David Lynch, who co-created “Twin Peaks” and directed films like “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive,” has died. He was 78.
Lynch’s family confirmed his passing on social media on Thursday.
“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” their statement read. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time.”
“There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole,’” Lynch’s family added. “It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
The family did not confirm Lynch’s cause of death.
The famed writer-director was diagnosed with emphysema, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, back in 2020.
It was reported last week that Lynch was evacuated from his LA home near Laurel Canyon Boulevard due to the wildfires. His producer, Sabrina Sutherland, confirmed that he was safe.
In Nov. 2024, Lynch — who started smoking at age 8 but quit in 2022 — told People that he needed supplement oxygen to go on a walk.
“What you sow is what you reap,” said Lynch. “In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s healthy, so you’re literally playing with fire. It can bite you. I took a chance, and I got bit.”
Lynch added that “it’s tough living with emphysema. I can hardly walk across a room. It’s like you’re walking around with a plastic bag around your head.”
In Aug. 2024, Lynch told Sight and Sound magazine that he’s homebound because “it would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold.”
Lynch was born in 1946 in Missoula, Montana. He began his filmmaking career in the 1960s
His first feature-length movie was the 1977 surrealist film “Eraserhead.”
Lynch’s next film was 1980’s “The Elephant Man,” about a severely deformed man living in London. The movie, starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins, was nominated for eight Oscars — including Best Director for Lynch.
He followed up “The Elephant Man” with 1984’s “Dune,” 1986’s “Blue Velvet,” 1990’s “Wild At Heart” and 2001’s “Mulholland Drive.”
Lynch’s version of “Dune” did not fare well at the box office. The epic space opera has since been remade by Denis Villeneuve with Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet in the cast.
In 1990, Lynch created “Twin Peaks” alongside Mark Frost. The series starred Kyle MacLachlan and aired on ABC for two seasons before it was canceled. It spawned a movie prequel, 1992’s “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” that Lynch directed and co-wrote.
“Twin Peaks” later returned for a third season, called “Twin Peaks: The Return,” on Showtime in 2017. Lynch directed and co-wrote all 18 episodes.
In his storied career, Lynch was nominated for four Oscars and nine Emmy Awards. He won the César Award for Best Foreign Film twice and the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival once.
Lynch got married and divorced four times. He was married to Peggy Lentz from 1968 to 1974, Mary Fisk from 1977 to 1987, director Mary Sweeney from 2006 to 2007 and Emily Stofle from 2009 to 2023.
He was also in a relationship with “Blue Velvet” star Isabella Rossellini from 1986 to 1991.
Lynch had four children. His oldest child, daughter Jennifer Lynch, 56, is a filmmaker.
