Trigger warning: This article mentions death.
Hollywood’s sad times during the Los Angeles wildfires became more unfortunate when renowned filmmaker David Lynch passed away at the age of 78. The four-time Oscar-nominated director is best known for his works Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Wild at Heart. , and The Elephant Man, to name a few.
Lynch’s family announced the news on his Facebook profile, revealing that he was suffering from emphysema. A source told Deadline that the Hollywood veteran’s health deteriorated after the Sunset Fire forced him to relocate from his home.
Earlier in an interview with Sight & Sound magazine, Lynch admitted that he never leaves his house due to the fear of Covid and the emphysema diagnosis. Following the interview, he made a social media post declaring that he would “never retire” despite his physical challenges and would be filming remotely as much as possible.
The post announcing his death read, “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and artist David Lynch.” Lynch’s tragic death has left a “huge hole” in his family’s lives. However, they want to follow the filmmaker’s words of wisdom in times of loss.
“As he used to say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.’ “It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way,” the note reads.
In addition to earning an Academy Award for his work as a director, Lynch received an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2000. Furthermore, he broke stylistic barriers and revolutionized American cinema and television by introducing dark and psychological themes.
He was born on January 20, 1946 in Missoula, Montana, and began his career in the entertainment industry in the 1960s. The 1977 horror fantasy film Eraserhead was his first feature film that he wrote and directed.
