How many times was David Lynch married? What we know about his ex-wives and children

David Lynch recently passed away on January 16, 2025, after his long battle with emphysema. His family shared the news of his demise on Facebook in a heartfelt message and requested “some privacy at this time.”

During the time of his death, David Lynch was reportedly in the process of finalizing a divorce from his fourth wife, Emily Stofle, according to a report in People magazine. Lynch had been reportedly married four times throughout his life.

The legendary director is survived by four kids—Jennifer, Austin, Riley, and Lula—from his previous marriages to his ex-wives—Peggy Reavey, Mary Fisk, Mary Sweeney, and Emily Stofle. He welcomed one child from every marriage, the report added.

His firstborn child, a daughter named Jennifer Lynch, is an acclaimed director herself who followed in her father’s footsteps. She was born to Lynch and his first wife, Peggy Reavey, on April 7, 1968.

According to her IMDb profile, she is best known for her works in Chained (2012). Her debut project was Boxing Helena (1993). Her other work includes Surveillance (2008), 12 episodes of American Horror Story, and four episodes of Gossip Girl.

As news of David Lynch’s passing spreads on social media, fans are interested to know details about his personal life, including his family and kids.

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Everything to know about David Lynch’s family

David Lynch was celebrated as a visionary director, but he shared a challenging relationship with all his ex-wives, which eventually resulted in a divorce.

According to a report in Celeb Suburb, David Lynch had been married four times. He first married Peggy Reavey in January 1968. The couple welcomed their daughter Jennifer Lynch during the same year. However, their marriage ended in a divorce in 1974.

In June 1977, Lynch married Mary Fisk. They welcomed a son, Austin Jack Lynch in 1982. Their divorce was finalized in 1987.

Austin pursued a career in the entertainment industry as he became an actor and director. His IMDb profile stated that he has worked on several projects, including Gray House (2017), Inland Empire (2006), and Twin Peaks (1990).

In a 2018 interview with Vulture, Lynch opened up about his love for kids.

"I love all my children and we get along great, but in the early years, before you can have a relationship of talking to them, it’s tough," he said. "The work is the main thing, and I know I’ve caused suffering because of that. But at the same time I have huge love for the kids."

Lynch married Mary Sweeney in 2006. However, the marriage lasted only one year, as they ended their relationship in 2007, according to a report in Distractify. They welcomed their son, Riley Sweeney Lynch, in 1992, according to Celeb Suburb. His Instagram bio describes him as a film director.

The report further indicated that David Lynch married his fourth wife, Emily Stofle, on February 26, 2009. Lynch and Stofle together share a daughter, Lula Boginia Lynch, who was born on August 28, 2012. She is currently 13 years old.

A report in People magazine shared that Emily and David collaborated while working for the Inland Empire and Twin Peaks: The Return.

According to The Guardian, speaking about Lynch’s dedication to his work, Stofle shared with his memoir’s co-author, Kristine McKenna,

“After I had Lula, he disappeared into his work, which is what he does… he works and that’s where he gets his joy.”

While Lynch shared in a 2018 interview with the media outlet,

"You gotta be selfish. And it’s a terrible thing. I never really wanted to get married, never really wanted to have children. One thing leads to another and there it is."

He added,

"I did what I had to do. There could have been more work done. There are always so many interruptions."

According to another report in Distractify, Lynch and Stofle were married for 14 years until she filed for a divorce in December 2023.

David Lynch died less than six months after announcing that he had been diagnosed with emphysema, in August 2024.