How did David Lynch get emphysema? What we know as Twin Peaks director dies at 78

David Lynch, the acclaimed director known for his work in Twin Peaks, passed away on January 16, 2025, at 78.

His family announced the news in a Facebook post on Thursday.

“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,” the statement said.

“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.' It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.” However, the cause of his death was not included in the post.

Lynch had publicly revealed in August 2024 that he was diagnosed with emphysema, a lung disease which was caused due to his “many years of smoking”. He had informed his fans and followers about the disease in a social media post.

"I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco -- the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them -- but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema."

The Oscar winner quit smoking two years after being diagnosed with emphysema, reported New York Post magazine.

Lynch shared with People magazine in a 2024 interview that he started smoking at the age of 8 but eventually decided to quit, “I saw the writing on the wall. and it said, ‘You’re going to die in a week if you don’t stop,’” he said. “I could hardly move without gasping for air. Quitting was my only choice.”

As news of David Lynch’s death circulates across the media, let us study his contribution to the cinema and his legacy as a visionary director.

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Here is what we know about David Lynch’s life and career

David Lynch was born on January 20, 1946, in Montana, USA. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. His first film, Eraserhead, released in 1977, per his IMDb profile.

He earned Oscar nominations for his work in The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001).

Wild at Heart (1990), Dune (1984), Lost Highway (1997), and The Straight Story (1999) are part of his notable work credits.

Lynch’s last feature film was Inland Empire, released in 2006. The film was known for its surreal narrative and ambiguous ending. Since then, he refrained from feature films but continued to make webisodes, short films and music.

The Twin Peaks reboot, which aired in 2017, was his last major project. It was created by Mark Frost and David Lynch and received praise from a wider audience and critics. The first season premiered on ABC in 1990.

“‘Blue Velvet,’ ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘Elephant Man’ defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade,” director Steven Spielberg said in a statement, according to The Associated Press.

In 2022, he was cast as director John Ford in Steven Spileberg’s film, The Fablemans. According to a report in the AP, Lynch spoke about his disease earlier with Sight and Sound and mentioned how difficult it has been for him to manage work after his diagnosis.

“I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not,” Lynch said, adding he didn’t expect to make another film.

“I would try to do it remotely, if it comes to it,” Lynch said. “I wouldn’t like that so much.”

In 2024, during an interview with People magazine, Lynch revealed that he needs supplemental oxygen for his activities, “I can hardly walk across a room. It’s like you’re walking around with a plastic bag around your head.” He said. The director added that smoking had been “a big important part of my life … it was part of being a painter and a filmmaker for me.”

Lynch said that he tried to quit many times over the years but failed. “But when it got tough, I’d have that first cigarette, and it was a one-way trip to heaven. Then you’re back smoking again,” he spoke to People magazine.

He further urged people to quit smoking and said, “I really wanted to get this across: Think about it. You can quit these things that are going to end up killing you.”

David Lynch will be remembered as a groundbreaking filmmaker and a unique voice in cinema and television.

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What is Emphysema?

According to Mayo Clinic, Emphysema is a long-term lung condition that causes shortness of breath. Over time, it damages the thin walls of the air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. The condition limits their ability to expand and fill with air when a person breathes, making it hard for air to move out of the lungs. As a result, breathing becomes difficult for a person.

Some of the symptoms include trouble breathing, a wheezing sound when breathing out, coughing, tightness of the chest, fatigue, weight loss, and swelling of ankles.