David Lynch

David Lynch
Lynch in 1990
Born	David Keith Lynch (1946-01-20)January 20, 1946 Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Died	January 15, 2025(2025-01-15) (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Citizenship	United States
Education	School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Alma mater	Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, AFI Conservatory
Occupations	Movie director painter visual artist musician author actor
Years active	1967–2025
Notable work	Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, Eraserhead
Style	Surrealism mystery neo-noir thriller arthouse experimental
Spouse(s)	Peggy Lentz (1967–1974) Mary Fisk (1977–1987) Mary Sweeney (2006) Emily Stofle (2009–2025)
Partner	Isabella Rossellini (1986–1991)
Children	4, including Jennifer

David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 15, 2025) was an American movie director.

Career

Lynch's movies include Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man and Mulholland Drive. He was also responsible for a television series called Twin Peaks, his overall most famous work. Eraserhead, his first movie, is still his most famous theatrical movie. It was recently deemed socially important by the United States Library of Congress. He has done much work with Jack Nance, who has appeared in many of his movies. He has said that all his movies will be done using digital video from now on.

He is also famous for his early short movies. The Alphabet and The Grandmother are two of his best known. The Alphabet is about fear of education. The Grandmother is about a lonely boy who grows a grandmother like a plant from a seed.

Over his career, Lynch has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director and a nomination for best screenplay. Lynch has twice won France's César Award for Best Foreign Film, as well as the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won a Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival.

Death

In August 2024, Lynch said he was suffering from emphysema. In November 2024, Lynch told People that he quit smoking in 2022, following his emphysema diagnosis.

Lynch died on January 15, 2025 at his daughter’s home in Los Angeles, California from cardiac arrest caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema at the age of 78.

Discography

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards:

• 1980: Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (The Elephant Man, nominated)
• 1987: Best Director (Blue Velvet, nominated)
• 2002: Best Director (Mulholland Dr., nominated)

BAFTA Awards:

• 1981: Best Direction (The Elephant Man, nominated)
• 1981: Best Screenplay (The Elephant Man, nominated)

Cannes Film Festival:

• 1990: Golden Palm (Wild at Heart, won)
• 1992: Golden Palm (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, nominated)
• 1999: Golden Palm (The Straight Story, nominated)
• 2001: Best Director (Mulholland Dr., won Tied with Joel Coen for The Man Who Wasn't There)
• 2001: Golden Palm (Mulholland Dr., nominated)

DGA Award:

• 1981: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures (The Elephant Man, nominated)

Emmy Awards:

• 1990: Outstanding Achievement in Main Title Theme Music (Twin Peaks, nominated)
• 1990: Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics (Twin Peaks for the song "Into the Night", nominated)
• 1990: Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series (Twin Peaks for the pilot episode, nominated)
• 1990: Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series (Twin Peaks for the pilot episode, nominated)
• 1990: Outstanding Drama Series (Twin Peaks)

Golden Globes:

• 1980: Best Director (The Elephant Man, nominated)
• 1987: Best Screenplay (Blue Velvet, nominated)
• 2002: Best Director (Mulholland Dr., nominated)
• 2002: Best Screenplay (Mulholland Dr., nominated)

Independent Spirit Awards:

• 1987: Best Director (Blue Velvet, nominated)
• 1987: Best Screenplay (Blue Velvet, nominated)
• 2000: Best Director (The Straight Story, nominated)
• 2007: Special Distinction Award (Shared with Laura Dern for their collaborative work, won)

Saturn Awards:

• 1993: Best Writing (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, nominated)
• 1993: Life Career Award (won)
• 2002: Best Director (Mulholland Dr., nominated)

Venice Film Festival:

• 2006: Future Film Festival Digital Award (Inland Empire won)
• 2006: Career Golden Lion (won)

WGA Award:

• 1981: Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium (The Elephant Man, nominated)
• 1987: Best Original Screenplay (Blue Velvet, nominated)

References