DAVID Lynch gave a message that fans said “felt like goodbye” in his last public appearance months before his death at 78.
The visionary director donned sunglasses in a virtual appearance at his foundation’s star-studded benefit concert on September 12, 2024.
The David Lynch Foundation hosted a gala and concert called Meditate America at Lincoln Center in New York City to promote the benefits of transcendental meditation.
Toward the end of the event, hosted by Hugh Jackman, Lynch shared a video message where he presented the Peace on Earth award to Dr. Tony Nader.
After Jackman introduced Lynch as a “creative genius,” Lynch said on the video that he’d “like to talk about nothing.”
Lynch spoke about consciousness and peace before playing a cover of Across the Universe by the Beatles.
Fans of the writer-director were moved by Lynch’s message and shared their reactions on social media following his video appearance.
“I may have just seen the last public appearance of David Lynch,” one viewer shared on a Reddit thread dedicated to the director.
“It felt like a goodbye.”
Another added, “I watched this also. I felt sad. I spoke to David a few weeks ago via zoom. It was a brief and wonderful talk and I hope to again in the future.”
“That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing,” a third shared.
Lynch’s family announced his death in a statement shared to Facebook on Thursday.
Legendary Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks writer & director David Lynch dead at 78 as devastated fans pay tribute
“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the family shared.
“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.’”
The director’s death came after he spoke about being diagnosed with emphysema in August due to decades of smoking.
Who was David Lynch?
Filmmaking giant David Lynch died at age 78, his family announced in a Facebook post on January 16, 2025
“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 family statement said.
“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.”
Who was David Lynch?
Lynch, who was born on January 20, 1946, transcended American filmmaking with his dark, surrealistic artistic vision with films such as Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and the television show Twin Peaks.
His work blended elements of horror, film noir and a classical European surrealism.
Before he entered filmmaking, Lynch was revered as a painter.
He described his painting of of having to be “organic, violently done and crude” to “achieve that I try to let nature paint more than I paint.”
Lynch transitioned his artistic mindset and style into filmmaking in the late 1970s, when he burst onto the scene with his 1977 feature Eraserhead – a horrific, black-humored work that became a disturbing fixture on the midnight movie circuit.
The film quickly took Hollywood and the international movie industry by storm, leading to him signing with Mel Brooks’ production company.
The 1980 drama film The Elephant Man captivated audiences, earning eight Academy Award nominations.
Blue Velvet, a frightening hellride, combining film noir and psychological horror, took viewers through the underbelly of a small American town.
It earned Lynch a second Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
In the years after the film’s release, Blue Velvet was named one of the greatest films of the 1980s.
In April 1990, Lynch worked alongside screenwriter Mark Frost to produce the ABC horror mystery show Twin Peaks.
The show centered on a detective who teams with a fellow FBI agent to investigate the murder of a homecoming queen.
Although Twin Peaks only ran for two seasons before its cancelation, the show gained a following in the years that followed and is often cited as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
Lynch was married four times throughout his life and had three children, Jennifer, Austin Jack, and Riley.
In August 2024, he diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking. Lynch disclosed that he was unable to leave his home because of the pulmonary disease.
His official cause of death is unknown.
Lynch was known for creating surreal, experimental works including Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, and his cult classic show Twin Peaks.
EMOTIONAL TRIBUTES
Tributes to the visionary icon poured in after his family shared the heartbreaking news on Thursday.
Director Ron Howard remembered Lynch as a “gracious man and a fearless artist” in a post on X, while director James Gunn cited him as a major inspiration.
Mulholland Drive star Lee Grant said the director was a “one of a kind artist.”
Director Steven Spielberg said Lynch was a “singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade.”
“The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice,” Spielberg said.
“His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.”
