David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation of Dune, a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, is a particularly divisive film. Thanks in part to its troubled production, Lynch has stated publicly that he views it as the only failure of his career. Per IndieWire, he goes so far as to call it “a huge sadness in [his] life.” It’s also the only film for which he didn’t have final edit privileges, meaning the version we see is the studio’s cut.

But there are things to love about this strange, sand-swept blockbuster. Its production design, for instance, is undeniably interesting, thanks in part to iconic art direction and costuming by Anthony Masters, Pier Luigi Basile, and Bob Ringwood. And let’s not forget its cast: after all, this is the only film where you can see the musician Sting onscreen with Sir Patrick Stewart. Even if it was surpassed by Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 version of Dune, Lynch’s rendition remains a curious artifact of 1980s film culture. With music by Toto and guns you fire by shouting into them, it’s a fun, if not entirely successful attempt at bringing a complex book to the silver screen. So, where are the actors of David Lynch’s Dune today?

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Kyle MacLachlan

     Showtime

Virginia Madsen

         TriStar Pictures

Virginia Madsen plays Princess Irulan, daughter to the Emperor of the universe and the film’s talking head-style narrator. Apart from giving background to Dune’s setting and characters, she does not figure largely in its events. She went on from Dune to lead the horror classic Candyman, with later roles in American Dreams, Monk, and other television series. Though not a major player, she has found steady work in the industry from the 1980s to now.

Patrick Stewart

     Paramount+

If not for Sting, Patrick Stewart would undoubtedly be the biggest star in Dune’s cast. The famed Star Trek actor was brought onboard to play Gurney Halleck - a wise warrior-musician who becomes a major player in the Dune sequel novels. Today, Stewart is one of the world’s most respected actors. He played Professor X in the X-Men film franchise and returned to the part of Captain Picard in Star Trek: Picard in 2020. At 82, he shows no signs of slowing down.

Sting

     Universal Pictures

Sting (of The Police) was a surprising addition to the cast of Dune. But the 17-time Grammy Award-winning musician put in a stellar performance as the villainous and spiky-haired Feyd-Rautha. It’s one of his few film roles, and he has acted only sporadically in the years since. As far as music goes, he’s had a lucrative career as a solo artist, releasing his latest studio album in 2021.

Sean Young

     Warner Bros.

After starring in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner in 1982 and Dune in 1984, Sean Young seemed to have the makings of a major star. And she did well for herself - today, she has more than 120 acting credits to her name. Her most famous role came in 1994 with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the Jim Carrey-led comedy classic. She continues to work today as an actor in small productions, and she returned to the Blade Runner franchise in 2017, reprising her role as Rachel (this time using CGI and a body double to make her appear younger).

Everett McGill

Though not the biggest name in Dune, Everett McGill is worthy of mention. McGill, like Kyle MacLachlan, has maintained a close working relationship with David Lynch, appearing in the Twin Peaks series as “Big Ed” Hurley, a lovable gas station owner and uncle to James Hurley. In 1999, McGill left the acting world and turned to a quiet life away from show business. Remarkably, however, Lynch was able to bring him back as Ed Hurley in Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017, some 18 years after he retired.

Brad Dourif

     United Artists

Brad Dourif is an exemplary supporting actor (and sometimes lead) who strengthens every film he appears in. In Dune, he plays Piter de Vries, a kind of humanoid computer who harbors dark secrets. Today, Dourif is best known for voicing Chucky in the Child’s Play series, per Yahoo. But you might also recognize him as Wormtongue, the snakish advisor to King Théoden of Rohan in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.