David Lynch, writer and director of the Hollywood movies “Dune” and “Blue Velvet” and co-creator of the TV series “Twin Peaks,” has died at age 78, less than six months after announcing he had been diagnosed with emphysema.
Lynch’s family announced his passing in a statement on Facebook. They did not share a cause of death.
“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the post said. “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.”
Lynch was known for specializing in surrealist film and television. Some of his most famous works include the 1984 version of “Dune,” a sci-fi epic that was recently remade; the early ’90s TV show “Twin Peaks,” which blended several genres and was rebooted as a limited series in 2017; “Blue Velvet,” a noir exploring corruption and abuse; and “Mulholland Drive,” revered by some as one of the greatest films of all time.
In the months leading up to his death, Lynch opened up about some of his recent health struggles. He famously supported transcendental meditation, a silent meditation where a mantra or sound is repeated for several minutes twice a day, and said the practice helped him get through some of his health issues.
Here’s what Lynch shared about his health before his death.
Lynch announced he had emphysema in August 2024
Lynch announced his emphysema diagnosis in August 2024 during an interview with the British film magazine Sight and Sound. He said he’d been smoking so long that “I’m homebound whether I like it or not. I can’t go out. And I can only walk a short distance before I’m out of oxygen,” according to Consequence.
The Oscar winner also confirmed the diagnosis in a statement on X, writing, “Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco — the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them — but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema.”
Hollywood director David Lynch opened up about his emphysema diagnosis in the months before his death.Stefania D’Alessandro / Getty Images
“I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire,” he continued. “I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern.”
In November 2024, Lynch opened up about his condition during a candid interview with People, revealing that he had received his emphysema diagnosis in 2020, but he was trying to keep “a positive” attitude even though living with the lung condition was “tough.”
“I can hardly walk across a room. It’s like you’re walking around with a plastic bag around your head,” said Lynch, adding that he had been relying on supplemental oxygen for many activities.
Lynch told People he began smoking as an 8-year-old boy growing up in rural Idaho and Washington.
He recalled trying to quit the habit “many, many times,” but said he would pick up a cigarette again as soon as things got difficult. “Then you’re back smoking again,” he said.
Even after his 2020 diagnosis, Lynch struggled for two more years before finally quitting smoking for good.
“I saw the writing on the wall and it said, ‘You’re going to die in a week if you don’t stop,’” said Lynch, who who was a dad to four kids. “I could hardly move without gasping for air. Quitting was my only choice.”
Lynch also urged other smokers to do their best to quit. “I really wanted to get this across: Think about it. You can quit these things that are going to end up killing you,” he said.
What is emphysema?
Emphysema is a long-term lung condition that causes shortness of breath, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Over time, the condition damages the thin walls of the air sacs in the lungs, called alveoli, limiting their ability to expand and fill with air when a person breathes and making it hard for air to move out of the lungs.
Treatment can help with symptoms of the condition, which is often caused by smoking, but it can’t repair the damaged lungs.
Emphysema symptoms
Symptoms of emphysema include:
- Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
- Wheezing and other abnormal sounds during breathing
- Coughing
- Chest tightness or heaviness
- Fatigue
- Weight loss and ankle swelling that may happen as the condition gets worse over time
