American film director, David Lynch, dies at 78

David Lynch, the renowned American filmmaker and writer behind iconic works such as Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, has passed away at the age of 78.

Lynch’s family announced his death on his official Facebook page, sharing heartfelt sentiments, “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.”

A three-time Oscar nominee for Best Director, Lynch was celebrated for his groundbreaking films; Blue Velvet, The Elephant Man, and Mulholland Drive. His final major project, Twin Peaks: The Return, aired in 2017, continuing the cult classic TV series that captivated audiences in the early 1990s.

Known for his surrealist and dreamlike storytelling, Lynch’s work often defied conventional cinematic norms. His first major release, Eraserhead (1977), became a cult classic despite its dark and disturbing imagery.

Among his many accolades, Lynch won the prestigious Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990 for Wild at Heart. His lifelong contributions to cinema were recognised in 2020 with an honorary Academy Award.

Born in Missoula, Montana, in 1946, Lynch initially pursued painting before transitioning to short films in the 1960s. He revealed in August last year that he was battling emphysema, a chronic lung condition caused by “many years of smoking.”

Despite his diagnosis, Lynch maintained his optimism, declaring he was in “excellent shape” and would “never retire.” However, his health deteriorated in the months that followed. In November, he told People magazine he required oxygen to walk.

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