Home News Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive Director David Lynch Dies Aged 78

Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive Director David Lynch Dies Aged 78

Author : Skylar Update : Feb 27,2025

Renowned filmmaker David Lynch, celebrated for his visionary work on Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, passed away at the age of 78.

His family shared the news via a Facebook post: “It is with deep sorrow that we, his family, announce the passing of David Lynch, both the man and the artist. We kindly request privacy during this time. His absence leaves a profound void, but, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with radiant sunshine and clear blue skies.”

In 2024, Lynch publicly revealed an emphysema diagnosis stemming from years of smoking, stating his inability to continue directing. He shared at the time: "Yes, I have emphysema due to my long history of smoking. I must admit, I genuinely enjoyed smoking; I love tobacco – its aroma, the act of lighting a cigarette, smoking it – but there's a price to pay, and for me, it's emphysema. I've quit smoking for over two years now. Recent tests show I'm in excellent health aside from the emphysema. I'm filled with happiness, and I'll never retire."

David Lynch, pictured here, has passed away at 78. Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Born in Missoula, Montana, in 1946, Lynch gained fame for his surreal, neo-noir mystery films. His debut feature, 1977's Eraserhead, became a midnight movie sensation. He received Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). His directorial credits also include Wild at Heart (1990) and the 1984 adaptation of Dune, the latter initially a box office disappointment but later achieving cult classic status.

Lynch's legacy is inextricably linked with the early 1990s mystery drama series Twin Peaks, which chronicled FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper's (Kyle MacLachlan) investigation into the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Though initially canceled after two seasons, Lynch resurrected the series with the 2017 limited series Twin Peaks: The Return.

Tributes poured in from across Hollywood, with prominent figures expressing their grief and acknowledging Lynch's profound influence. DCU head James Gunn tweeted: "RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us." Joe Russo, screenwriter of The Inheritance, Soul Mates, and The Au Pair Nightmare, tweeted: "No one saw the world quite like David Lynch. The world lost a cinematic master today."