Duchovny was born in New York City. He was a quiet child that mostly kept to himself. Duchovny went to the prestigious Collegiate Prep School in New York. Some of his former class mates include actors Zach Galligan, Jason Beghe and John F. Kennedy, Jr. He went on to Princeton and received his Master's degree in English Literature from Yale. He left shortly before receiving his Ph.D. to act in low-budget adult films.

Duchovny's first acting job was a small role in Working Girl . He was quickly recognized in Joglom's New Year's Day. For a few episodes, he played the crossdresser on TV's Twin Peaks. Duchovny later took on smaller roles in such movies as Chaplin, Ruby, and The Rapture.

What really heated up his reputation as a sensitive sex symbol was his role as Jake in Showtime's Red Shoe Diaries. Of course the role that really brought Duchovny out into the Hollywood light was his role in as the FBI agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files.

In 1997, Duchovny shocked female fans by announcing his marriage to T?a Leoni, the star of the sitcom The Naked Truth. Their first daughter, Madelaine West Duchovny, was born two years following the marriage.

Duchovny left The X-Files in 2000, but has still remained busy with roles in Return To Me, Evolution and 2002's Full Frontal.