Let me stop you right there and say it myself: there will be NO better Killer BOB than Frank Silva. Who else can turn from a nice guy into television’s most scary villain in less than five seconds?
http://instagram.com/p/sP54QhGmQa/?modal=true
BUT.
Sadly, as you probably know, the set decorator who accidentally became Killer BOB has passed away in 1995 and one of the most frequently asked questions since the announcement of a new series has certainly been: “Who’s going to play Killer BOB when Twin Peaks comes back?”
Mark Frost‘s careful answer:
I can’t really say. That’s a tough one to go into without giving away too much.
I’m not a fan of the ongoing speculation that Ray Wise (or Kyle MacLachlan for that matter) will become the face of BOB. And although times have changed, CGI didn’t really work out well for Twin Peaks in the past (seriously, “WHAT happened to Josie?”). Finally, I choose to neglect the possibility that Killer BOB is completely gone. So I’ve had a bit of fun headhunting for people who are either Frank Silva lookalikes, or have just the right grin for the job. Here’s an overview, and of course you’re invited to add your own suggestions in the comments.
UPDATE: With the release of the official cast list, I narrowed the potential BOBs down to a different and more likely list of actors.
THE ALREADY FAMOUS
1. Karl Ove Knausgård
Johanna Ray, or whoever is casting for the 2016 series, take note. Replace the leather with denim, and you’ve got yourself a very similar BOB. While the Twin Peaks character talked about death, the popular Norwegian author often writes about it. An example from his autobiographical novel, My Struggle:
“And death, which I have always regarded as the greatest dimension of life, dark, compelling, was no more than a pipe that springs a leak, a branch that cracks in the wind, a jacket that slips off a clothes hanger and falls to the floor.”
2. Sir Ian McKellen
Gandalf, really? Yes. With just the right makeup…
MT @Gonzo_McNulty Bob from TWIN PEAKS, being Ian McKellenated! pic.twitter.com/zMFyk9h1s2
— Welcome to Twin Peaks (@ThatsOurWaldo) April 4, 2014
3. Aphex Twin
The British electronic musician and composer born Richard D. James certainly has the creep factor down. If you’ve never watched it before, check out the video for Aphex Twin‘s Come to Daddy (three words that wouldn’t sound odd coming from Killer BOB himself).
4. Fred Armisen (as “Candace” in Portlandia)
Candace lives in a town in the Pacific Northwest where Kyle MacLachlan is the mayor…
…and (s)he had a moment with Heather Graham too.
5. Psychoville’s Silent Singer
Silent Singer, a character in the BBC’s thriller sit-com Psychoville, was definitely inspired by Killer BOB. And The Log Lady. And maybe even Laura Palmer’s wig in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
Yeah, maybe that’s a bit too much.
6. Andrew W.K.
Because of this.
Here’s Andrew W.K.‘s audition tape. It takes him a few seconds longer than Frank Silva (see above), but he gets there. And far beyond.
UPDATE: Andrew W.K. is game. He used the comparison picture above to apply for the role!
https://twitter.com/AndrewWK/status/560266514855895040
THE UNKNOWNS
7. The guy in SEGA’s 1994 Virtua Striker ad
Or anyone who has that look on their face while playing soccer, really.
8. Heavy Metal Pete
Peter Howarth aka Heavy Metal Pete, a performer at The Double R Club in London. Looks like he’s pretty damn good with fire too.
9. This guy photographed by Rasmus Juul
BOB IS REAL!
10. Charles Manson
Not only did Charles Manson walk the walk, he talks the talk.
“I’m nobody.
I’m a tramp, a bum, a hobo
I’m a boxcar and a jug of wine
And a straight razor… if you get too close to me.”
—Charles Manson
Every time I watch this clip, I expect him to conclude that answer with “I’ll catch you with my deathbag.”
Who do you envision as Killer BOB in the 2016 series?
Do you know someone, an actor or a friend, who looks just like him? We want pictures! Or do you think the character is not necessary in a Twin Peaks continuation?
UPDATE: Here are some of your suggestions. Keep them coming!
The Too Many Cooks Killer
Mark B. pointed me to this absurd “infomercial” video by adultswim called Too Many Cooks. Really, it’s the mother of all opening credits… from hell! “Halfway through,” says Mark, “the hobo guy and the chase through the studio has a bit of a BOB feel.” By the way, it’s Killer BILL (not BOB) and the actor’s name is William Tokarsky.
UPDATE: Austin Tyler Rogers even made a Too Many Cooks X Twin Peaks mashup: “Why? I don’t know. Whatever.” Watch it here.
Henry Ian Cusick
Brian H., Judy L. and @RetireNumber44 all suggested Henry Ian Cusick, best known for his role as Desmond Hume in Lost.
A Scottish BOB, anyone?
Tommi Salmela
Mika S. suggested Finnish metal singer Tommi Salmela, who seems to have this thing for flames…
Danny Mastrogiorgio
Cody L. observed a striking similarity between Frank Silva and “the guy who played Frankie Carbone on Gotham“. I had to agree when I saw this side-by-side comparison.
Brad Dourif
Bob S., Adam B. and Kris L. all suggested Brad Dourif, who previously worked with David Lynch on Dune and Blue Velvet. Now wouldn’t that this promotional still from Blue Velvet a mind-blowing prophecy?
Fire walk with 
haha
i believe Jason Isaacs can crack it.
http://www.wearysloth.com/Gallery/ActorsI/20217-26957.gif
Ray Wise!!!! Think about it! Leland was the one who was (as we saw as viewers) the most corrupted by BOB…It would make sense that BOB doesn’t have a specific face, as he is – as Garland said – “Perhaps the evil in all of us”. Maybe when they first show Cooper, they could have him looking in a mirror again, and (If Frank Silva’s estate allows it) flash first from Frank’s BOB then to Ray Wise…..it would be epic
Concur. Using Leland’s doppelgänger makes a certain degree of sense since Bob himself used to be human. Plus, more Ray Wise.
Paul Reubens, actually has some similar features, and can be bizarre enough to pull it off.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c262/Black_Peter/14529_10_zps3beb5605.jpg
Seriously??? Like everyone wouldn’t be watching and sayign “Hey look! Peewee Herman is BOB!” lol…..uh, no
OR…..if I can’t have Ray Wise…..lets make sure Moira Kelly plays Donna, and Lara Flynn Boyle – with her scary new face – could make a perfect BOB! lol
In my opinion BOB should be BOB, not Leland, not a man who fell victim to him. BOB is a very specific entity and should be taken separately from anyone. The approach and the phrase of Albert about BOB being the representation of evil the people do was misleading already in the series. To some extend of course it is true, but BOB has never been a pure abstraction with many faces. So in my view he is both abstract and deadly concrete.
Are you kidding? Did you even watch the show? Bob is not a “specific entity” that was written into the canon…Frank Silva’s version of him was a mere representation of what Major Briggs (as brilliant as he was) surmised ‘the evil inside of us’…..it makes perfect sense for Ray Wise to take on the role of BOB….if u don’t get that, u really don’t get Twin Peaks
ok, I didn’t know, that BOB is a mask behind a mask, although MIKE tells about the ,,true face” of BOB.
I’m not a fervid supporter of recasting too. So it would be better to wait and see, what happens.
aphex twin (peaks) “seems to be a very nice girl” for this:>
They’ll never replace him with 100% of success. These look alikes you selected are great, but still it’d be as frustrating as expecting Lara Flynn and getting Moira Kelly. Maybe the most convincing possibility is showing Bob turning into someone that looks as evil as he did. Maybe some high profile actor, Billy Bob Thorton, Anthony Hopkins, I don’t know. I guess that’d be more respectful.
or…..Ray Wise as BOB! c’mon people! think about it!!!
Billy “BOB” Thorton…… its a brilliant idea…and once considered makes wonderfully strange sense.
See Vincent Castellanos as “Ed” in Mulholland Dr. …
I had the same thought! Just saw your comment 🙂
You know, I’m actually wondering if we won’t get a whole new crop of Black Lodge folk… BOB’s as iconic as iconic gets, but I can see things going in entirely surprising new directions.
I agree with those in favor of Leland playing the part. After all, he is dead in real life. It is a way to make him play again, plus he is the most linked to Bob. No new actors are needed in Twin Peaks, I think! That would change the spirit.
Could you imagine the firestorm that would erupt if you could actually get Charles Manson to act decently? If anyone could pull that off, its Lynch for sure…….
There is a man in soundgarden’s black hole son that resembles him a lot
That was actually Frank.
No it wasnt. Frank Silva appears in Only, of the Anthrax
Andrew W.K. has my vote!
Yeah, makes perfect sense for Ray wise to take the part. It’s the only plausible way of writing him into the new series and gives strong continuity to the story. After 25 years the new series will need that
Thank you!!! someone with sense!!!
And what about a CG Bob ??? Very hard to replace Frank Silva so why not a CG Silva ?!!!!
That would be the day (after 20 years of hoping) that I would say goodbye to Twin Peaks….This isn’t the Grammy’s ….and BOB isn’t Michael Jackson or Tupac. GMAB…..
For the last time…..it would be a disaster to cast a “lookalike”, whether it be Nick Cage, Paul Reubens or any other ridiculous suggestions. If you watched the show and understood it, you would know that BOB wasn’t a particular face! He was, as Major Brigg’s said a representation of “the evil inside of us”……therefore….since Frank Silva has sadly passed, it would only makes sense to have an older white haired Leland as BOB…..they can easily transition it, and I know for a fact that Ray Wise is up to the task “WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!” “Missoula MOOOOOOOOOOONNNNTTTTTTAAAANNNNNNAAAAAAA!!!!” “I”M HUUUUUUUUUUUNGRY!!!!!!!!” Anyone??
Mark my words…..cuz I have a feeling that David Lynch will feel the same way. If not, I will eat crow and lose alot of respect for him. We pretty much know that Ray (because of his passion for and actually spoiling this showtime season before anyone would confirm it) is going to be a part of it. Seeing as Leland is dead, It would make perfect sense! If I see a recast lookalike BOB, I am going to cry foul
Weird as it may seem, I can see Fred Armisen as Bob. IMO he looks very similar to Frank Silva.
Although, I don’t have a problem at all with Ray Wise transitioning to the role. I have faith Lynch/Frost will come to the right conclusion. 🙂
Kevin, you’re a dick
I think your mum will be a killer Boob.
I can see some problems with this idea, but, wouldn’t it be cool if Bobby became Killer Bob when he got older?
Dana Ashburn is starting to look a bit like Frank (his hair has turned grey, it just needs to be longer.)
https://welcometotwinpeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/dana-ashbrook-2012-10.jpg?386124
The problem of chronology wouldn’t necessarily be an issue since the the rules of time work differently when it comes to people or spirits inside the Black Logde (like when Annie Blackburn appears in Laura Palmer’s bed and says that “The good Dale is in the lodge and he can’t leave” even though that hasn’t happened yet in the “real” world.”)
That would be a kind of cool twist on the fact Bobby Briggs and Mike Nelson share first names with Killer Bob end Mike, the One-Armed Man. I’m not sure where taht would leave Phillip Michael Gerard though and I guess Gary Hershberger would have grow a beard and cut of his left arm 😛
danny trejo
Absolutely!
On a serious note, actor Billy Drago could easily play Bob if he grew his hair long.
The resemblance is eerie.
http://imdb.com/name/nm0236711/?ref_=m_ttfcd_cl25
You people that think casting a look-alike instead of Ray Wise makes so much sense need to review your Twin Peaks trivia. In one episode Mike told Cooper, in reference to Andy’s sketches, “This is his true face…” Silva did not represent the face of a former victim, but the face of the inhabiting spirit. And if BOB took on the face of his victims, why didn’t Silva get replaced by Wise in the latter part of Season 2? So casting a Silva look-alike makes FAR MORE sense than casting Ray Wise as BOB. Nothing “foul” about casting a look-alike.
Sorry. I realized my first sentence makes no sense with the rest of it. I meant to say “You people that think casting a look-alike instead of Ray Wise is such a bad thing…”
How about Vincent Castellanos? He played Ed (the guy with the black book of phone numbers) in Mulholland Dr. I thought he looked like a young BOB at that, and that was 2001. I wonder if he’s aged into it? A plus is that he’s worked with DL before.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0144753/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t39
If CGI-ing Frank won’t work, I wouldn’t mind seeing Bill Pullman take a crack at it. He was spectacular in Torchwood, & he’s a Lynch veteran.
How about Brad Dourif?
http://thedamper.com/images/2505.jpg
I think that with the right hair, Nicolas Cage would make a great Killer Bob. He obviously has a rapport and working history with David Lynch and would bring a high profile talent to the proceedings. He can certainly play “on the edge.” Just look at his amazing performance in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call-New Orleans.
I think Warren Ellis from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds would be a perfect candidate.
Sam Rockwell. the actor’s actor.
Consumes every role. He is Bob.
I have a feeling that BOB will look like Leland in the new series. There’s no way Ray Wise won’t be a part of the new season and I think this is a perfect way to have him involved and also not tarnish the memory of Frank Silva (who, in my opinion, can’t and won’t be replaced).
What about… DJ BOBo? 😉
http://www.eurokdj.com/images/videos/captures/clip_dj_bobo-keep_on_dancing.jpg
The first two are ok.
The rest of them are a joke.
Keith Richards.
Dave Grohl Or Johnny Depp. He can play a desk if he wants to… But Dave would make a very convincing Bob.
Mackenzie Crook or Jake Gyllenhaal would make good BOB’s!
…I’ pretty sure the unknown guy from #7 is Dan Cortez, from Mtv sports
A Devil’s Reject:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2606078208/nm0608405?ref_=nm_phs_md_3
NICOLAS CAGE!!!!!
Use someone else in the lodge; other characters above the convenience store. Or if it’s Bob version 2 don’t go Hollywood hipster with it; Bob 1 was scattered with Leland’s death so hello version 2. Or use cgi. In any case, and this always works for Lynch and makes great cinema: can’t dazzle, baffle them with BS.
Just saw Dave Grohl on an ep of the Daily Show and thought he looked just like Bob when he flashed his painfully wide smile:
http://uproxx.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/dave-grohl.jpg?w=650
He smiled more when he walked out but there is no image of that online. So, you could go watch the vid on comedy central’s website if you’re SO inclined.
CONSTANTINE MAROULIS http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/midnight_sun/blog/Constantine%20Maroulis.JPG
Definitely Henry Ian Cusick
Yes, i feel the same.
To those who suggest Ray Wise/Leland;
When Leland was about to die, remember BOB describing how he would leave Leland (and how Leland would realize what happened after he left)..
BOB inhabits living people as hosts, not dead ones, so seems BOB should presumably inhabit some other living character. But i think the new BOB should look like the old BOB, rather than looking like somebody else. His face is the definition of the (non-living) BOB entity.
No need to get to twisted up and confusing about altered identities… (BOB becoming Leland etc). The compelling appeal of BOB was the way he looked.
KEVIN, forgive me but you sound obsessed. Why don’t you play BOB?
A look-a-like Actor for Bob´s replacement wouldn´t hit the nail in terms of meaning/content/essence of the character of BOB at all.
It´s a pointless action of being thoughtful how BOB now looks or should look like, (why the hell should he then look similar or familiar with Frank Silva anyway?) or wether a tape-recorder oder a smartphone should look like the “old” diane in the coming season. It´s about the meaningful content/nature of a character, not his Face, especially in the case of BOB´s. Here; Explicitly not(!) referring to the comparison-case of L.F. Boyle replaced by Moira Kelly, because Donna Hayward wasn´t a face-changing character in TP, in the sense of face-changing-entity or ghostwalking-creature… even if she tried to act harder thru starting smoking cigarettes etc. it didn´t work out authentically. so that´s why her replacement in fwwm was an upset.
As much as I love Ray Wise, you would have to do quite a bit of retconning in order for him to be effectively taking over the role of BOB. A transition of some sorts would have to be noted, because as noted above, BOB is the true face of evil, and Leland was merely a possession, a vessel for BOB to wreak havoc. Perhaps Cooper eradicated BOB in the intervening 25 years and now a new entity will be taking his place, and you can have that look and act like anything you want it to. I guess what I am saying is, if you want the Doppleganger version of Leland Palmer to be the new face of evil on the show, fine, but you can’t call him BOB. But let’s all just agree that it is insanely awesome that we are getting to even have this debate right now. We are getting a Season 3!!!!
Roy Garber who was a reality TV guy on “Shipping Wars”. I’ve never watched the show but when I saw him on there while my kids were watching it, I thought I was looking at Bob. I was like “Wow! I thought he was dead!” then I had to go google him and the guy on Shipping Wars. Apparently Roy Garber just passed away, unfortunately. But this guy is a dead ringer. http://popcrush.com/shipping-wars-roy-garber-dead/
The only decent approach, IMO, is Lynch finding another eerie unknown actor (preferably with a distinct different look) to portray BOB without copying Silvas portrayal. As been stated, Silva only played a manifestation of BOB, not the actual entity.
Then again, I trust David Lynch alot more than myself (or anyone else here) to come up with the best solution.
Although, I must admit finding the idea of Knausgård taking on the role, absolutely hillarous!
I wonder why nobody has named Billy Drago.
I was watching Sense8 and this guy appeared… (he was Benjen Stark in Game of Thrones) and I just shouted at my screen: THAT IS A PERFECT KILLER BOB!
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Joseph+Mawle+_weLAdMDVvDm.jpg
Cooper…
Dude, Bob looks just like Bill Maher. Or Joe Walsh.
Karl Ove Knausgård OR Heavy Metal Pete, the another choices are good, but these two could work if not improve the character…
(seriously, “WHAT happened to Josie?”) – BOB killed Josie and trapped her in the wood of the Great Northern Hotel – she appears in a draw pull at first but Pete Martel senses her presence throughout the hotel a couple of times later in the series. He killed her because she almost killed Cooper when she shot him, which would have ruined BOB’s plan to possess Coop. BOB did the same thing to Margaret’s ( LOG LADY) husband – he’s trapped in her log. BOB seems to have a thing for wood.BOB also killed Windom Earle after he stabbed Cooper to let Annie live – again, you don’t screw up BOB’s plan to possess Dale Cooper or else…
I’m wondering have any of you seen this Patti Smith interview with David Lynch? When I saw Patti Smith I immediately thought that she could be great Bob. Why does it have to be a man in this role. Wouldn’t it be terrifying to see great Patti transform into pure evil of BOB? The hair is just right, isn’t it? 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilPRXtkfZXw
My thoughts exactly. 🙂
A actor who looks scary is Sid Haig he maybe doesn’t look like Bob but at least he has a scary look and maybe they used him in something.
Henry Ian Cusick for me is really good.
Kyle Mac is Bob. Only its not Bob. It is the doppelganger of Cooper. The real Dale is trapped in the lodge. Bob is doppelganger Cooper in the real world. Only its not Bob, it is an imposter Dale. Which is the new Bob.
Try to keep up folks.
Tom Araya from Slayer anyone?
If anyone is still here; the Swede from the Umbrella Academy (center)