DAVID Lynch, known for directing Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, and Blue Velvet, has died at the age of 78.
The news of his death comes months after David’s public revelation about his health struggles, which were primarily caused by years of smoking that began when he was just eight-years-old.
In a statement, his family said, “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.
“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 family added, “It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
His passing has left fans and peers reflecting on his remarkable career and the personal challenges he faced in his final years.
BATTLE WITH EMPHYSEMA
In 2020, the acclaimed filmmaker was diagnosed with emphysema, a chronic disease which causes shortness of breath and makes everyday activities increasingly difficult.
Despite his struggles, David remained resolute, stating that he would never retire.
Speaking with Sight and Sound magazine, he said last year: “I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not. I can’t go out. And I can only walk a short distance before I’m out of oxygen.”
He added: “Because of Covid, it would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold. So I would probably be directing from my home…
“I wouldn’t like that so much. I like to be amongst the thing and get ideas there. But I would try to do [a film] remotely, if it comes to it.”
His health battle forced him to become more isolated, yet David’s positive outlook remained intact, largely due to his practice of transcendental meditation, which he credited with helping him manage his condition and stay optimistic.
Watch David Lynch’s Last Public Appearance
SMOKING IMPACT
David’s battle with emphysema was a direct consequence of his lifelong smoking addiction, which he had tried – and failed – to quit multiple times over the years.
Growing up in rural Idaho and Washington, he started smoking at age eight.
He told People in November: “A big important part of my life was smoking. I loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco. I loved lighting cigarettes. It was part of being a painter and a filmmaker for me.
“In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s healthy, so you’re literally playing with fire. It can bite you. I took a chance, and I got bit.”
David’s journey with smoking began early in life.
What is emphysema and why do people develop the disease?
EMPHYSEMA, a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, causes breathing difficulties.
The condition, which mainly affects middle-aged or older adults who smoke, causes damage to the air sacs in the lungs.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of emphysema, and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, cause sufferers difficulty breathing.
The main symptoms are breathlessness, a chesty cough, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing.
Without treatment symptoms will get steadily worse.
The NHS advises people to seek medical attention if they have persistent symptoms – particularly if they are over 35 and used to or still smoke.
How is it emphysema treated?
The damage to the lungs caused by emphysema is permanent but treatment can slow its progression.
Treatments include stopping smoking and the use of inhalers and medication.
Doctors may also consider pulmonary rehabilitation – a specialised exercise programme – or even a lung transplant.
By the time his 1977 film Eraserhead made waves in the indie world, cigarettes had become inseparable from Lynch’s brooding artistic persona.
The habit continued to feature prominently in his work, from Blue Velvet to Twin Peaks and its 2017 revival, where smoking was often intertwined with his distinctive characters and surreal cinematography.
David tried many times over the years to quit, but he struggled.
He said: “I’d have that first cigarette, and it was a one-way trip to heaven. Then you’re back smoking again.”
Despite the emphysema diagnosis in 2020, David continued to smoke until 2022.
FINAL PROJECTS
As David’s condition worsened, he became largely homebound, with only the occasional ability to engage in creative projects.
His final film, 2006’s Inland Empire had been a complex, ambitious work that marked his last feature-length project.
Yet he remained involved in creative endeavors, such as collaborating on a music album called Cellophane Memories with Texan singer Chrystabell in 2024.
Despite his physical limitations, David maintained an enduring commitment to his art, hinting at the possibility of directing remotely in the future.
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.
