With Twin Peaks: The Return premiering on Showtime, let’s take a look at the connections between the show and James Bond. And there are a few, among those who acted in both.
In the first season of Twin Peaks, Swedish model and actress Mary Slavin played “Heba,” in two episodes. She was among the large group of Swedish investors staying at the Great Northern Hotel. But Bond fans will know her as Kimberley Jones, the blonde beauty that awaits Bond after the ski chase in the pre-title sequence of A View to a Kill. Slavin also appeared in Octopussy as one of Octopussy’s “girls.”
Gavan O’Herlihy played Preston King, a Royal Canadian Mouted Police officer, in the second season of Twin Peaks. King arrived in Twin Peaks to investigate Dale Cooper (Kyle McLachlan). O’Herlihy also starred in Never Say Never Again, the 1983 remake of Thunderball. While Never Say Never Again was not an official Bond production (in other words, produced by EON), it is noteworthy for being Sean Connery’s Bond comeback, after twelve years removed from the role. O’Herlihy played Jack Petachi, whose identity is used to help steal nuclear warheards.
Of course, the most notable connection between the two franchises is actor Everett McGill, who had prominent roles in both. McGill played “Big Ed” Hurley, one of the main characters in Twin Peaks. Ed ran a gas station in town and was a member of the Bookhouse Boys. In 1989, McGill played DEA agent Ed Killifer, in Licence to Kill. Many will remember Killfer as falling victim to the same shark that took a few big bites out of Felix Leiter (David Hedison).
As many Bond fans are aware, Bond girls, Berenice Marlohe and Monica Bellucci will be making appearances in Twin Peaks: The Return. We’ll just have to wait to see what their roles will be.