David Lynch, the writer-director whose film and TV work included 'Blue Velvet,' 'Mulholland Drive' and 'Twin Peaks,' has died. He was 78. Lynch's death was announced on his Facebook page. The post read, "It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. 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."
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00:00David Lynch, the writer-director whose film and TV work included Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks, has died. He was 78.
00:11Lynch's death was announced on his Facebook page. The post read,
00:16It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.
00:22We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us.
00:28But 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.
00:36In August, Lynch revealed that he was suffering from emphysema after many years of smoking and that he couldn't leave home for fear that he would get COVID-19.
00:44Lynch was working as an artist and printmaker in 1966 when he made his first film, the four minute short Six Men Getting Sick Six Times.
00:53That and other early efforts led him to win a place at the American Film Institute.
00:57He spent the next several years making his first feature, 1977's Eraserhead, which became a cult favorite.
01:04Eraserhead landed Lynch his first proper feature, The Elephant Man, which went on to garner eight Oscar nominations, including nods for Lynch for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
01:14Lynch's next film, a big budget adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel Dune, was panned by critics.
01:20But the filmmaker was redeemed by his fourth feature, Blue Velvet, which was hailed as an instant cult classic and earned Lynch a Best Director Oscar nomination.
01:29Lynch's foray into television with Twin Peaks proved to be an even greater sensation.
01:34While often cited as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Twin Peaks lost steam when Lynch left in the middle of the series to shoot Wild at Heart.
01:42The series was cancelled in its second season, but Lynch revisited it many times, with the 1992 feature Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me and the 2017 series.
01:51Lynch released the film many consider his masterpiece Mulholland Drive in 2001.
01:56The movie also earned the filmmaker a Best Director Oscar nomination.
02:00While Lynch didn't win any of the four Oscars he was nominated for throughout his career, he was finally accorded an Honorary Academy Award in 2019.
02:08Lynch's other films include Lost Highway, The Straight Story, and Inland Empire.