David Lynch (Twin Peaks): What did the director die of at 78 years old ?

On Thursday, January 16, 2025, David Lynch died at the age of 78, as reported by his family on Facebook. The opportunity to look back on the career of the American director and to try to understand what he died of.

© BestImage David Lynch is dead at 78 years old.

IN BRIEF

• David Lynch, iconic director, died on January 16, 2025 at the age of 78, leaving a huge void in the world of cinema.
• Known for works such as Elephant Man and Twin Peaks, David Lynch had revealed suffering from emphysema from years of smoking.
• Discover how Lynch's passion for filmmaking continued despite his health problems.

A great filmmaker has passed away… Thursday, January 16, 2025, David Lynch lost his life at the age of 78. “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate a little privacy at this time. There is a great void in the world now that he is no longer with us. But, as he said, 'Keep your eye on the doughnut and not the hole'. It is a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way”, a indicated his family on Facebook.

On X (ex-Twitter), many Internet users reacted. “No one has ever understood the world like David Lynch did. How lucky we are that he showed us what he saw” ; “The shock of learning of David Lynch's passing and thinking that we will no longer see new films from him. A filmmaker who has left a deep mark on the history of cinema“ : “Rest in peace David Lynch, there will never be anyone like you again” : “It never occurred to me that David Lynch could die. What a strange world we live in…” ; “Rest in peace David Lynch! One of the greatest artists in the history of cinema”, we can read.

David Lynch: “I have emphysema at because of my many years of smoking”

Author of ten feature films released between 1977 and 2006, the director has notably released the films Elephant Man, Dune, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and Mullholland Drive, as well as the series Twin Peaks. In 2020, he had received an Honorary Oscar for his entire career. Despite his advanced age, David Lynch did not want to stop working. However, in the summer of 2024, he had revealed in Sight & Sound magazine that he was suffering from emphysema.

The director had explained that his physical abilities were very limited and that he could only “walk short distances” before “running out of oxygen”. On Monday, August 5, 2024, on X (ex-Twitter), he had indicated: “Yes, I have emphysema from many years of smoking. I have to say that I have enjoyed smoking and I love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting up cigarettes, smoking it – but there is a price to pay for that pleasure and that price for me is emphysema…”.

David Lynch: “There is a price to pay for that pleasure”

In all transparency, the famous director had explained : “I have now quicked out smoking for over two years. I have recently had numerous tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape, except for the emphysema. I am filled with happiness and will never retire. I want you all to know that I truly appreciate your concern”.

On Thursday, November 14, 2024, in the columns of People, David Lynch had confided that he had started &smoking at the age of 8. “I loved lighting up cigarettes, smoking them. But there's a price to pay for that pleasure”, he had declared before specifying that he had tried to quit multiple times. “But when it got hard, there was always that first cigarette that sent me to heaven. And then, it all started again”, he had indicated. Although the cause of his disappearance has not yet been revealed, his emphysema is surely a factor.