Iconic director and creator of 'Twin Peaks' dies at 78

Legendary director David Lynch has died at the age of 78.

The news of his death comes from a post on his official Facebook page.

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and artist David Lynch,” the statement said.

“We would appreciate some privacy right now. 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.”

“It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the time”, the position concluded.

The last line refers to Lynch's penchant for broadcasting weather reports on social media, one of many bizarre habits that have made him a far more visible and beloved figure than most filmmakers.

A career without compromise

The magnitude of Lynch's contributions to the world of cinema cannot be overstated.

In fact, one could say that no other director in the history of the medium has done as much to bring avant-garde “arthouse” films to the general public.

In addition to making boundary-pushing films like Eraser head, Blue velvet And Mulholland DriveLynch co-created the groundbreaking TV series Twin Peaks.

The series was canceled on ABC after two acclaimed seasons in the early 1990s.

But in 2017, the series was revived for a third season on Showtime, where it continued to wow critics and audiences.

The cause of death of David Lynch

Although no official cause of death has been announced, Lynch revealed in August 2024 that he had developed emphysema after a lifetime of smoking.

“I’m housebound, whether I like it or not,” he said. Sight and sound magazine at the time. “I can’t go out. And I can only walk a short distance before I run out of oxygen.

Lynch added in a social media post that he was otherwise “in great shape,” adding: “I am filled with happiness and will never retire.” »

Lynch's outsized personality, unconventional approach to art, and refusal to discriminate against so-called “low” culture (his long list of acting roles includes voicing Gus the bartender in family guy spin-off The Cleveland Show) made him relevant to many generations of film and television fans.

A long-time advocate of art in itself, Lynch explained his views on the director's responsibilities in a memorable 2006 interview:

“There is no such thing as ‘launching a career’. We call it a movie business, but in my opinion, money is the last thing we should think about. » he said.

“You fall in love with the ideas, you get excited, and you try to translate those ideas into film. And it’s a beautiful, beautiful journey. So it has nothing to do with any career. It has to do with the love of doing.

David Lynch is survived by his four children, including filmmaker Jennifer Lynch.

His legacy will certainly live on for generations of artists. His unique voice will be sadly missed by many.