Hollywood is mourning David Lynch, who has directed beloved films and TV shows like Blue Velvet, Dune, Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks.
On Thursday, it was announced on his Facebook page that Lynch had died. He was 78.
“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,’” read the post. “It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
Lynch won the Palme d’Or at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival for Wild at Heart. He received an honorary Oscar in 2019.
Since news broke that he died, stars like Steven Spielberg, James Gunn, Ron Howard, Colin Jost, Kat Dennings, Patton Oswalt and more have shared their reactions.
James Gunn said on X: “RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us.”
Ron Howard wrote on X: “#RIPDavidLynch, a gracious man and fearless artist who followed his heart & soul and proved that radical experimentation could yield unforgettable cinema.”
Colin Jost wrote on Instagram: “Never been so sad about someone I never met. I really loved him.”
Kat Dennings wrote on Instagram: “This is a monumental loss. One of the most influential artists of all time. Nobody ever did it like David Lynch and nobody ever will again.”
Patton Oswalt wrote on X: “David Lynch, RIP. At least that’s what the horse wearing a fez just told me* in a dream. (*Backwards and in Swedish)”
In a statement to THR, Spielberg said: “I loved David’s films. Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive and Elephant Man defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade. I got to know David when he played John Ford in The Fabelmans. Here was one of my heroes — David Lynch playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of David’s own movies. The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.”
The American Film Institute provided a statement to THR: “David Lynch was an American original. And the stories are true – as a foundational Fellow at the American Film Institute, he lived in the stables of Greystone while filming his AFI Thesis Film – Eraserhead. Across the decades, David’s impact on cinema proved indelible in his films and his art – and he always gave back to AFI – supportive of the storytellers who wrote their own rules and reached for something different. During a seminar on campus, he shared this timeless advice with Fellows: ‘Tell the stories that are inside you. Each person has these stories that come along. Just stay true to those ideas and enjoy the doing of it.’ He will live on in our dreams.”
Similarly, Directors Guild of America president Lesli Linka Glatter issued the following statement about Lynch: “There is simply no one like David. He was a visionary at his core – elevating visual storytelling in film and television to a whole new level, inspiring so many directors to take risks and see new possibilities. He took a chance on me as a young director just starting out when I joined him on Twin Peaks in the early 1990s, transforming my life, and I will be forever grateful for having known him. In every interaction, David was so in the moment of life, and I can’t help but think of a story that made me see the world differently. In one of David’s early episodes of Twin Peaks, there’s a scene in a bank vault with Kyle MacLachlan and Michael Ontkean and there’s a moose head lying in the middle of the table. No one ever refers to it; it’s just there and it makes the scene. I asked David how he got the idea to put that moose head on the table. He looked at me quizzically and said, ‘It was there.’ The set dresser was going to hang it on the wall, but David saw it lying on the table and said, ‘Leave the moose head.’ Something cracked open for me, as much as you plan, be sure you are open to life, be sure you are open to the moose head on the table, don’t miss what’s right in front of you. His ability to see the magic that exists when others did not, made him one of the greatest storytellers of our time. I join so many directors who have been profoundly impacted by David’s life and work in mourning his loss today.”
While promoting Severance season two, Ben Stiller was on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen and said: “I actually used to live across the street from him in Los Angeles … [He was] a very kind guy from the times that I used to see him and go trick or treating by his house.”
More to come.
