Visionary director David Lynch, whose unique surrealistic artistic style made him a household name, passed away at the age of 78. He made a name for himself with cult classics The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and the beloved horror drama Twin Peaks.
Lynch died at his daughter’s home on January 15, after being evacuated from his own estate in the face of Los Angeles wildfires. He previously revealed he’d been diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking, and it’s been reported that the effect of wildfires led to a decline in his health.
“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. 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,’” reads the statement released by Lynch’s family.
Lynch’s rise to prominence kicked off with his first feature film Eraserhead during the late ’70s. He received two Oscar nods for directing and writing The Elephant Man, before being recognized for his work Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, and eventually won an Honorary Oscar in 2020. He also received five Emmy nominations for his work on the cult series Twin Peaks and won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Wild at Hearts.
Many of Lynch’s past collaborators, including Kyle MacLachlan, Naomi Watts, and Nicolas Cage, celebrated his legacy with heartfelt tributes, along with directors Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, who praised him for making “everything strange, uncanny, revelatory, and new.”
