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US director David Lynch was suffering from emphysema.
Luigi Mistrulli/AP/dpa (Archivbild)
He was a specialist for the offbeat: David Lynch made films such as "Eraserhead" and "Blue Velvet" and was known for the series "Twin Peaks". Now Hollywood is mourning the loss of the director and artist.
US director David Lynch, known for the mystery TV series "Twin Peaks" and cult films such as "Wild at Heart" and "Blue Velvet", has died. His family announced the death on Facebook and Instagram. Lynch was 78 years old.
His death has left a "big hole in the world", according to a statement from his relatives. "But as he would say: 'Keep your eye on the doughnut and not the hole'", the family wrote. It was a "beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies". She did not give any details about the cause of death.
Lynch had announced last August that he had suffered from emphysema as a long-time smoker. He had enjoyed smoking very much, but was now paying the price. He had stopped smoking two years ago. Apart from the emphysema diagnosis, he was in "excellent shape", he said at the time. He was happy and he would "never" retire, Lynch continued.
The director of cult classics such as "Eraserhead", "Blue Velvet" and "Wild at Heart" brought new episodes of the cult mystery series "Twin Peaks" to the screen in 2017. Lynch has also made short films and written screenplays in recent years. He appeared in front of the camera as an actor for director Steven Spielberg in "The Fablemans" (2022). In the autobiographical drama, he had a small role as film director John Ford.
Lynch is known for his dark film characters, but also for his many years of peace efforts. Since the 1970s, he has meditated according to the teachings of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who was once also followed by the Beatles. The filmmaker set up a foundation for "Consciousness-Based Teaching and World Peace" and focused on transcendental meditation as a peacemaker.
Lynch had two sons and two daughters from four marriages. Daughter Jennifer Lynch followed him into the industry as a director ("Boxing Helena").
Lynch was nominated four times for an Oscar as a director and screenwriter, but always came away empty-handed in the competition. The Film Academy finally awarded him an honorary Oscar in 2019. The reason given was that he had "fearlessly" crossed boundaries for his artistic vision.
