Laura Palmer is 17 years old when she dies in Twin Peaks. Her murder is the central event that brings FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper to the town and drives the original series’ mystery.
Laura is presented publicly as a popular high-school student, homecoming queen, and admired young woman. As the investigation develops, the series reveals sharply contrasting parts of her life, including secret relationships, drug use, abuse, and involvement with dangerous people.
The character’s age is easy to confuse with the ages of other teenage characters in the story. Laura’s cousin Maddy Ferguson is also portrayed as a young woman, but she is a separate character played by the same actress, Sheryl Lee. Laura’s story is further explored in the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.