Josie Packard

Josie Packard (Joan Chen) is from Hong Kong, and is ethnic Chinese. Josie meets and marries Andrew Packard, owner of the Packard Mill, in Hong Kong and accompanies him to Twin Peaks. After Andrew's death in a boating accident, Josie inherits the mill, which is run by her sister-in-law Catherine. Catherine resents Josie for taking over the mill and suspects that Josie was responsible for Andrew's demise. Catherine's husband Pete Martell, a former woodcutter, is good friends with Josie, seeing her fragile side and striving to protect her. Through most of the first season, Josie seems innocent, an easy mark and potential victim for her more savvy and cunning sister-in-law and Catherine's lover, Ben Horne. It is only later that we learn that Josie is, in truth, a classic "femme fatale" whose innocence masks a manipulative and cold-blooded side.

After her husband's death, Josie starts dating the town sheriff Harry S. Truman. Agent Dale Cooper, in town investigating the murder of Laura Palmer, has befriended Truman, and quickly detects Truman's feelings for Josie, but does not himself trust her at all. He tries to warn Truman against getting too close to Josie, but to no avail. At the end of the first season, a mysterious caller shoots Cooper. He survives, thanks to a quick operation, but does not get a look at his assailant, who is later revealed to have been Josie. She ultimately dies of heart failure from "fear" after an encounter with evil spirit BOB after having shot and killed Thomas Eckhardt, a long-time tormentor of hers due his obsession with Josie.