I think so.  Right from the word go he's striking, and I think the scene where he spins with Laura homecoming picture in his hands while groaning wildly and weeping is simply heartbreaking. Brilliant performance.

You've got to send your heart out to the girl acting on the other side of that picture:

It's a retroactive reference to TITANIC, you know, Jack and Rose dancing and spinning... It's a known fact that Billy Zane travelled back in time and suggested this and other TITANIC stuff to the TP writers in exchange for a part... "I'd rather be his whore than your wife" also comes to mind, David Warner being evil, Jack and Rose spitting (MT Wentz anyone?),...

Good performance, indeed. I was glad to see Hal Gardner from 24 on Twin Peaks...much younger.

I could not agree more. I thought his performance was brilliant.

Yep...he was exceptional in this role and I don't think he's been given the credit that he deserves.

In fact...his performance just seems to improve over time...that is my experience.

I must also say that 'the washing your hands' & 'car chase, one armed man' FWWM scenes are my favourite Leland pieces...he really chewed up the scenery...in fact he was just awesome throughout FWWM.

possibly one of the best acting performances on television, ever.

I don't have the link but Ray said that filming that scene with Laura's photo the glass really DID break and he REALLY DID cut his hand and bled REAL BLOOD on it. He still has the scar on his hand.

You've got to send your heart out to the girl acting on the other side of that picture:

I actually got to HOLD the picture he broke, and his blood is still DRIED on it!  That is SOOO cool that he just went with it and used his own blood.  That is a GREAT acting performance.

To me, though...his best scene is

(spoiler alert)

...his death scene.  Truthfully tear-jerking.  I mean....whenever I first saw that moment, I teared up!  If that had been in a movie...he should have won an oscar!

FUCKING WOW!!!

I'd love to hold that picture!

To me it's little details like that that show how dedicated people were to Twin Peaks when it first began, and also how real and raw it was.  I agree about his death scene...heartbreaking and beautiful.  It's also a scene where you feel Cooper is close to breaking down...incredible stuff!