Legendary David Lynch Dies at 78: Director of ‘Twin Peaks’, ‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Elephant Man’, who Publicly Condemned Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

The legendary American film director, musician, artist and actor David Lynch has died at the age of 78, known for his work on the film Blue Velvet and the TV series Twin Peaks.

This is stated in a statement posted by his family on Facebook.

‘It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the death of artist David Lynch. We would appreciate your privacy at this time. There is a big hole in the world now that he is no longer with us,’ the statement reads.

‘There is a big hole in the world now that he is no longer with us. But as he said, ‘watch the donut, not the hole’.’

The cause of death is still unknown.

Last year, in an interview with Sight & Sound magazine, Lynch said that due to Covid fears and a diagnosis of emphysema, he could no longer leave the house, which means that if he directs again, it will be remotely. 

After the interview, he posted on social media that he would ‘never retire’ despite his physical problems.

The director was born on 20 January 1946 in Missoula, Montana. Lynch began his career making short films in the late 1960s and was inducted into the American Film Institute in 1970. His first feature film, which he made while at the AFI, was the influential and always offbeat Eraserhead (1977), which he wrote and directed and has gone on to become a cult classic.

Lynch received 4 Oscar nominations for Best Director (for Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man and Mulholland Drive) and won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for The Wild Ones in 1990.

He is also the recipient of an honorary Oscar for special achievement in 2020.

In 2022, David Lynch recorded a video message in which he condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.