Variety was informed by his agent that Lenny Von Dohlen, the actor who played Harold Smith in “Twin Peaks,” has died. He was 63 years old.
On Thursday morning, his sister Catherine Von Dohlen announced his death on Facebook. There was no cause of death. “The world lost an extraordinary man on July 5th.” She wrote that Brother Len was passionately interested in everything and everyone.
He was always leading, whether it was riveting conversation, artistic creation, or a trip across new countries. He enjoyed a good joke. He continued on his spiritual path. She wrote, “Living a full life in his memory.”
Von Dohlen played Harold Smith, an agoraphobic character who refused to leave his home in “Twin Peaks,” and “Twin Peaks 2: Fire Walk With Me.”
Sheryl Lee’s character Laura Palmer gave Harold her secret diary. Her friend Donna Hayward became friends with Harold as she investigated Laura’s murder. Harold’s story ended when Donna attempted to steal his diary. He later committed suicide, losing faith in human decency.
Von Dohlen was also a part of “Twin Peaks,” as Burton Jernigan (one of the villains of “Home Alone 3”), and most recently, in an episode on Seth MacFarlane’s series “The Orville.”
His first TV appearance was on NBC’s Emmy-winning series “Kent State” (1981), and his film debut in “Tender Mercies”, an Oscar-winning 1983 movie. The starring role was then in “Electric Dreams,” a sci-fi romantic comedy film.
