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Laura Palmer is a fictional character in the ''Twin Peaks'' franchise. She is portrayed by
Sheryl Lee Sheryl Lynn Lee (born April 22, 1967) is a German-born American film, stage, and television actress. After studying acting in college, Lee relocated to Seattle, Washington to work in theater, where she was cast by David Lynch as Laura Palmer and ...
and was created by the series creators David Lynch and
Mark Frost Mark Frost (born November 25, 1953) is an American novelist, screenwriter, film-and-television producer and director. He is the co-creator of the mystery television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991; 2017) and was a writer and executive story ...
. She first appears in the
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
original series ''
Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American Mystery fiction, mystery serial drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It premiered on American Broadcasting Company, ABC on April 8, 1990, and originally ran for two seasons until its cance ...
''. A high school student whose death is the
catalyst Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
for the events of the series, Palmer is the
protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...
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.


Appearances


In television

Laura (played by Sheryl Lee, who also played her cousin
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 is t ...
), was well known and loved in Twin Peaks; she volunteered at Meals on Wheels, was her school's
Homecoming Queen Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni or other former members of an organization to celebrate the organization's existence. It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States, Canada and Liberia. ...
, and was (apparently) the darling of her parents, Sarah (
Grace Zabriskie Grace Zabriskie (' Caplinger; born May 17, 1941) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Sarah Palmer in ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991; 2017) and its film prequel '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992), Lois Henrickson in '' ...
) and Leland (
Ray Wise Raymond Herbert Wise (born August 20, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Leland Palmer in ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) and its prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992), Vice President Hal Gardner i ...
). However, the series gradually revealed that Laura led a double life: she was a
cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...
addict, a victim of
child sexual abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (whet ...
, a fetish model and, briefly, a sex worker at One Eyed Jacks, a
casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...
/ brothel just north of the Canada–US border. Officially involved with
Bobby Briggs The following is a list of characters from the television series ''Twin Peaks'', the film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', and the 2017 revival. Overview Concepts Bob Frank Silva was a set decorator who worked on the pilot episode. ...
(
Dana Ashbrook Dana Vernon Ashbrook (born May 24, 1967) is an American actor, best known for playing Bobby Briggs on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) and its 1992 prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. Early life Ashbrook was ...
), the high school football team captain, she was also engaged in a secret relationship with
James Hurley James Hurley may refer to: * James Hurley (Twin Peaks), a fictional character from the television show ''Twin Peaks'' * James Francis Hurley (born 1962), English murderer * James R. Hurley (born 1932), Southern New Jersey politician and gambling ...
( James Marshall). She also had sexual encounters with other Twin Peaks citizens, such as businessman
Ben Horne Benjamin Joseph Horne is a fictional character in the television series ''Twin Peaks'', created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, portrayed by Richard Beymer. His middle and last names are based on department store owner Joseph Horne, founder of ...
(
Richard Beymer George Richard Beymer Jr. (born February 20, 1938) is an American actor, filmmaker and artist who played the roles of Tony in the film version of ''West Side Story'' (1961), Peter in ''The Diary of Anne Frank'' (1959), and Ben Horne on the telev ...
) and trucker/drug dealer Leo Johnson (
Eric Da Re Eric Da Re (born March 3, 1965) is an American actor who played the notorious criminal Leo Johnson on the TV show ''Twin Peaks'' and its prequel film, '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. He has worked behind the scenes in several other films by ...
). The discovery of Laura's body in the pilot episode of ''Twin Peaks'' brings Special Agent
Dale Cooper Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Dale Bartholomew Cooper, portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan, is a fictional character who is the protagonist of ABC's and Showtime's television series ''Twin Peaks''. He also plays a supporting role in ...
(
Kyle MacLachlan Kyle Merritt MacLachlan (; ' McLachlan, February 22, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dale Cooper in ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991; 2017) and its film prequel '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992), as well as roles ...
) 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 the identity of her killer. Laura's first diary is uncovered in the
first episode A series premiere is the first aired installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. In the United States, many series premieres are aired in the fall time or, for mid-season replacements, either in the spring or ...
, 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 Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to: Places * Mount Bob, New York, United States *Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica People, fictional characters, and named animals *Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters *Bob (surname ...
(
Frank Silva Frank A. Silva (October 31, 1950 – September 13, 1995) was an American set dresser and actor best known for his performance as the evil spirit Killer BOB in the TV series ''Twin Peaks''. Silva had a degree in lighting design from San Francis ...
) 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 the transition to the afterlife when an angel appears to her, showing that her nightmare was finally over. During the second season, the identity of her murderer was revealed: her father, Leland, who had
sexually abused Sexual abuse or sex abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. Molestation often refers to an instance of sexual assau ...
her for years while being
possessed Possessed may refer to: Possession * Possession (disambiguation), having some degree of control over something else ** Spirit possession, whereby gods, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body *** ...
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 a vision, and it is implied that she forgives him and welcomes him to the
afterlife The afterlife (also referred to as life after death) is a purported existence in which the essential part of an individual's identity or their stream of consciousness continues to live after the death of their physical body. The surviving ess ...
. Laura appears inside the
Black Lodge Twin Peaks, Washington is a fictional town in the U.S. state of Washington, serving as the primary setting of the television series ''Twin Peaks'', created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, and the 2017 revival '' Twin Peaks: The Return''. It was a ...
during the series finale, as both herself and an evil
doppelgänger A doppelgänger (), a compound noun formed by combining the two nouns (double) and (walker or goer) (), doppelgaenger or doppelganger is a biologically unrelated look-alike, or a double, of a living person. In fiction and mythology, a doppelg ...
version.


''The Return''

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", 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 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 Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small section of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 114,428 at the 2020 census, ma ...
. Though skeptical of Cooper's claims of her past life as Laura, Carrie is eager to flee town, as there 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 the Palmer residence, and Carrie screams in horror.


In film

Laura is the protagonist of the prequel film ''
Fire Walk With Me Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material (the fuel) in the exothermic chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are p ...
''. 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 Donna Marie Hayward 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) an ...
(
Moira Kelly Moira Kelly (born on March 6, 1968 in Queens, New York) is an American actress. She is known for portraying Kate Moseley in the 1992 film ''The Cutting Edge'' as well as single mother Karen Roe on the teen drama '' One Tree Hill''. She is also k ...
). 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 the rest of the diary to Harold Smith (
Lenny Von Dohlen Lenny Von Dohlen Jr. (December 22, 1958 – July 5, 2022) was an American television, film, and stage actor. With a 40-year career that primarily featured work in independent films and guest appearances on numerous prominent series, he was prob ...
), her
agoraphobic Agoraphobia is a mental and behavioral disorder, specifically an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape. These situations can ...
friend. She has a dream about entering the Black Lodge. Cooper and the Man from Another Place (
Michael J. Anderson Michael J. Anderson (born October 31, 1953) is a retired American actor known for his roles as The Man from Another Place in David Lynch's television series ''Twin Peaks'', the prequel film for the series, ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', and a ...
) 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 Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American actress. After appearing in television commercials, her first starring role in a feature film came with the teen comedy '' License to Drive'' (1988), followed by the critically acclaime ...
) next to her in bed, covered in blood. Annie tells Laura to write in her diary that "the good Dale" 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 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 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 Phoebe Ellen Ceresia (born April 1, 1967) (known professionally as Phoebe Augustine) is an American actress best known for playing Ronette Pulaski in ''Twin Peaks''. Career She portrayed Laura Palmer's friend Ronette Pulaski in several episo ...
). 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 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 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 a feature-length film.


In literature


''The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer''

''The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer'', written by
Jennifer Lynch Jennifer Chambers Lynch (born April 7, 1968) is an American filmmaker. The daughter of filmmaker David Lynch, she made her directorial debut with the film '' Boxing Helena'' in 1993. Following a troubled production, the film was a critical and co ...
(David Lynch's daughter), was published in 1990. The novel portrays Laura falling into a world of prostitution and
cocaine Cocaine (from , from , ultimately from Quechuan languages, Quechua: ''kúka'') is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant mainly recreational drug use, used recreationally for its euphoria, euphoric effects. It is primarily obtained from t ...
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: Women Speak about Twin Peaks''

''Laura's Ghost'', written by Courtenay Stallings, 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.


Other appearances


In merchandise

Funko has released POP! Vinyl and Reaction Figures of Laura wrapped in plastic and a POP! Vinyl of Laura's
Black Lodge Twin Peaks, Washington is a fictional town in the U.S. state of Washington, serving as the primary setting of the television series ''Twin Peaks'', created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, and the 2017 revival '' Twin Peaks: The Return''. It was a ...
counterpart.


In popular culture

*
Jennifer Lynch Jennifer Chambers Lynch (born April 7, 1968) is an American filmmaker. The daughter of filmmaker David Lynch, she made her directorial debut with the film '' Boxing Helena'' in 1993. Following a troubled production, the film was a critical and co ...
wrote an official series tie-in, ''
The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer ''The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer'' is a 1990 spin-off novel from the television series ''Twin Peaks'' by Jennifer Lynch. Lynch, then aged 22, is the daughter of series co-creator David Lynch. It was published between the airing of the first and ...
'' (), which was sold from 1990 and was the diary used in the series. * Finnish
doom metal Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres.K. Kahn-Harris, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'' ...
band Swallow the Sun has a song called "Ghost of Laura Palmer" on their album '' Ghosts of Loss'', released in 2005. * Canadian dance-punk band
You Say Party You Say Party (formerly You Say Party! We Say Die!) is a Canadian four-piece dance-punk new-wave band from Abbotsford, British Columbia. Their first album ''Hit the Floor!'' was released in September 2005, and the band completed their second Ca ...
released a single in 2010 titled "Laura Palmer's Prom" on the album '' XXXX''. Th
music video
released in 2011, is an homage to ''Twin Peaks'', with band members appearing as various characters from the series. The video's narrative traces the events leading up to Laura Palmer's murder. * In 2010, Floridian
black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...
band Benighted in Sodom released a 17-minute EP entitled ''Laura Palmer''. * UK
indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and sub ...
band
Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known formally as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stor ...
released a song called " Laura Palmer" on their debut album. * Finnish collaborative band
Kerkko Koskinen Kollektiivi Kerkko Klemetti Koskinen (born 7 January 1973)Kuka kukin on 2007, Otava 2006 is a Finnish musician. Koskinen was the founding member and lead figure of the retired band Ultra Bra. He composed nearly all of Ultra Bra's songs and was the band's pi ...
has a song called 'Laura Palmer' on their debut album, released in 2012. * The Amanda Palmer album "
Who Killed Amanda Palmer ''Who Killed Amanda Palmer'' is the first solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer. The album was largely recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with collaborator Ben Folds and was released on Roadrunner Records (also home to T ...
" is an allusion to the series and the character. * The Decadence of Laura Palmer song by Californian band The Gitas *
Skycamefalling Skycamefalling are an American metalcore band from Long Island, New York. Formed in 1996, the band released three EPs and one full-length album from 1996 to 2003. After going through several lineup changes (mainly several drummers and bassists), ...
wrote a song called "Laura Palmer" for the album '' 10.21''. * Russian band
Splean Splean (russian: Сплин) is a popular Russian rock band, formed in Saint Petersburg in 1994.Андрей Бурлака. Рок-энциклопедия. Популярная музыка в Ленинграде – Петербурге. 19 ...
mentions Laura Palmer in their song Beryllium off their 2004 album, Reversed Chronicle of Events. * Serbian band Teatar mentions Laura Palmer in their song Ne ja... (Not me). * Polish rapper Kartky mentions Laura Palmer in his song "Laura Palmer" which was released in 2018. Track appears on his album '' Blackout''. * South African music group COSMIC FIEND released a demo titled ‘Laura Palmer Scream’ on October 27, 2021


Development


Conception

Laura's murder was possibly inspired by the unsolved death of Hazel Irene Drew (1888-1908), who was found dead in Teal's Pond in
Sand Lake, New York Sand Lake is a town in south-central part of Rensselaer County, New York, United States. Sand Lake is about 13 miles east of Albany, New York. Within the town are three hamlets: Averill Park, Glass Lake and the hamlet of Sand Lake. Its four la ...
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.


Casting

Due to budget constraints, Lynch intended to cast a local girl from
Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, reportedly "just to play 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 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 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 is t ...
.


References


External links


Laura Palmer ''Twin Peaks'' card
{{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Laura Twin Peaks characters Fictional diarists Fictional cocaine users Television characters introduced in 1990 Fictional child prostitutes Teenage characters in film Fictional characters involved in incest American female characters in television Fictional victims of child sexual abuse Fictional victims of sexual assault Fictional murdered people Female characters in television