It’s a sad day for movie fans. David Lynch, the influential creative genius whose style was so distinctive that it spawned his own adjective—”Lynchian,” of course—has passed away. The news was shared on his official Facebook page:
“It is with great sadness that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and artist, David Lynch. We can enjoy some privacy at this time. There is a big hole in the world now that he is no longer with us. But, as he said, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not the hole.’
A beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
Lynch first came to prominence on the big screen with the 1977 indie release The eraserheadhorror fiction with futuristic experimental elements Twin Peaks Team member Jack Nance. He followed that up with a 1980 biopic The Elephant Man and 1984’s polarizing but cult-loved A mound adaptation, he was then distributed in a series of movies that reinforced his distinctive style of fantasy and curiosity: Blue velvet, Wild at Heart, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Meagain The Lost Highway. After a surprising creative deviation with the release of Disney The Straight Storyhe did Mulholland Drive-originally intended as a TV series-and his last feature, the 2006 fever-dream thriller. Inland Empire.
Alongside his film work, his 1990-91 ABC TV series Twin Peaks he had a sense of culture and raised him to general success; the show’s central mystery (“Who killed Laura Palmer?”) has been a concern for fans, as has the show’s unique setting, sense of humor, and over-the-top humor. Canceled after just two seasons, Twin Peaks was established in 1992 Fire Walk With Me features and—the endless joy of fans—2017’s Twin Peaks: The Returnan 18-episode limited series for Showtime that represents Lynch’s last major screen project.
In addition to supporting movies and TV (including commercials and music videos), Lynch was also a talented musician, designer, and visual artist, as well as an author and outspoken advocate of Transcendental Meditation. Most prominently beyond his directing and writing work, however, he has also been an occasional actor, playing eccentric FBI Agent Gordon Cole across the board. Twin Peaks‘ periods, inclusive Coming backand recently appeared in 2022 in an unforgettable cameo as legendary director John Ford in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical feature The Fabelmans.
Lynch’s influence and importance cannot be overstated, and he will be greatly missed.
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