Twin Peaks creator David Lynch dies aged 78, family says

American filmmaker, writer and artist David Lynch has died at the age of 78, his family says. 

Lynch was the co-creator of groundbreaking television series Twin Peaks, as well as films Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man and Mulholland Drive.

His family confirmed the news via his Facebook page.

"There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us," the statement said.

"But, as he would say, 'Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.'"

The cause of death and location was not immediately available. 

Last summer, Lynch had revealed to Sight and Sound that he was diagnosed with emphysema and would not be leaving his home because of fears of contracting the coronavirus or "even a cold".

"I've gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I'm homebound whether I like it or not," Lynch said, adding he didn't expect to make another film.

An influential filmmaker

Lynch was known for his innovative filmmaking, featuring visually stunning, disturbing and inscrutable works filled with dream sequences and bizarre images.

A one-time painter, Lynch broke through in the 1970s with the surreal Eraserhead and rarely failed to startle and inspire audiences, peers and critics in the following decades.

His notable releases ranged from the neo-noir Mulholland Drive to the skewed gothic of Blue Velvet to the eclectic and eccentric Twin Peaks, which won three Golden Globes, two Emmys and even a Grammy for its theme music. 

Pauline Kael, the film critic, called Lynch "the first populist surrealist — a Frank Capra of dream logic."

"Lynchian" became a style of its own, yet one that ultimately belonged only to him. Lynch's films pulled disturbing surrealistic mysteries and unsettling noir nightmares out of ordinary life.

The filmmaker never won a competitive Academy Award. He received nominations for directing The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive and, in 2019, was presented an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.

The acclaimed director was married four times and fathered four children.

Tributes flow

Many filmmakers and industry peers have honoured Lynch, with his frequent collaborator Kyle MacLachlan penning a tribute to the filmmaker on his social media.

MacLachlan's acting breakthrough came when Lynch cast him as Paul Atreides in his 1984 version of Dune.

"Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big-budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didn’t recognise. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision," MacLachlan said.

"I will miss him more than the limits of my language can tell and my heart can bear. My world is that much fuller because I knew him and that much emptier now that he’s gone.

Actress Naomi Watts penned similar words, crediting Lynch to her breakthrough in Hollywood after starring in his 2001 Mulholland Drive. 

"His creative mentorship was truly powerful. He put me on the map," she wrote. 

"It wasn’t just his art that impacted me — his wisdom, humour, and love gave me a special sense of belief in myself I’d never accessed before."

"I’m in pieces but forever grateful for our friendship.
I’m yelling from the bullhorn: Godspeed, Buddy Dave!"

Filmmakers including James Gunn, Ron Howard and Jeremy O Harris also paid tribute to Lynch on social media.

Director Steven Spielberg, who cast Lynch as director John Ford in his 2022 film The Fabelmans, said in a statement: "The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice.”

“Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Elephant Man defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade."

Nicolas Cage, star of Lynch‘s Palme d’Or winning 1990 road trip movie, Wild at Heart told Deadline he was "a singular genius in cinema, one of the greatest artists of this or any time."

“He was brave, brilliant, and a maverick with a joyful sense of humour. I never had more fun on a film set than working with David Lynch. He will always be solid gold.”

Reuters/AP/ABC