American Film Icon David Lynch Dies at 78

DIRECTOR-WRITER David Lynch, who was known for his dark and surrealistic artistic films, has died four days before his birthday. 

His death was announced by his family on a Facebook post on Thursday, January 16. 

“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,” the post read. 

The cause of death and location remained unknown, but in 2024, Lynch revealed that he had been diagnosed with emphysema— a long-term respiratory condition that causes shortness of breath. 

According to Lynch, the illness was a direct cause of his lifetime of smoking. 

““I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not,” he said during an interview. 

There were fears of contracting coronavirus or “even a cold”, which could complicate his situation more. Due to this, Lynch was unable to direct any more films. 

““I would try to do it remotely, if it comes to it,” Lynch said. “I wouldn’t like that so much.”

Meanwhile, both cinephiles and established people from the film industry mourned the loss of a great American film icon. 

One of them was American actress Laura Harring, who Lynch worked with on his critically acclaimed film Mulholland Drive.

Harring paid tribute to the filmmaker in a social media post. 

“Ohh dear David, All artists and humans who came across you, will mourn your passing on, but I know you are creating movies, writing, painting and meditating from up above,” said Harring. 

“The Heavens welcome your sweet soul into Eternal Bliss. Goodbye, my friend. May you rest in peace, Buddy Dave.”

Harring shared a photo alongside her Mulholland Drive co-star Naomi Watts, capturing the two kissing the director on the cheek at the 54th Cannes Film Festival in May 2001. 

Watts also took to social media to express her sadness about the filmmaker’s death. 

“My heart is broken. My Buddy Dave… The world will not be the same without him. 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,” said Watts on Instagram. 

“I just cannot believe that he’s gone. I’m in pieces but forever grateful for our friendship.

I’m yelling from the bullhorn: Godspeed, Buddy Dave! Thank you for your everything.”

David Lynch was known for several critically lauded TV shows and films like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, and Mulholland Drive. He was known for blending elements of horror with film noir to produce a surrealistic vision.