Twin Peaks Star Lara Flynn Boyle Makes Rare Outing in Los Angeles

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Lara Flynn Boyle is having a damn fine day in L.A.

Lara Flynn Boyle, known for her role in Twin Peaks, was spotted out in Los Angeles on May 17th—her first public appearance in nearly a year. She was taking her dog, Shrimp, for a walk and wore white pants with a blue sweater that said “Irish” on it, while enjoying a cigarette.

The Emmy-nominated actress, who wasn’t part of the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks directed by David Lynch, has mostly stayed out of the spotlight. However, she hasn’t officially stopped acting; she simply chose to work less after marrying real estate investor Donald Ray Thomas in 2006.

In a 2024 interview with People magazine, Lara explained that she never wanted to stop working. Whenever she felt discouraged, she made a point of avoiding self-pity and complaining.

She consistently avoids framing new projects, such as her 2023 film Mother Couch, as a ‘comeback.’

She explained that she didn’t want headlines focusing on a comeback story like ‘Boyle’s Second Chance’ or ‘Look Who’s Back.’ She simply wants to be recognized for who she is now.

She largely avoided public attention because of the COVID-19 pandemic and wanted to spend more time with her husband. They divided their time between their homes in Texas and Los Angeles.

She described her marriage as wonderful, explaining that she met her husband, Thomas, at a party about twenty years ago, shortly after ending a relationship with Jack Nicholson. They connected immediately and have been together ever since.

The actress, known for her role in The Practice, thinks she and her husband have figured out the secret to a lasting marriage in Hollywood.

She explained to People that a big part of her decision came down to maturity. She felt ready, and she’s been lucky to meet a lot of great guys. She’s really enjoyed getting to know them, learning from them, and growing as a person, and she believes the timing was just right.

For a look at what more stars have to say about their own long-lasting marriages, keep reading.

In their 2020 book, What Makes a Marriage Last, Hermann explained to Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue that he never expected so much laughter in his marriage – and that joy is central to who they are as a couple. He believes their relationship thrives because they love each other unconditionally, accepting each other’s flaws – which he calls “grace.”

He shared that finding happiness is essential, even after disagreements. Hermann described how, after a heated argument, one of them would try to lighten the mood with a joke about the very thing they were fighting over. “It’s about finding a way back to connection,” he explained, “acknowledging that neither of us is entirely right, but wanting to move forward together.” He sees this as a good sign that they’re resolving the issue and rebuilding their connection.

They’ve managed to avoid big changes in their relationship by following the same advice they received before getting married in 2003. Even with five children, they prioritize weekly date nights and have chosen to connect in ways other than watching TV.

Chip says the best advice he can give is to passionately pursue the person you love. After twenty years, he still feels like he’s trying to win them over. He jokes that while he can’t guarantee anything, his partner won’t stray because he consistently shows his affection with words, gifts, and by remembering important dates.

Kevin Bacon jokingly advises against taking relationship advice from celebrities, reflecting on his 36-year marriage. He and his wife have a simple rule: “Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty” – a phrase they use to quickly shut down any further discussion about their relationship.

In reality, they prioritize resolving conflicts quickly and avoid prolonged arguments. According to the actress, they focus on finding solutions rather than winning. “We don’t enjoy fighting, so when we do argue, we’re both trying to fix things,” she explained. They actively work to restore harmony because fighting is unpleasant. Ultimately, she emphasized, they are committed to making their marriage work no matter what – there’s no backup plan.

After over 37 years of marriage, the actors have learned how to argue constructively. As the Family Ties alum explained, they avoid bringing up past hurts. “Some couples focus on their partner’s weaknesses and attack them, almost like a game,” he said, “but we don’t do that.”

They do have disagreements, of course. He admits he often tries to quickly fix things when he says something he regrets, but he’s learned that doesn’t work. Instead, he lets his wife take the lead and give him space. She, in turn, practices understanding, saying, “Sometimes you just have to realize he said something silly that hurt your feelings, but he’s a good person, and you should assume he didn’t mean to be hurtful.”

In December 2024, ahead of their 40th wedding anniversary, Curtis shared on Today that her husband still makes her laugh more than anyone else. She playfully added that he must find something to like about her, even if she’s not sure what it is.

Neil Patrick Harris believes the key to his long-lasting relationship is accepting that relationships are constantly changing and hard to define. After 21 years together, including navigating career changes – his husband David Burtka released a cookbook in 2019 – raising twins Gideon and Harper, and facing life’s challenges, Harris explained that marriage is never static. He admits that even intimacy evolves, and couples need to find new ways to reconnect and maintain attraction as they age. Ultimately, he says, you start to fall in love with someone’s personality, and then their physical self again. It’s a continuous process of change, and in a way, they keep rediscovering their love for each other in different forms.

The comedic duo genuinely believe that laughter is essential to their well-being, not just in their 19-year relationship, but in life itself. The actress from Can You Ever Forgive Me? explained that they playfully calculate how much time a particularly good laugh adds to their lives. “Whenever we have a really big laugh,” she said, “we estimate how many months it’s given us. I’m constantly adding it up – like, ‘That one was worth two months!’”

They also limit how long disagreements can last. Following the advice to not go to bed angry, Falcone shared that she once tried letting an argument linger overnight, only to realize she’d forgotten what she was even upset about. She believes trying to resolve things when everyone is tired or has been drinking is unproductive. She’s never experienced a late-night argument ending with a satisfying resolution and a firm agreement.

Both having been married previously, they met in 1995 and quickly found themselves blending families, each with two children. The Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist actor remembers realizing there wasn’t a guide for step-parenting. She understood the children already had mothers and asked herself, ‘What do they need from me?’ She decided to be a supportive presence. ‘Everyone needs a cheerleader,’ she thought, ‘and I can be that. I didn’t try to discipline them or teach them right from wrong—they already had parents for that.’ The Cheers actor completely agreed, adding that offering friendship is a smart approach. ‘It’s about saying, ‘I won’t discipline or judge you, I’ll just be there for you.’ That’s what it takes—being genuinely present and supportive.’

Oh my gosh, can you even believe it? The moment Britain allowed civil unions, Elton and David immediately had a ceremony – December 21st, 2005! And then, nine years later, on the exact same day, they officially married when it became legal. But the anniversary they really celebrate is how they first met! It was at a dinner party at Elton’s flat in Windsor back in 1993 – a friend set them up, can you imagine?! It’s just…fate.

And this is the part that gets me: every single Saturday, no matter where they are in the world, they write each other handwritten letters. They’ve written, like, 1,352 letters total! David says it’s something really special about handwriting, a way to truly connect. And Elton agrees – he thinks it’s a huge part of why their relationship has lasted so long. He says communication is everything, and honestly, who can argue with that? It’s just…perfection.

They quietly built their 40-year marriage, almost as if by fate (“I had dreams about meeting him six months before we actually did”), and have consistently made it a central part of their lives, even as everything else has changed.

“Marriage is our top priority,” she explained. “We actively work at it and refocus when we start to lose track.” If she could offer one piece of advice, it would be to always prioritize that connection. He passionately affirmed, “I would do absolutely anything for her – face any challenge, make any sacrifice. I might mess up and even make her angry, but I would never let anything come between us.”

He added that if you truly value marriage and your own happiness, you’ll fiercely protect it from anything that threatens it.

ABC News reporter Roberts admits she doesn’t enjoy casual check-in calls. “I don’t like it when people call just to ask ‘how’s it going’,” she explained. However, a friend helped her change her perspective on calls from someone she cares about.

This friend pointed out that he likely calls simply because hearing her voice reassures him that everything is okay. Roberts realized this was a sweet thought she hadn’t considered before. If it brought him comfort, she decided, it was worth it.

Now, she takes a moment to respond kindly, saying something like, “I’m a little busy, but what’s new with you?” and letting him know she’s happy to hear from him before ending the call. She says this small change makes a huge difference to him, and it doesn’t take much effort on her part to be supportive. They celebrated their 29th anniversary in September 2024.

After nearly 30 years of marriage, my husband Mark and I often talk about how we built our foundation. I remember early on, even silly arguments – like the time he threw my ring out the window! – felt like they could end everything. It’s so easy in those first years, with financial stress, career pressures, and the exhaustion of raising kids, to let small things blow up. But Mark taught me a valuable lesson: when you feel yourself getting heated, just walk away and take a deep breath. That’s when you realize not every disagreement is a dealbreaker. Now, as parents of three, we’re really seeing the payoff. I truly believe that every happy couple has weathered some serious storms together, and that’s something to celebrate. It’s not about avoiding conflict, it’s about surviving it.

She describes herself as an introvert, almost a loner, while he’s a social butterfly – he jokes he’s “the mayor of everywhere.” She’s a bit messy, and he’s a perfectionist, as she playfully pointed out. But after being married since 2003, they’ve learned to accept each other’s quirks.

That’s the advice the lead actress from How to Get Away With Murder says she gives to friends who are getting married. She believes marriage doesn’t begin at the wedding ceremony, but when you realize something about your partner – a habit or trait – that you think might be difficult to handle. Yet, despite that, you still love them. That’s when the real work of marriage begins.

Maintaining a long-term relationship, like any that last 50 years, requires quickly resolving conflicts. Jane Fonda, star of Grace and Frankie, explained that she usually takes the lead in apologizing after arguments. She finds it easy because she deeply loves her partner and can’t stand to see them feel alone, even for a short time.

Ideally, she avoids needing to apologize at all. She’s learned that saying hurtful things when you’re angry will ultimately make you feel worse, creating a second wave of anger. This isn’t good for your health or the health of your relationship.

It’s fitting that Jerry, a former judge, says his long marriage to the iconic Judge Judy works because he generally lets her have the final say. For her, the key is accepting someone for who they are, even if you don’t always agree with the outcome. Their first marriage ended in 1990 because he wasn’t able to provide the support she needed after her father passed away. When they remarried a year later, she understood he wouldn’t suddenly become a homemaker or take charge of planning events.

She explained simply that unhappiness in relationships often comes from trying to change your partner. “You can try, but they’ll always resent it,” she said. “Don’t marry someone expecting them to be different than they are.”

The actor from Lost credits his wife with being the rock of their family. He told TopMob News in April 2025 that her patience and support throughout his varied career have been invaluable. He said, “She’s kept our family stable and has been fantastic.”

The actor described his wife as incredibly patient, and said she and their two sons always keep him grounded, no matter what challenges he faces.

“They shape my values,” he added. “It’s great to have that perspective and North Star.”

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2026-05-19 23:48