Last year, Lynch provided an important health update.
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Beloved film and TV director David Lynch has died at the age of 78, according to a Facebook post from Lynch’s family. Lynch’s family did not specify a cause of death, but in an X post last year, the Twin Peaks creator confirmed he had emphysema after a lifetime of smoking.
“It is with profound sorrow that we, the family of David Lynch, share the news of his departure, both as a remarkable man and an extraordinary artist,” the Lynch family expressed in their statement regarding the director's passing. “We kindly ask for privacy during this difficult time. His absence leaves a significant void in the world. However, in his own words, ‘Focus on the donut, not the hole.’ Today shines bright with golden sunlight and clear blue skies.”
Lynch mentioned that he was confined to his home.
Esteemed Guests,
— David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH) August 5, 2024
Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them – but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is…
Not long after Lynch shared the news he had emphysema, he told Sight and Sound magazine he could no longer leave the house or direct movies or TV shows in person anymore for fear he might catch COVID, which could be especially deadly in his condition. Lynch was diagnosed with emphysema in 2020, and he later said it took him two years to quit smoking.
"I've been dealing with emphysema due to my long history of smoking, which means I'm stuck at home whether I want to be or not. ... With COVID now making the rounds, it would be extremely dangerous for me to fall ill, even with something as minor as a cold," Lynch explained, noting that he can only manage to walk a short distance before he struggles to breathe.
In a recent post revealing his battle with emphysema, Lynch expressed, “I found great pleasure in smoking and have a fondness for tobacco. The aroma, the act of igniting cigarettes, and the experience of smoking are all things I cherished. However, this enjoyment comes with consequences, and for me, that consequence is emphysema.”
At that moment, Lynch mentioned that regarding his health, aside from the emphysema, he felt he was in fairly good shape.
Meanwhile, only about a week before he died, Lynch was forced, along with tens of thousands of Angelenos, to evacuate his home amid the wildfires.
Lynch's impact was unparalleled.
David Lynch had a unique vision that set him apart from everyone else. Today, we mourn the loss of a true cinematic genius.
— Joe Russo (@joerussotweets) January 16, 2025
RIP. pic.twitter.com/9CfdgADMo8
As well as Twin Peaks, the Academy Award-nominated director is known for Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive, all of which influenced the look and feel of modern cinema in their noirish and surreal aesthetics. Lynch was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2020. He also received eight Primetime Emmy for Twin Peaks. Lynch was born in Missoula, MT, in 1946 and was married four times in his life. His last marriage to Emily Lynch ended last year. Emily and David had one daughter together.
As news of Lynch’s death spread, the film community shared their memories and condolences. “David Lynch had a unique vision that set him apart from everyone else. Today, we mourn the loss of a true cinematic genius. RIP,” director Joe Russo wrote on X. “David Lynch, RIP. At least that’s what the horse wearing a fez just told me* in a dream. (*Backwards and in Swedish),” comedian Patton Oswalt added, referring to the nightmare scenes Lynch often created.
