David Lynch: Tributes pour in for late ‘Twin Peaks’ director
Following the death of legendary director David Lynch, the world of cinema has united in its mourning for the late filmmaker.
His family has confirmed the 78-year-old’s death. In a statement, they shared: “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. 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.”
At this present stage, no cause of death has been revealed for Lynch. However, in 2020, he was diagnosed with emphysema, a respiratory disease that largely left him homebound and made it difficult for Lynch to walk any substantial distance without becoming out of breath.
In a recent interview with People in November, Lynch reflected on how the disease has affected him. “I have a positive attitude focused on the body healing itself,” the Mulholland Drive director said, “It’s tough living with emphysema. I can hardly walk across a room. It’s like you’re walking around with a plastic bag around your head.”
Lynch was a heavy smoker until 2022, and despite his battle with emphysema, he didn’t regret this aspect of his life, adding, “I don’t regret it. It was important to me. I wish what every addict wishes for: that what we love is good for us. I never thought about it as glamorising it. It was a part of life. Some characters would be smokers, just like in real life.”
Despite having emphysema, Lynch continued to work and express himself artistically. His final project was a collaborative album with singer Chrystabell in 2024, marking their third studio record together.
Lynch’s last feature film, Inland Empire, was released in 2006. After his last movie, the director made a number of short films and helmed Twin Peaks: The Return in 2017. His best-known work includes Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet.
Tributes have flooded in following the devastating news, including from Patton Oswalt, who wrote on X alongside an image of the late director, “David Lynch, RIP. At least that’s what the horse wearing a fez just told me* in a dream. (*Backwards and in Swedish)”.
Meanwhile, Joe Russo posted: “No one saw the world like David Lynch. The world lost a master of cinema today.”
Director James Gunn also said of the filmmaker: “RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us.”
Taking to Instagram, Questlove shared an image of him alongside Lynch and thanked the director for inspiring him as a creative. He wrote: “Lynch was the first human/creative that stressed the importance of not overworking and taking time out to breathe & meditate and searching for creative avenues not in my comfort zone (he was my guiding creative light for the Somethingtofoodabout book from 2016. Took a liking to me always inviting me to his events and parties and really stressing the importance of self care.”
The Charlatans frontman, Tim Burgess, who worked closely with The David Lynch Foundation over the years, shared of the filmmaker: “Farewell David Lynch – a true maverick and genius who brought so much to cinema and beyond. It was an honour and a privilege to work for The David Lynch Foundation, in the UK & US. We didn’t meet in real life but the couple of Skype link ups we had were inspirational. Travel well.”
Burgess continued: “He was a fan of what we do at Tim Peaks (obviously he was the inspiration for the name). We raised over £50,000 at Kendal Calling in 10 years for his foundation and we know it went towards some brilliant projects.”
Pop superstar The Weeknd took to Instagram to share a still from Blue Velvet which he accompanied with the caption, “Everything is fine,” in tribute to Lynch.
Director Steven Spielberg celebrated Lynch’s phenomenal career in a statement, sharing: “I loved David’s films. Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Elephant Man defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade. I got to know David when he played John Ford in The Fabelmans. Here was one of my heroes—David Lynch playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of David’s own movies. The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.”
Nicolas Cage said in a statement that Lynch “was a singular genius in cinema, one of the greatest artists of this or any time.” The actor added: “He was brave, brilliant, and a maverick with a joyful sense of humor. I never had more fun on a film set than working with David Lynch. He will always be solid gold.”
Isabella Rossellini, who received her big break courtesy of Lynch in Blue Velvet, shared of the late director on Instagram alongside a picture of them together: “I loved him so much. Thanks for all your kind messages.”
Naomi Watts, the star of Mulholland Drive, said in her touching tribute: “My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave… The world will not be the same without him.”
Watts continued: “His creative mentorship was truly powerful. He put me on the map. The world I’d been trying to break into for ten plus years, flunking auditions left and right. Finally, I sat in front of a curious man, beaming with light, speaking words from another era, making me laugh and feel at ease. How did he even “see me” when I was so well hidden, and I’d even lost sight of myself?!”
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan also shared a moving post about the director, stating, “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 recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision.”
The actor added: “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.”
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