Which actor portrayed George van Smoot, known as The Captain?

Kyle MacLachlan portrayed George van Smoot, known as The Captain, on How I Met Your Mother.

The Captain is introduced as Zoey Pierson's wealthy husband and is identified by the nautical nickname he prefers. His marriage to Zoey places him directly in Ted's orbit during the Arcadian storyline, and his imposing, eccentric personality makes him memorable despite appearing far less often than the central characters.

After Zoey leaves him for Ted, The Captain continues to matter to the series. He later becomes connected to other characters and eventually marries Becky, the bubbly boat-loving woman sometimes called the Captain's wife. MacLachlan also reprised the role in the sequel series How I Met Your Father, linking the two shows.

The character is easy to confuse with other wealthy or powerful guest characters, including Arthur Hobbs, played by Bob Odenkirk. MacLachlan's casting is distinctive because he brought the same polished, slightly mysterious presence associated with roles such as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks to a broad sitcom setting.