Laura Palmer is a fictional character in the Twin Peaks franchise and the primary focus of the series. She is portrayed by Sheryl Lee and was created by the series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost . She first appears in the ABC original series Twin Peaks . A high school student whose death is the catalyst for the events of the series, Palmer is the protagonist in Lynch's prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), which depicts the final week of her life leading up to her murder. Laura also appears in the novels , Twin Peaks: The Return (2017), and a variety of merchandise based on the series.
49-533: Laura (played by Sheryl Lee, who also played her cousin Maddy Ferguson ) was well known and loved in Twin Peaks ; she volunteered at Meals on Wheels , was her school's Homecoming Queen , and was (apparently) the darling of her parents, Sarah ( Grace Zabriskie ) and Leland ( Ray Wise ). However, the series gradually revealed that Laura led a double life: she was a cocaine addict, a victim of child sexual abuse ,
98-426: A panic attack and collapses. Feeling guilty, Donna apologizes and returns the diary. Still seeking answers to Laura's murder, Donna and Maddy set up a plan to steal the diary. Donna meets with Harold and tells him of a day years earlier in which she and Laura went skinny-dipping with a group of older boys. She says that she fell in love for the first time that day with one of these boys, Tim. She and Harold then share
147-415: A dead girl". The local girl ended up being Sheryl Lee. Lynch stated "But no one—not Mark, me, anyone—had any idea that she could act, or that she was going to be so powerful just being dead." And then, while Lynch shot the home movie that James takes of Donna and Laura, he realized that Lee had something special. "She did do another scene—the video with Donna on the picnic—and it was that scene that did it." As
196-680: A degree in nursing. Mädchen Amick , who portrays Shelly Johnson , originally auditioned for the role of Donna but the part ultimately went to Lara Flynn Boyle . Boyle was unable to reprise her role as Donna in the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced by Moira Kelly . In Return to Twin Peaks: New Approaches to Materiality, Theory, and Genre on Television , Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock and Catherine Spooner state: Sean T. Collins of Rolling Stone included Donna on his list of
245-571: A feature-length film. The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer , written by Jennifer Lynch (David Lynch's daughter), was published in 1990. The novel portrays Laura falling into a world of prostitution and cocaine abuse, while maintaining the status quo as homecoming queen and high school student. Published during the summer between the original broadcasts of the first and second seasons, the book provided information regarding Laura's veiled personal life, including her knowledge of and/or relationship with BOB. Laura's Ghost , written by Courtenay Stallings,
294-605: A fetish model and, briefly, a prostitute at One Eyed Jacks, a casino / brothel just north of the Canada–US border . Officially involved with Bobby Briggs ( Dana Ashbrook ), the high school football team captain, she was also engaged in a secret relationship with James Hurley ( James Marshall ). She also had sexual encounters with other Twin Peaks citizens, such as businessman Ben Horne ( Richard Beymer ) and trucker/drug dealer Leo Johnson ( Eric Da Re ). The discovery of Laura's body in
343-519: A flower for Laura's grave. She confides in Harold and starts to develop feelings for him. While looking at Harold's flowers, Donna discovers Laura's secret diary. While having lunch with Harold, Donna offers to tell him her life story if she can read Laura's diary; he agrees, but says that he will read it to her and that it cannot leave the room. She snatches the diary and walks outside of Harold's house. He tries to follow her, but after stepping outside, he has
392-401: A glowing orb containing Laura's portrait is sent to Earth in 1945 by Senorita Dido, shortly after the creation of BOB during the testing of the first nuclear bomb . In Part 17 , Agent Cooper is sent back in time by Special Agent Phillip Jeffries and saves Laura on the night of her murder; the opening scenes of the first season are revisited thereafter, but Laura's iconic plastic-wrapped body
441-561: A kiss. Donna tells the authorities that Harold has Laura's diary, but her claims are met with skepticism, as they already discovered a diary at the Palmer house. Harold later commits suicide, and Donna feels responsible. At the diner, Donna hear Sheriff’s Deputy Andy Brennan ( Harry Goaz ) saying, "J'ai une âme solitaire," and she questions him about Mrs. Tremond, but he says that this line was actually in Harold’s suicide note and that it means, "I am
490-412: A lonely soul." Donna goes to Cooper and tells him about Mrs. Tremond. They go to her house, but a different Mrs. Tremond answers the door. She gives Donna an envelope from Harold, containing a page from Laura's diary, where she described a dream of being in a red room, the mysterious " BOB " ( Frank Silva ), and her premonition of her own death the following night. Donna goes to the Palmer house to deliver
539-428: A part of the series but was created by David Lynch so that Lee could have a larger role in the series. In Twin Peaks , Maddy first appears midway through the first season, when she travels to Twin Peaks from her hometown of Missoula, Montana (David Lynch's birthplace). She comes to comfort her uncle and aunt, Leland ( Ray Wise ) and Sarah Palmer ( Grace Zabriskie ), after the death of their daughter Laura. Maddy
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#1732863304727588-587: A picnic she had with Laura that was filmed by James Hurley ( James Marshall ), but she insists that it was recorded by a female hiker. Donna sneaks out and goes to the Roadhouse, where a fight breaks out between James and Donna's boyfriend Mike ( Gary Hershberger ). Donna and James escape to the woods, where she tells him that the police are looking for him. When they drive off, they are stopped by Truman and Cooper. The next morning, Donna tells her mother Eileen ( Mary Jo Deschanel ) she has feelings for James. She goes to
637-452: A prominent name in the tabloids, which run sensationalized stories about her love life that eventually overshadow her career. She marries a man twice her age and soon becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol as a means to cope with the decline of her career. After her husband files for divorce, Donna seeks help through substance rehabilitation. After overcoming her addictions, Donna reconnects with her father and comes to live with him as she pursues
686-473: A result, Sheryl Lee became a semi-regular addition to the cast, appearing in flashbacks as Laura, as well as Laura's cousin, Maddy Ferguson . Maddy Ferguson Madeleine "Maddy" Ferguson is a fictional character in the Twin Peaks franchise . She was created by the series creators David Lynch and Mark Frost and portrayed by Sheryl Lee . Introduced in the fourth episode of the first season, Maddy
735-454: A tape for Maddy, and becomes fearful upon learning that Maddy didn't make it home. She learns later that Maddy was murdered by Leland, who also murdered Laura; he committed both murders while being possessed by BOB, who turns out to be a demonic entity who had sexually abusing Laura while using Leland as a host. Donna soon discovers a connection between her mother and hotel magnate Ben Horne ( Richard Beymer ). Intrigued, Donna follows Eileen to
784-447: A tape in Laura's hiding place. Donna listens to the tape and realized that it was recorded for Jacoby. She discovers that a tape recorded the night Laura died is missing. James believes that Jacoby must be in possession of the tape and suggests they go to Jacoby's office to find it, and that they could lure him out with a "phone call from Laura". Later, Donna meets Maddy and James in the park,
833-569: A vision, and it is implied that she forgives him and welcomes him to the afterlife . Laura appears inside the Black Lodge during the series finale , as both herself and an evil doppelgänger version. Sheryl Lee reprised her role as Laura in Twin Peaks: The Return . In " Part 2 ", Laura Palmer removes her face to reveal a mysterious white light emanating from within her body. She is shortly whisked away by an unseen force. In " Part 8 ",
882-485: Is a dead man in her living room with a bullet hole in his head. She accompanies Cooper to Washington state. Once they arrive at the Palmer residence, Carrie does not seem to recognize her supposed former home, and Cooper is shocked to find the "Tremond" family living there, having purchased the home from the previous owners, the Chalfonts. As Cooper begins to question the current year, Sarah Palmer's voice calls out "Laura" from
931-473: Is a fictional character in the Twin Peaks franchise . She was portrayed by Lara Flynn Boyle in the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991) and by Moira Kelly in the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) and its deleted and extended scenes compilation Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces (2014). She was created by David Lynch and Mark Frost . Making her debut as a main character in
980-657: Is doing her makeup when Audrey comes in and tells her that she is aware of the secrets surrounding Laura's life, including that she had been sleeping with Dr. Lawrence Jacoby ( Russ Tamblyn ), something that Donna didn't know. Later, she goes to the woods with James to find the other half of the necklace that they buried as children, but they cannot find it. Donna later goes to the Double R Diner with him, where she meets Laura's cousin, Maddy Ferguson (Lee). She asks Maddy to assist them in their investigation into Laura's death. Later that night, Maddy calls Donna and tells her that she found
1029-407: Is first seen walking to school with Laura. After school, they go to Donna's home, where they talk about Laura's boyfriend Bobby Briggs and James Hurley, the latter Donna describes as "the one." The next day, a distraught Laura shows up at Donna's house and asks if she is her best friend. The next night, Donna goes to Laura's house, where Laura is preparing to go out and refuses to tell Donna where she
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#17328633047271078-410: Is four years older than Laura, but otherwise looks identical apart from her dark hair and glasses. She remarks that she and Laura used to pretend they were sisters. Despite their resemblance, the innocent and sweet Maddy stands in stark contrast to Laura, whose personal life is steeped in deception. Like Laura's mother and Laura herself, Maddy has premonitions, including one of a bloodstain on the floor of
1127-670: Is going. Donna follows Laura to the Roadhouse, and finds out that her best friend is working as a prostitute. Intrigued, Donna enters the Roadhouse, gets drunk, and kisses one of Laura's customers. Despite Laura's initial reluctance, Donna goes with her and two men up to a brothel in Canada, where an orgy is taking place. There, Donna refuses an offer of cocaine , but nevertheless joins the party, and eventually takes her shirt off and begins making out with several strange men. Laura pulls one such man off of Donna, covers her up and takes her home. The next day, Laura begs Donna not to become like her. Donna
1176-408: Is nowhere to be found. Laura herself disappears soon after, vanishing from Cooper's grasp as they stroll through the woods of Twin Peaks. In the series finale , Cooper discovers that Carrie Page, a middle-aged woman who looks just like Laura Palmer, is living in an alternative reality Odessa, Texas . Though skeptical of Cooper's claims of her past life as Laura, Carrie is eager to flee town, as there
1225-594: Is referenced numerous times in Jennifer Lynch 's novel The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer . In Mark Frost 's novel Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier , it is revealed that upon graduating high school, Donna leaves Twin Peaks to pursue an education at Hunter College in New York City . Soon after, she finds an unexpected career as a fashion model, a job that brings her international recognition. Donna becomes
1274-411: Is the older cousin of Laura Palmer (also played by Lee) who comes to Twin Peaks to help her aunt and uncle cope with the death of their daughter. Over the course of the series, Maddy forms a close friendship with Donna Hayward ( Lara Flynn Boyle ) and James Hurley ( James Marshall ), Laura's closest friends, and assists them in their investigation into her death. Originally, she was not intended to be
1323-622: Is trapped in the Lodge and cannot leave. When she wakes up, Laura sees the ring in her hand. The next evening, Laura goes to the Bang Bang Bar to meet her drug connections and have sex with strangers. Unexpectedly, the normally chaste Donna shows up. They all go to the Pink Room. When she sees a topless Donna making out with a stranger, a distraught Laura takes her home and begs her friend to not become like her. The next morning, Leland drives Laura home. On
1372-429: The 30 Best 'Twin Peaks' Characters stating, "Other images took a tighter hold on audience imaginations, but nothing conveyed the tragedy of Laura Palmer's death like her best friend Donna looking at her empty desk, realizing what it meant, and starting to sob uncontrollably right there in homeroom. Donna was the heart of the high-school-kids material on the show, the character who was the most square and reserved, and also
1421-488: The original series , Donna is introduced as the best friend and classmate of Laura Palmer ( Sheryl Lee ), who tries to solve the mystery of her murder. Donna has a supporting role in the prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me , which depicts the final week of Laura's life. Donna is referenced numerous times in Jennifer Lynch 's novel The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer . The novel Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier by Mark Frost reveals some of what happened to her after
1470-576: The pilot episode of Twin Peaks brings Special Agent Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) to investigate her death. Her murder and its effect on those around her propel the first season and the first eight episodes of the second season. Laura remains a prominent character afterward, as her death exposes many secrets related to her, and also, in some cases, unrelated, such as the Packard mill conspiracy. Laura also appears in Cooper's dreams, offering cryptic clues as to
1519-478: The Black Lodge, warning him to "watch out for my cousin". Maddy is referenced numerous times in Jennifer Lynch 's novel The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer . Originally, Sheryl Lee was only cast to portray Laura Palmer . However, after David Lynch filmed a few scenes with her, he was so impressed that he created the role of Maddy so that Lee could have a larger role in the series. In Cult Pop Culture: How
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1568-592: The Fringe Became Mainstream , Bob Batchelor states "Through Maddy, the audience is given a chance to view a more innocent, less world-weary Laura Palmer, one that is haunted only by the question of which boy to kiss as she tries to help solve the murder." In Twin Peaks FAQ: All That's Left to Know About a Place Both Wonderful and Strange David Bushman and Arthur Smith note the impact of Maddy's death, stating: Donna Hayward Donna Marie Hayward
1617-628: The Great Northern Hotel, discovering that she planned to meet Horne. Audrey, Horne's daughter, assists her with her investigation. Upon discovering flowers sent to her mother, Donna finds her birth certificate and discovers that it does not list a father; she then realizes that Ben Horne is her biological father. Donna Hayward, now played by Moira Kelly , has a supporting role in the prequel films Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces . In Fire Walk With Me , Donna
1666-452: The Maddy of the first season. This causes conflict with Donna and James when James becomes attracted to her and she begins to return his feelings in spite of herself. Later, she is murdered by Leland Palmer, who is possessed by BOB, in a violent recreation of Laura's murder. Maddy's death quickly leads to Leland's arrest. A doppelgänger of Maddy later appears to Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) in
1715-436: The Palmer home, and talks to Laura's mother Sarah ( Grace Zabriskie ), who calls Donna by Laura's name and becomes hysterical. The next day, Donna goes to the Double R Diner and talks to Audrey about Laura's death and their mutual admiration for Cooper. The following day, Donna attends Laura's funeral, and witnesses Laura's father Leland ( Ray Wise ) throw himself on Laura's casket while sobbing hysterically. At school, Donna
1764-485: The Palmer residence, and Carrie screams in horror. Laura is the protagonist of the prequel film Fire Walk With Me . The film depicts the last week of her life and the events leading up to her murder. Laura is the high school homecoming queen and is best friends with Donna Hayward ( Moira Kelly ). Laura is addicted to cocaine and is cheating on her boyfriend, Bobby Briggs, with the biker James Hurley. After Laura realizes pages are missing from her secret diary, she gives
1813-696: The Palmers' living room and another of BOB ( Frank Silva ), a demonic entity plaguing the town. Maddy quickly befriends Donna Hayward and James Hurley, Laura's closest friends, and helps them in their investigation into Laura's death. At one point, Maddy even wears a blonde wig to lure one of Laura's acquaintances. During the second season, Maddy begins to resemble her cousin more and more: her hair (though still dark) straightens, she stops wearing her glasses, and in her carriage and demeanor she behaves more like Laura as seen in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me than
1862-484: The cabin by Leland to an abandoned train car. Laura asks Leland if he is going to kill her, but BOB appears and tells Laura he intends to possess her. MIKE has tracked Leland/BOB to the train, but when Ronette tries to let him in, Leland beats her unconscious. MIKE manages to throw in Teresa's ring. Laura puts it on, which prevents BOB from possessing her. Enraged, Leland/BOB stabs Laura to death. Leland/BOB places Laura's body in
1911-615: The events of the show's second season. Donna is first seen walking to her locker at school, amused at the sight of Audrey Horne ( Sherilyn Fenn ) changing into heels and smoking a cigarette a few lockers down. She then goes to class and sees a deputy enter the classroom as the teacher is taking attendance, asking if Bobby Briggs ( Dana Ashbrook ) is present. After the town hears the news of her best friend Laura Palmer 's murder, Donna looks at Laura's empty desk and begins to cry. Sheriff Harry S. Truman ( Michael Ontkean ) and FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper ( Kyle MacLachlan ) question her about
1960-619: The former wearing a blonde wig to make her look identical to Laura. Maddy deceives Jacoby by speaking as Laura on the phone. Donna and James infiltrate his office as he left. Donna finds the missing tape and half of Laura's necklace. At Donna's house, they listen to the tape, in which Laura mentions a "mystery man" who drives a red Corvette . Donna goes to the Double R Diner the next day and meets with Maddy. Maddy then informs her that Leland's hair has turned white. Donna calls Norma Jennings ( Peggy Lipton ) and expresses interest in taking over Laura's volunteer route for Meals on Wheels . Starting on
2009-423: The identity of her killer. Laura's first diary is uncovered in the first episode , but her 2nd secret diary is not recovered until later. The secret diary contains passages suggesting that she had been sexually abused by a malevolent entity named BOB ( Frank Silva ) since she was a child. In her diary she referred to BOB as a friend of her father's. In the prequel/sequel Fire Walk with Me , Laura's spirit makes
Laura Palmer - Misplaced Pages Continue
2058-640: The lake. As her corpse drifts away, Leland/BOB enters the Red Room, where he encounters MIKE and the Man from Another Place, who announce they want their share of "garmonbozia", a supernatural substance generated by pain and fear. As Laura's body is found by the Sheriff's department, Cooper comforts her spirit in the Black Lodge. Laura is the protagonist of the 2014 film, Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces , which features deleted scenes from Fire Walk With Me , pieced together to make
2107-544: The rest of the diary to Harold Smith ( Lenny Von Dohlen ), her agoraphobic friend. She has a dream about entering the Black Lodge. Cooper and the Man from Another Place ( Michael J. Anderson ) appear in her dream. The Man from Another Place tells Cooper that he is "the arm" and offers Teresa's ring to Laura, but Cooper tells her not to take it. Laura finds Annie Blackburn ( Heather Graham ) next to her in bed, covered in blood. Annie tells Laura to write in her diary that "the good Dale"
2156-472: The route, Donna goes to the home of an elderly woman named Mrs. Tremond ( Frances Bay ), who tells her about her agoraphobic neighbor, Harold Smith ( Lenny Von Dohlen ), and reveals that he and Laura were friends. Donna knocks on Smith's door, but he does not answer, so she leaves him a note. He calls her that night, and they arrange to meet the next day. The next morning, she goes to Harold's home and they talk about Laura before he goes to his greenhouse to get
2205-465: The transition to the afterlife when an angel appears to her, showing that her nightmare is finally over. During the second season, the identity of her murderer was revealed: her father, Leland, who had sexually abused her for years while being possessed by BOB. Before his death in police custody, Leland tells Cooper and the others that he had not been aware of his own actions during the times BOB possessed him. As Leland dies, Laura appears before him in
2254-531: The way home, Philip Gerard/MIKE ( Al Strobel ), a one-armed man who is also possessed by a demon, pulls up alongside Leland's car and shouts at Leland that "the thread will be torn". He shows Teresa's ring to Laura, but she and Leland become frightened and drive away. The next night, BOB comes through Laura's window and begins raping her, only to transform into Leland. The next morning she warns Leland to stay away from her. Upset, Laura uses more cocaine and has trouble concentrating at school. When Bobby realizes Laura
2303-674: Was found dead in Teal's Pond in Sand Lake, New York and the story of which Mark Frost was told by his grandmother Betty Calhoun. This story is told in David Bushman and Mark T. Givens' Murder at Teal's Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks (2022) which includes an introduction by Frost explaining the connection. Due to budget constraints, Lynch intended to cast a local girl from Seattle , reportedly "just to play
2352-497: Was only using him to score cocaine, he breaks off their relationship. Subsequently, Laura breaks up with James, then goes to a cabin in the woods to have an orgy with Leo, One-Eyed Jack's poker dealer Jacques Renault ( Walter Olkewicz ), and prostitute Ronette Pulaski ( Phoebe Augustine ). Leland has followed her there; he attacks Jacques, leaving him incapacitated. Leo finds Jacques and promptly leaves. Both girls, having been tied up during their trysts with Jacques and Leo, are taken from
2401-425: Was published in 2020 and features interviews from Sheryl Lee, Grace Zabriskie, and Jennifer Lynch. The book examines Laura Palmer's character and her influence on pop culture and women's lives. Funko has released Pop! vinyl and reaction figures of Laura wrapped in plastic and a Pop! vinyl figure of Laura's Black Lodge counterpart. Laura's murder was possibly inspired by the unsolved death of Hazel Irene Drew, who
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