Renowned filmmaker David Lynch, celebrated for his iconic works Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, passed away at the age of 78.

His family shared the news via a Facebook post: “With profound sadness, we, his family, announce the passing of David Lynch, both the man and the artist. We request privacy during this time. His absence leaves a significant void, but as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.’ It's a beautiful day, filled with golden sunshine and clear blue skies.”

In 2024, Lynch publicly disclosed his emphysema diagnosis, a consequence of years of smoking, stating his inability to continue directing. He shared at the time: "Yes, I have emphysema due to many years of smoking. I must say I greatly enjoyed smoking, and I truly love tobacco – its scent, the act of lighting a cigarette, smoking it – but there's a price, and for me, it's emphysema. I've quit smoking for over two years. Recent tests show I'm in excellent health except for the emphysema. I'm filled with happiness and will never retire."

Born in Missoula, Montana in 1946, Lynch achieved fame for his surreal, neo-noir mystery films. His debut feature, 1977's Eraserhead, became a midnight movie sensation. He garnered Academy Award nominations for Best Director for The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). His directorial credits also include Wild at Heart (1990) and the 1984 adaptation of Dune, the latter initially a box office disappointment but later gaining cult classic status.

Lynch's legacy is perhaps most strongly tied to the early 1990s mystery drama series Twin Peaks, which chronicles FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper's (Kyle MacLachlan) investigation into the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). Though initially canceled after two seasons, Lynch resurrected the series with the 2017 limited series Twin Peaks: The Return.

Hollywood figures, including directors, producers, and writers, expressed their condolences on social media. James Gunn, head of DCU, tweeted: "RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us." Joe Russo, screenwriter of The Inheritance, Soul Mates, and The Au Pair Nightmare, tweeted: "No one saw the world like David Lynch. The world lost a master of cinema today."