Hollywood Film Directing Legend David Lynch Dies at 78

Director David Lynch arrives at the closing ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 28, 2017. Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images

David Lynch, a legendary film director and four-time Academy Award nominee, has died. He was 78.

The death of the Hollywood icon was announced on Thursday by his family on his official Facebook account.

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” it reads. “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. It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

The announcement didn’t mention the cause of death, although Lynch revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with emphysema, a chronic lung disease related to his smoking habit.

“I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco—the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them—but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema,” he wrote on X. “I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire.”

Celebrated as a visionary distinguished by his unique style, Lynch earned Oscar nominations for writing and directing the 1980s biographical drama “The Elephant Man” and for directing psychological thrillers “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001).

In 2019, he was awarded an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar. He also claimed a Palme d'Or at Cannes for “Wild at Heart” in 1990 and was nominated for the prize three other times.

Lynch was born in 1946 in Missoula, Montana. His filmmaking journey began in the late 1960s with a series of experimental short films.

He both wrote and directed his debut feature, 1977’s “Eraserhead,” a surreal horror that later gained a cult following among midnight movie enthusiasts.

Lynch gained widespread recognition with “The Elephant Man,” which features John Hurt as the disfigured titular character in Victorian England and Anthony Hopkins as the doctor trying to treat him.

He followed up the success of “Elephant Man” with “Dune,” a 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic that struggled at the box office but has since found a small but dedicated fan base. He rebounded with “Blue Velvet,” a neo-noir exploring a dark criminal underworld hiding behind seemingly idyllic suburban life.

Perhaps Lynch’s most popular work came in 1989 with the creation of “Twin Peaks.” He co-wrote and directed the groundbreaking TV series that blended detective drama, soap opera, science fiction, and surreal horror into an instant hit. The original series ran for two seasons, culminating in the reveal of Laura Palmer’s killer.

In 2017, Lynch revisited the Twin Peaks universe with “Twin Peaks: The Return.” This third season reunited much of the original cast and took the series to even more surreal and enigmatic heights, cementing his legacy as a bold and uncompromising storyteller.

Beyond his work in film and TV, Lynch exhibited his paintings internationally and issued many solo and collaborative albums of music. Last year, he worked on a new album title Cellophane Memories, collaborating once again with singer Chrystabell, who appeared on “The Return.”

Lynch was married four times. He is survived by two daughters and two sons.