I just bought a copy of the series - not the blu ray version that's out now, but the DVD set. The first season was as fantastic as I remembered it, and the second season really started to slide after Laura Palmer's killer was exposed.
I still liked the characters and it was the acting that kept me with it, but in the last 5 or 6 episodes, I started getting a bit antsy - "oh, come ON!"
But then, the great Kenneth Welsh showed us all what great acting really is when he stepped up as Windom Earle. GOD I loved it!
I just finished watching the whole series. Welsh was just as great as all the others.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.

Agree He was one of the best characters on the show. His sarcasm and overall presence made him a great "bad guy", which he most certainly was. He and Piper Laurie were such over the top henchmen, along with his crazy brother, most definitely the fun angle on the show. To bad they got off track when they went away from his side of the story line (he really was a central character in every way the first season with his Leo and One Eyed Jack connections) and went into the Cooper heavy, second season. They lost their audience when they went to lessor characters. I think we all just started not to really relate to anything by the end. I remember I couldn't wait for the second season when it originally aired and then slowly losing interest until it just ended without finishing

i agree.
I had seen WSS, Diary of Anne Frank and Johnny Tremain before seeing Twin Peaks and I was surprised I recognised him.
He was excellent as Ben and I absolutely loved the way he'd pull out a cigar, hold it out in front of him and light it. He does it every episodelove it

Love twin peaks

Ben Horne = sleezy, rich hotel owner + owner of the One Eyed Jack's; the casino/brothel across the border.
He is wonderful in this show. Plain wonderful. The mannerism, the way of talking, the small things he does with his face. Wonderful!!
I hated the man (Ben, not Richard) from second one.

They blew up Congress!!! HAHAHA!

Okay, I watched Twin Peaks, but I don't remember the names of any of the characters, except Laura Palmer. So which character was Benjamin Horne?

Seriously, TP wouldn't have been the same without Richard Beymer as Benjamin Horne. One of the top 5 most crucial characters IMHFO.

Best actor on the show without a doubt. I was bummed Lynch didn't incorporate him into the movie somehow.

Yeah, so willingly over-performed (i dont know if this means anything on english with his chic mannerism, pronounciation and hedonism, loved every minute of him on screen