David Lynch has died at the age of 78.
The iconic director was best known for films such as Blue Velvet (1986), Mulhollland Drive (2001) and The Elephant Man (1980). He was also famed for directing the surrealist mystery drama series Twin Peaks.
Lynch’s family confirmed news of his passing on Facebook on Thursday (January 16), just days before his 79th birthday. A statement read: "It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time."
The post, shared on the filmmaker's Facebook page, went on: “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.'”
The post concluded with a nod to the weather reports Lynch posted on YouTube. It added: "It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way,".
The maverick filmmaker, who had been nominated for Best Director at the Oscars three times, had spoken publicly about his battle with emphysema, a chronic lung disease. Back in August of 2024, Lynch, who started smoking at eight, revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease following "many years of smoking" and could not leave his house.
Lynch said he would likely not be able to leave his house out of fears of getting sick with Covid or another illness. He told Sight & Sound Magazine: "I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not.
"It would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold." He explained he could not "go out" over fears he’d get Covid or another illness, and is only able to "walk a short distance" before running "out of oxygen".
He initially said that it's unlikely he would direct again, but if he did he would do so remotely. "I would do it remotely if it comes to it”, he told the film outlet: “I wouldn’t like that so much.”
However, he reassured fans that he wasn't going to retire and had quit smoking. In a post on X, formerly twitter, he wrote: "Ladies and Gentlemen, Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. 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. I have now quit smoking for over two years."
Lynch explained that, following a lot of tests, "the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema”. He added: "I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire. I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern. Love, David."
In November, he said he could "hardly walk across a room" and required supplemental oxygen for most activities. He insisted he didn't have any regrets and that his lung disease was "a big price to pay", but wanted other smokers to think about the cost of their habit.
"I really wanted to get this across: Think about it,” he said. "You can quit these things that are going to end up killing you. I owe it to them - and to myself - to say that."
Lynch's first feature-length film was Eraserhead (1977), and he would go on to enjoy a 58-year career in the film and TV business, during which he became known for his surrealist and dreamlike style. He won several prestigious awards, including the the Honorary Academy Award in 2019 and the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2006.
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