The Louis Theroux Podcast S7 EP2: Kyle MacLachlan on his relationship with David Lynch, Showgirls, and viral stardom
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Mar 10, 2026 Kyle MacLachlan, American actor and longtime David Lynch collaborator, chats about their creative shorthand and why Lynch kept casting him. He revisits working on Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet. He explains taking Showgirls to shift his image and laughs about unexpectedly becoming viral on TikTok and Instagram.
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Why Lynch Cast MacLachlan As The Grounding Figure
- Kyle describes his role in Lynch's worlds as a stabilizing, everyman anchor that lets audiences follow surreal events.
- He says Lynch cast him because that grounded perspective allowed the viewer to 'ride on his back' through bizarre material.
Lynch Directed With Single Words And Gestures
- Lynch's direction came as sensations: single words like 'Elvis', short prompts like 'more wind' or quiet gestures rather than line‑by‑line instructions.
- Kyle explains they developed a shorthand where tiny cues unlocked the intended performance.
Dune Was A Brutal First Big Production
- Dune was Kyle's first film and a difficult production scale jump from art films; Lynch struggled with a huge shoot and cuts, leaving him unhappy with the result.
- Kyle recalls eight sound stages, Mexico City locations and that the theatrical cut couldn't contain the story.