," "Kalifornia" and the critically acclaimed "Julia Has Two Lovers." Duchovny was also the host of cable's "The Red Shoe Diaries." He has made two guest appearances on "The Larry Sanders Show," and on "Space: Above and Beyond" and did voiceover appearances on "The Simpsons" and "Duckman." Duchovny is married to actress Tea Leoni.
Now the recipient of two SAG Awards, a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy nomination for Best Actress in a Drama Series, Gillian Anderson's first big break came when she was cast in a starring role in FOX's THE X-FILES in September 1993. Earlier, Anderson had gained recognition as an actress for her off-Broadway performance in Alan Ayckborne's "Absent Friends" at the Manhattan Theater Club, for which she won a Theatre World Award. She also appeared in Christopher Hampton's "The Philanthropist" at the Long Wharf Theater. Her love of theater began in high school, when she participated in community theater productions. Later, Anderson studied with the National Theatre of Great Britain at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., and then at the Goodman Theater School at Chicago's DePaul University, where she obtained her B.F.A. degree. Anderson's feature film credits include the soon-to-be-released films "Freak the Mighty" and "Hellcab." In addition, she starred in the first feature film version of "The X-Files." Anderson resides in both Vancouver and Los Angeles.