Blue Velvet director David Lynch passes away at 78
One of the true Hollywood veterans and visionary auteur, David Lynch, has passed away at the age of 78. He was supposed to turn 79 on January 20. The immediate cause and place of his demise haven't yet been revealed to the public, but more information is expected to arrive soon.
In a career spanning 58 years, the veteran director produced gems like Eraserhead (1977), Mulholland Drive (2001), Blue Velvet (1986) and the original Dune (1984). Moreover, he also created the hit ABC series Twin Peaks, and subsequently worked on its film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992) and the series Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).
David Lynch's death was announced on his Facebook page earlier today. Many top Hollywood stars have paid tributes to the legendary director.
David Lynch's family announces his passing on his Facebook page
While most of the details regarding the director's demise are unclear as of now, Lynch's family took to Facebook to announce the death and asked for privacy during this difficult time.
The Facebook post that announced the unexpected death read:
"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. 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."
In late 2023, the director revealed that he was suffering from emphysema after many years of smoking and didn't leave his home often due to fear of getting COVID-19. He had told Sight and Sound magazine:
"I've gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I'm homebound whether I like it or not. And now, because of COVID, it would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold."
It's not clear if Lynch's death is related to this, but more information is expected to arrive soon.
David Lynch's style was distinguished by its surreal elements
Lynch started out in the industry back in the late 1960s and broke out with his surrealist gem Eraserhead in 1977. Just three years after this, he got his first Oscar nomination for Elephant Man. His subsequent films that defined his career, like Mulholland Drive and Lost Highway, established his dream-like, surrealistic style that separated his work from practically everyone else in the industry.
In his long and illustrious career, Lynch also acted several times and worked extensively as a musician, releasing albums like BlueBOB (2001) and Crazy Clown Time (2011).
David Lynch will always be remembered as one of the greatest to grace the industry.
