Lenny von Dohlen was born in Augusta, Georgia, with a childhood dream of becoming a jockey, though he grew too tall to pursue this ambition. He went on to attend the University of Texas/Austin and later majored in drama at Loretto Heights College.
Von Dohlen made his film debut in the Academy Award-winning Tender Mercies (1983),starring Robert Duvall, written by Horton Foote and directed by Bruce Beresford. This led to his role in MGM/UA's Electric Dreams (1984). He subsequently appeared in several other films, including Under the Biltmore Clock (1984),Blind Vision (1992),Jennifer 8 (1992),Leaving Normal (1992),Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992),and Billy Galvin (1986),opposite Karl Malden.
In addition to his film work, von Dohlen also had a successful television career, appearing in shows such as Thirtysomething (1987),Picket Fences (1992),Chicago Hope (1994),The Lazarus Man (1996),The Pretender (1996),CSI: Miami (2002),and "ABC Afternoon Specials" (1972). He is perhaps best known for his role as Harold Smith in David Lynch's Twin Peaks (1990).
On stage, von Dohlen has had a long and varied career, creating roles in "Asian Shade", "The Team", "Twister", and "Vanishing Act" and "The Maderati", both by Richard Greenberg. He has also starred in Carol Churchill's hit play "Cloud 9", directed by Tommy Tune, as well as The Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of "Desire Under The Elms", opposite Kathy Baker. He has appeared in numerous other productions, including "Hamlet", "Romeo and Juliet", Joe Orton's "Loot", Wedekind's and Lanford Wilson's one-man play "A Poster of the Cosmos".
Von Dohlen was a resident of both New York and Los Angeles. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 63, after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
