David Lynch has died aged 78. (Image: Getty)
filmmaker David Lynch has died at the age of 78. The four-time nominee had a glittering career spanning almost five decades, with credits including Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, and The Elephant Man.
His family announced his death on Thursday (January 16) with a poignant statement. His cause of death remains unknown at the time of writing, but Lynch revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with emphysema.
They shared on his official account: “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.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
Tributes have already started pouring in from his devastated fanbase. One wrote on X/Twitter: “David Lynch… you taught us to cherish one great day after another. You lived your art life to the fullest. Rest in peace.”
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David Lynch’s career spanned almost five decades. (Image: Getty)
Another penned: “No one has ever understood the world like David Lynch did. How lucky we are that he showed us what he saw.”
A third said: “David Lynch has reasonable claim to being the most important American director since 1950. His movies felt like they were made just for you, no matter who you were. They whispered secrets no one else knew. At one point, everybody’s favorite director was David Lynch.”
And a fourth typed: “David is one of my biggest artistic inspirations. Will always be grateful for that. I will miss him terribly but know he will always be remembered. He’s made some of the best film and TV of all time – we’re so lucky to have shared time on earth with him.”
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David Lynch announced he had been diagnosed with emphysema in 2024. (Image: Getty)
Lynch broke onto the scene in the 1970s with the surreal horror film Eraserhead.
In the following decades, he continued to amaze and inspire audiences with notable releases ranging from the mystery thriller Mulholland Drive (2001), the neo-noir film Blue Velvet (1986) and the iconic American drama Twin Peaks.
His other credits included Wild at Heart (1990), The Elephant Man (1990) and the sci-fi adventure movie Dune (1984).
He was nominated for four Academy Awards – including Best Director nominations for Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and The Elephant Man. The latter also earned him a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In 2019, David was given the Academy Honorary Award for “fearlessly breaking boundaries in pursuit of his singular cinematic vision”.