Acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch dies at 78

David Lynch, the writer-director whose work included Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks has died at the age of 78, his family confirmed in a statement on Facebook.

"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 2024, Mr Lynch revealed he had been diagnosed with emphysema following years of smoking, despite quitting two years previously.

Born in Missoula, Montana, Mr Lynch had been nominated for an Oscar four times, including two nods for 1980’s The Elephant Man for directing and adapted screenplay and two more directing nominations for 1986’s Blue Velvet and 2001’s Mulholland Drive.

In 2019, he received an honorary Academy Award which recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry.

His other directing credits included Eraserhead 1977, 1984’s Dune, 1990’s Wild At Heart, and 2006’s Inland Empire.

Lynch achieved worldwide stardom with the release of Twin Peaks, co-created with Mark Frost, in 1990, running until 1991 with its initial two series, which told the story of Dale Cooper, an eccentric FBI agent who visits a quaint town to investigate the murder of 17-year-old Laura Palmer. He returned to develop and write Twin Peaks: The Return, released in 2017.

As a child, the director moved around often with his family and found he had an early gift for visual arts and a passion for travel, which led to his enrolment in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the beginning of a 10-year apprenticeship as a maker of short movies.

Tributes paid to a 'gracious and fearless artist'

Actor Nicolas Cage, who starred in David Lynch's 1990 road trip movie Wild At Heart, has paid tribute to the "singular genius".

In a statement he said: "David 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."

In the film, Cage, 61, plays the Elvis-like Sailor, as he reunites with love interest Lula, played by Laura Dern, after leaving prison, before the pair decide to run away to California, breaking Sailor’s parole. The film won the 1990 Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or.

Billy Corgan, lead singer of alternative rock band Smashing Pumpkins, who contributed the song Eye to the Lost Highway soundtrack said he was "truly saddened" by the news in a post on X.

He said: "Working with him was like a dream out of one of his movies, and I treasure the times I got to speak with him and hear first-hand his vision for a film.

"I truly encourage anyone who loves movies and television to watch all that David produced. He was a true artist, through and through."

Also paying tribute to Lynch was Apollo 13 director Ron Howard, who said Lynch was "a gracious man and fearless artist".