View source for David Lynch

{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1946)}}
{{about|the American director|other people named David Lynch|David Lynch (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = David Lynch
| image              = David Lynch Cannes 2017.jpg
| image_upright      = 0.9
| alt                = Lynch in 2017 at the Cannes Film Festival.
| caption            = Lynch in 2017
| birth_name         = David Keith Lynch
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1946|1|20|mf=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Missoula, Montana]], U.S.
| other_names        = Judas Booth
| education          = [[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Filmmaker|painter|visual artist|musician|author|actor<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=J. Kim |title=David Lynch Joins Cast of Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-lynch-the-fabelmans-steven-spielberg-1235172006/ |website=Variety |date=February 4, 2022 |access-date=February 5, 2022}}</ref>}}
| years_active       = 1967–present
| style              = [[Nonlinear narrative|Nonlinear]], [[psychological thriller]], [[neo-noir]], [[surrealist cinema|surrealist]], [[psychological horror]], [[black humor]], [[psychological drama]], [[experimental film|experimental]]
| notable_works      = {{hlist|
| [[David Lynch filmography|Filmography]]
| [[David Lynch discography|discography]]
| [[David Lynch bibliography|bibliography]]
}}
| spouse             = {{unbulleted list
 | {{marriage|Peggy Lentz<br />|1968|1974|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|Mary Fisk<br />|1977|1987|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|[[Mary Sweeney]]<br />|2006|2007|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|Emily Stofle<br />|2009|2023|end=separated}}
}}
| partner            = {{plainlist|
* [[Isabella Rossellini]] <br />(1986–1991)
}}
| children           = 4, including [[Jennifer Lynch|Jennifer]]
| awards             = [[List of accolades received by David Lynch|Full list]]
| signature          = David Lynch signature.svg
| signature_alt      = David Lynch
}}
{{David Lynch sidebar}}

'''David Keith Lynch''' (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician and actor. He has received critical acclaim for his films, which are often distinguished by their [[surrealist]], dreamlike qualities. Lynch has received [[List of accolades received by David Lynch|numerous accolades]], including the [[Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement]] in 2006 and an [[Academy Honorary Award|Honorary Academy Award]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 28, 2019 |title=David Lynch Gave the Shortest Oscar Acceptance Speech |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/10/david-lynch-oscar-acceptance-speech |accessdate=May 18, 2023 |website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]}}</ref> In 2007, a panel of critics convened by ''[[The Guardian]]'' announced that "after all the discussion, no one could fault the conclusion that David Lynch is the most important film-maker of the current era."<ref name="40 best directors">{{cite news |year=2007 |title=40 best directors |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704012453/http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |work=The Guardian Online |location=London}}</ref>

Lynch studied painting before he began making short films in the late 1960s. His first feature-length film was the [[independent film|independent]] surrealist film ''[[Eraserhead]]'' (1977), which saw success as a [[midnight movie]]. He was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Director]] for the biographical drama ''[[The Elephant Man (film)|The Elephant Man]]'' (1980) and  the [[mystery film]]s ''[[Blue Velvet (film)|Blue Velvet]]'' (1986) and ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]'' (2001).<ref>{{cite web|title=Have 3-Time Academy Award-Nominated Filmmaker David Lynch Review Your Screenplay in LA|url=http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/DavidLynchFoundation/catalog_items/311513|work=charitybuzz|publisher=Charitybuzz Inc|access-date=August 16, 2012|author=charitybuzz|year=2012|archive-date=August 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831035401/http://www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/DavidLynchFoundation/catalog_items/311513|url-status=live}}</ref> He directed the romantic crime drama ''[[Wild at Heart (film)|Wild at Heart]]'' (1990), which won the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[Cannes Film Festival]]. He is also known for directing the [[space opera]] adaptation ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'' (1984), the surrealist [[neo-noir]] ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]'' (1997), the biographical drama ''[[The Straight Story]]'' (1999), and the [[experimental film]] ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' (2006). 

Lynch and [[Mark Frost]] created the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' (1990–91), for which Lynch was nominated for two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series]] and [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series|Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series]]. Lynch co-wrote and directed its film prequel, ''[[Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me]]'' (1992) and the limited series ''[[Twin Peaks (season 3)|Twin Peaks: The Return]]'' (2017).<ref name="SYFYWire">{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Matthew |title=DAVID LYNCH EXPLAINS WHY HE LEFT AND THEN RETURNED TO THE TWIN PEAKS REVIVAL |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/david-lynch-explains-why-he-left-and-then-returned-to-the-twin-peaks-revival |website=SYFY Wire |date=June 19, 2018 |publisher=SyFy |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928030714/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/david-lynch-explains-why-he-left-and-then-returned-to-the-twin-peaks-revival |url-status=live }}</ref> As an actor, he portrayed Gordon Cole in the ''Twin Peaks'' projects, had a guest role as the head of [[CBS]] in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] series ''[[Louie (American TV series)|Louie]]'' (2012), and portrayed [[John Ford]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022).

Lynch's other artistic endeavors include his work as a musician, encompassing the studio albums ''[[BlueBOB]]'' (2001), ''[[Crazy Clown Time]]'' (2011), and ''[[The Big Dream]]'' (2013), as well as painting<ref name="Artland">{{cite web |last1=Wolf |first1=Shira |title=The Other David Lynch – The Paintings of Contemporary Cinema's Master of Surrealism |url=https://magazine.artland.com/the-other-david-lynch-the-paintings-of-contemporary-cinemas-master-of-surrealism/ |website=Artland Magazine |date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028064113/https://magazine.artland.com/the-other-david-lynch-the-paintings-of-contemporary-cinemas-master-of-surrealism/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and photography.<ref name="FarOut">{{cite web |last1=Far Out Staff |title=The mysterious world of David Lynch's photographs of old factories |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-lynch-photographs-of-old-factories/ |website=Far Out Magazine |date=June 9, 2019 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024816/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-lynch-photographs-of-old-factories/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has written the books ''[[Images (book)|Images]]'' (1994), ''[[Catching the Big Fish]]'' (2006), and ''Room to Dream'' (2018).<ref name="MIU">{{cite web |title=David Lynch's Books |url=https://www.miu.edu/david-lynch/books |website=Maharishi International University |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024816/https://www.miu.edu/david-lynch/books |url-status=live }}</ref> He has directed several music videos, for artists such as [[Chris Isaak]], [[X Japan]], [[Moby]], [[Interpol (band)|Interpol]], [[Nine Inch Nails]], and [[Donovan]], and commercials for [[Calvin Klein (company)|Calvin Klein]], [[Dior]], [[L'Oreal]], [[Yves Saint Laurent (brand)|Yves Saint Laurent]], [[Gucci]], and the [[New York City Department of Sanitation]]. A practitioner of [[Transcendental Meditation]] (TM), he founded the [[David Lynch Foundation]], which seeks to fund the teaching of TM in schools and has since widened its scope to other at-risk populations, including the homeless, veterans, and refugees.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bigissue.com/latest/how-the-david-lynch-foundation-helps-people-who-have-experienced-homelessness/|title= How the David Lynch Foundation helps people who have experienced homelessness|website= The Big Issue|date= July 3, 2019|access-date= November 22, 2020|archive-date= July 4, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190704131612/https://www.bigissue.com/latest/how-the-david-lynch-foundation-helps-people-who-have-experienced-homelessness/|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html|title= David Lynch Is Back … as a Guru of Transcendental Meditation|newspaper= The New York Times|date= February 22, 2013|access-date= November 22, 2020|archive-date= February 22, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130222211638/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html|url-status= live|last1= Hoffman|first1= Claire}}</ref>

==Early life==
{{main|Early life of David Lynch}}
{{quote box|width=25%|quote=My childhood was elegant homes, tree-lined streets, the milkman, building backyard forts, droning airplanes, blue skies, picket fences, green grass, cherry trees. [[Middle America (US)|Middle America]] as it's supposed to be. But on the cherry tree there's this pitch oozing out – some black, some yellow, and millions of [[red ants]] crawling all over it. I discovered that if one looks a little closer at this beautiful world, there are ''always'' red ants underneath. Because I grew up in a perfect world, other things were a contrast.|source=<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|10–11}}}}

David Keith Lynch was born in [[Missoula, Montana]], on January 20, 1946.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|1}} His father, Donald Walton Lynch (1915–2007), was a research scientist working for the [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]] (USDA), and his mother, Edwina "Sunny" Lynch (née Sundberg; 1919–2004), was an English language tutor. Two of Lynch's maternal great-grandparents were [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Finnish-Swedish]] immigrants who arrived in the U.S. during the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ng.se/artiklar/david-lynch-%E2%80%9Dden-haer-vaerlden-aer-full-av-hat-och-angest%E2%80%9D|title=David Lynch: "Den här världen är full av hat och ångest"|website=NÖJESGUIDEN|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623034616/https://ng.se/artiklar/david-lynch-%E2%80%9Dden-haer-vaerlden-aer-full-av-hat-och-angest%E2%80%9D|url-status=live}}</ref> He was raised as a [[Presbyterian]].<ref name="Williams">{{cite news|author=Williams, Alex|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/fashion/31lynch.html|title=David Lynch's Shockingly Peaceful Inner Life|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 31, 2007|access-date=November 29, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Sadighian">{{cite news|author=Sadighian, David|url=http://www.globalgoodnews.com/education-news-a.html?art=1128100751793764|title=David Lynch thinks we're all lightbulbs. What?|newspaper=Yale Daily News|date=October 1, 2005|access-date=November 29, 2010|archive-date=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724122946/http://www.globalgoodnews.com/education-news-a.html?art=1128100751793764|url-status=live}}</ref> The Lynches often moved around according to where the USDA assigned Donald. Because of this, Lynch moved with his parents to [[Sandpoint, Idaho]], when he was two months old; two years later, after his brother John was born, the family moved to [[Spokane, Washington]]. Lynch's sister Martha was born there. The family then moved to [[Durham, North Carolina]], [[Boise, Idaho]], and [[Alexandria, Virginia]].<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|1}} Lynch adjusted to this transitory early life with relative ease, noting that he usually had no issue making new friends whenever he started attending a new school.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|2–3}} Of his early life, he remarked:

{{blockquote|I found the world completely and totally fantastic as a child. Of course, I had the usual fears, like going to school&nbsp;... for me, back then, school was a crime against young people. It destroyed the seeds of liberty. The teachers didn't encourage knowledge or a positive attitude.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|14}}}}

[[File:David Lynch (1964 yearbook portrait).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|alt=1964 high school senior photo portrait of Lynch in a suit|Lynch's high school senior portrait, 1964]]
Alongside his schooling, Lynch joined the [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scouts]]. Later, he said he "became [a Scout] so I could quit and put it behind me". He rose to the highest rank of [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]]. As an Eagle Scout, he was present with other Boy Scouts outside the [[White House]] at the [[Inauguration of John F. Kennedy|inauguration of President John F. Kennedy]], which took place on Lynch's 15th birthday.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|5}} Lynch was also interested in painting and drawing from an early age, and became intrigued by the idea of pursuing it as a career path when living in [[Virginia]], where his friend's father was a professional painter.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|8–9}}

At [[Francis C. Hammond High School]] in Alexandria, Lynch did not excel academically, having little interest in schoolwork, but he was popular with other students, and after leaving he decided that he wanted to study painting at college. He began his studies at the [[Corcoran School of the Arts and Design]] in Washington, D.C., before transferring in 1964 to the [[School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]], where he was roommates with musician [[Peter Wolf]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corcoran.gwu.edu/notable-alumni|title=Notable Alumni &#124; Corcoran School of the Arts & Design &#124; The George Washington University|website=corcoran.gwu.edu|access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804074116/https://corcoran.gwu.edu/notable-alumni|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Peter'sBio|url=http://www.peterwolf.com/bio/index2.html|work=Peter Wolf|access-date=August 16, 2012|author=Wolf, Peter|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615152715/http://www.peterwolf.com/bio/index2.html|archive-date=June 15, 2012}}</ref> He left after only a year, saying, "I was not inspired AT ALL in that place." He instead decided that he wanted to travel around Europe for three years with his friend [[Jack Fisk]], who was similarly unhappy with his studies at [[Cooper Union]]. They had some hopes that they could train in Europe with Austrian [[expressionism|expressionist]] painter [[Oskar Kokoschka]] at his school. Upon reaching [[Salzburg]], however, they found that Kokoschka was not available; disillusioned, they returned to the United States after spending only two weeks in Europe.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|31–34}}

==Career==
===1967–1976: Short films and ''Eraserhead'' ===
Back in the United States, Lynch returned to Virginia, but since his parents had moved to [[Walnut Creek, California]], he stayed with his friend Toby Keeler for a while. He decided to move to [[Philadelphia]] and enroll at the [[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]], after advice from Fisk, who was already enrolled there. He preferred this college to his previous school in Boston, saying, "In Philadelphia there were great and serious painters, and everybody was inspiring one another and it was a beautiful time there."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|36–37}} It was here that he began a relationship with a fellow student, Peggy Reavey, whom he married in 1967. The following year, Peggy gave birth to their daughter [[Jennifer Lynch|Jennifer]]. Peggy later said, "[Lynch] definitely was a reluctant father, but a very loving one. Hey, I was pregnant when we got married. We were both reluctant."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|31}} As a family, they moved to Philadelphia's [[Fairmount, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Fairmount]] neighborhood, where they bought a 12-room house for the relatively low price of $3,500 ({{Inflation|US|3500|1967|fmt=eq|r=-2}}) due to the area's high crime and poverty rates. Lynch later said:

{{blockquote|We lived cheap, but the city was full of fear. A kid was shot to death down the street&nbsp;... We were robbed twice, had windows shot out and a car stolen. The house was first broken into only three days after we moved in&nbsp;... The feeling was so close to extreme danger, and the fear was so intense. There was violence and hate and filth. But the biggest influence in my whole life was that city.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|42–43}}}}

Meanwhile, to help support his family, he took a job printing engravings.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|43}} At the Pennsylvania Academy, Lynch made his first short film, ''[[Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times)]]'' (1967). He had first come up with the idea when he developed a wish to see his paintings move, and he began discussing doing animation with an artist named Bruce Samuelson. When this project never came about, Lynch decided to work on a film alone, and purchased the cheapest 16mm camera that he could find. Taking one of the academy's abandoned upper rooms as a workspace, he spent $150,<ref name="The Short Films of David Lynch">{{cite AV media|title=The Short Films of David Lynch|year=2002}}</ref> which at the time he felt to be a lot of money, to produce ''Six Men Getting Sick''.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|37–38}} Calling the film "57&nbsp;seconds of growth and fire, and three seconds of vomit", Lynch played it on a loop at the academy's annual end-of-year exhibit, where it shared joint first prize with a painting by Noel Mahaffey.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|38}}<ref name=leblancodell>{{Cite book |title= David Lynch |last= Le Blanc |first= Michelle and Odell, Colin |year= 2000 |publisher= Pocket Essentials |location= Harpenden, Hertfordshire|isbn=1-903047-06-4}}</ref>{{rp|15–16}} This led to a commission from one of his fellow students, the wealthy H. Barton Wasserman, who offered him $1,000 ({{Inflation|US|1000|1968|fmt=eq|r=-2}}) to create a film installation in his home. Spending $478 of that on the second-hand [[Bolex]] camera "of [his] dreams", Lynch produced a new animated short, but upon getting the film developed, realized that the result was a blurred, frameless print. He later said, "So I called up [Wasserman] and said, 'Bart, the film is a disaster. The camera was broken and what I've done hasn't turned out.' And he said, 'Don't worry, David, take the rest of the money and make something else for me. Just give me a print.' End of story."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|39}}

With his leftover money, Lynch decided to experiment with a mix of animation and live action, producing the four-minute short ''[[The Alphabet (film)|The Alphabet]]'' (1968). The film starred Lynch's wife Peggy as a character known as The Girl, who chants the [[alphabet]] to a series of images of horses before dying at the end by hemorrhaging blood all over her bed sheets. Adding a sound effect, Lynch used a broken [[Uher (brand)|Uher]] tape recorder to record the sound of Jennifer crying, creating a distorted sound that Lynch found particularly effective. Later describing what had inspired him, Lynch said, "Peggy's niece was having a bad dream one night and was saying the alphabet in her sleep in a tormented way. So that's sort of what started ''The Alphabet'' going. The rest of it was just [[subconscious]]."<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|15–16}}<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|39–40}}

Learning about the newly founded [[American Film Institute]], which gave grants to filmmakers who could support their application with a prior work and a script for a new project, Lynch decided to send them a copy of ''The Alphabet'' along with a script he had written for a new short film that would be almost entirely live action, ''[[The Short Films of David Lynch#The Grandmother|The Grandmother]]''.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|42}} The institute agreed to help finance the work, initially offering him $5,000 out of his requested budget of $7,200, but later granting him the additional $2,200. Starring people he knew from both work and college and filmed in his own house,<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|44–47}} ''The Grandmother'' featured a neglected boy who "grows" a grandmother from a seed to care for him. The film critics Michelle Le Blanc and Colin Odell wrote, "this film is a true oddity but contains many of the themes and ideas that would filter into his later work, and shows a remarkable grasp of the medium".<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|18}}

[[File:Eraserhead.jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white image of a man with long wild hair standing straight up, as if electrocuted like a cartoon|Theatrical release poster for ''[[Eraserhead]]'' (1977)]]
In 1970,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://americanfilm.afi.com/issue/2012/12/conservatory | title=American Film }}</ref> Lynch moved with his wife and daughter to Los Angeles, where he began studying filmmaking at the [[AFI Conservatory]], a place he later called "completely chaotic and disorganized, which was great&nbsp;... you quickly learned that if you were going to get something done, you would have to do it yourself. They wanted to let people do their thing."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|57–58}} He began writing a script for a proposed work, ''Gardenback'', that had "unfolded from this painting I'd done". In this venture he was supported by a number of figures at the Conservatory, who encouraged him to lengthen the script and add more dialogue, which he reluctantly agreed to do. All the interference on his ''Gardenback'' project made him fed up with the Conservatory and led him to quit after returning to start his second year and being put in first-year classes. AFI dean Frank Daniel asked Lynch to reconsider, believing that he was one of the school's best students. Lynch agreed on the condition that he could create a project that would not be interfered with. Feeling that ''Gardenback'' was "wrecked", he set out on a new film, ''[[Eraserhead]]''.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|58–59}}

''Eraserhead'' was planned to be about 42 minutes long (it ended up being 89 minutes), its script was only 21 pages, and Lynch was able to create the film without interference. Filming began on May 29, 1972, at night in some abandoned stables, allowing the production team, which was largely Lynch and some of his friends, including [[Sissy Spacek]], [[Jack Fisk]], cinematographer [[Frederick Elmes]] and sound designer [[Alan Splet]], to set up a camera room, green room, editing room, sets as well as a food room and a bathroom.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|59–60}} The [[American Film Institute|AFI]] gave Lynch a $10,000 grant, but it was not enough to complete the film, and under pressure from studios after the success of the relatively cheap feature film ''[[Easy Rider]]'', it was unable to give him more. Lynch was then supported by a loan from his father and money that he earned from a paper route that he took up, delivering ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|60, 76}}<ref>{{cite news  |title=David Lynch |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303754904577530860419854198.html?google_editors_picks=true  |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal  |access-date=July 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725005614/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303754904577530860419854198.html?google_editors_picks=true |archive-date=July 25, 2012|date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}
</ref> Not long into ''Eraserhead''<nowiki/>'s production, Lynch and Peggy amicably separated and divorced, and he began living full-time on set. In 1977, Lynch married Mary Fisk, sister of Jack Fisk.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|60, 80, 110}}

Lynch has said that not a single reviewer of the film understood it in the way he intended. Filmed in black and white, ''Eraserhead'' tells the story of Henry ([[Jack Nance]]), a quiet young man living in a [[dystopia]]n industrial wasteland, whose girlfriend gives birth to a deformed baby whom she leaves in his care. It was heavily influenced by the fearful mood of Philadelphia, and Lynch has called it "my ''[[The Philadelphia Story (film)|Philadelphia Story]]''".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|56}}<ref name = "cehwte">{{cite interview |title=tip Filmjahrbuch Nr. 1 (1985) |trans-title=tip Film Yearbook No.&nbsp;1 (1985) |url=http://www.davidlynch.de/tiplynchtrans.html |subject=David Lynch |interviewer=Herman Weigel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011151810/http://davidlynch.de/tiplynchtrans.html |archive-date=October 11, 2010 }}</ref>

Due to financial problems the filming of ''Eraserhead'' was haphazard, regularly stopping and starting again. It was in one such break in 1974 that Lynch created the short film ''The Amputee'', a one-shot film about two minutes long. Lynch proposed that he make ''The Amputee'' to present to AFI to test two different types of film stock.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|28–29}}

''Eraserhead'' was finally finished in 1976. Lynch tried to get it entered into the [[Cannes Film Festival]], but while some reviewers liked it, others felt it was awful, and it was not selected for screening. Reviewers from the [[New York Film Festival]] also rejected it, but it was screened at the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]], where [[Ben Barenholtz]], the distributor of the [[Elgin Theater]], heard about it.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|82–83}} He was very supportive of the movie, helping to distribute it around the United States in 1977, and ''Eraserhead'' subsequently became popular on the [[midnight movie]] underground circuit,<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|54}} and was later called one of the most important midnight movies of the 1970s, along with ''[[El Topo]]'', ''[[Pink Flamingos]]'', ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'', ''[[The Harder They Come]]'' and ''[[Night of the Living Dead]]''.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=457414|title=Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream}}</ref> [[Stanley Kubrick]] said it was one of his all-time favorite films.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|77}}

===1980–1989: Rise to prominence ===
After ''Eraserhead''{{'}}s success on the underground circuit, [[Stuart Cornfeld]], an executive producer for [[Mel Brooks]], saw it and later said, "I was just 100 percent blown away&nbsp;... I thought it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. It was such a cleansing experience."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|88}} He agreed to help Lynch with his next film, ''[[Ronnie Rocket]]'', for which Lynch had already written a script. But Lynch soon realized that ''Ronnie Rocket'', a film that he has said is about "electricity and a three-foot guy with red hair", was not going to be picked up by any financiers, and so he asked Cornfeld to find him a script by someone else that he could direct. Cornfeld found four. On hearing the title of the first, ''The Elephant Man'', Lynch chose it.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|90–92}}

''The Elephant Man''{{'}}s script, written by Chris de Vore and [[Eric Bergren]], was based on a true story, that of [[Joseph Merrick]], a severely deformed man in [[Victorian era|Victorian]] London, who was held in a sideshow but later taken under the care of a London surgeon, [[Sir Frederick Treves, 1st Baronet|Frederick Treves]]. Lynch wanted to make some alterations that would alter the story from true events but in his view make a better plot,<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|95}} but he needed [[Mel Brooks]]'s permission, as Brooks's company, [[Brooksfilms]], was responsible for production. Brooks viewed ''Eraserhead'', and after coming out of the screening theatre, embraced Lynch, declaring, "You're a madman! I love you! You're in."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|92–93}}

''[[The Elephant Man (film)|The Elephant Man]]'' starred [[John Hurt]] as John Merrick (the name changed from Joseph) and [[Anthony Hopkins]] as Treves. Filming took place in London. Though surrealistic and in black and white, it has been called "one of the most conventional" of Lynch's films.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|29–30}} ''The Elephant Man'' was a huge critical and commercial success, earning eight [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations, including [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|104}}

After ''The Elephant Man''{{'}}s success, [[George Lucas]], a fan of ''Eraserhead'', offered Lynch the opportunity to direct the third film in his original ''[[Star Wars]]'' trilogy, ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. Lynch declined, saying that he had "next door to zero interest" and arguing that Lucas should direct the film himself as the movie should reflect his own vision, not Lynch's.<ref>{{cite web |title=David Lynch Meets George Lucas | date=February 17, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQ4vCu-S0U |publisher=YouTube |access-date=December 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911060947/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQ4vCu-S0U|archive-date=September 11, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "cehwte" /><ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|113}} Soon, the opportunity to direct another big-budget science fiction epic arose when [[Dino de Laurentiis]] of the [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]] asked Lynch to create a film adaptation of [[Frank Herbert]]'s science fiction novel ''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' (1965).<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|113}} Lynch agreed, and in doing so was also contractually obliged to produce two other works for the company. He set about writing a script based upon the novel, initially with both Chris de Vore and Eric Bergren, and then alone when De Laurentiis was unhappy with their ideas.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|115}} Lynch also helped build some of the sets, attempting to create "a certain look", and particularly enjoyed building the set for the oil planet [[Giedi Prime]], for which he used "steel, bolts, and porcelain".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|118}}

''Dune'' is set in the far future, when humans live in an interstellar empire under a [[feudalism|feudal system]]. The main character, [[Paul Atreides]] ([[Kyle MacLachlan]]), is the son of a noble who takes control of the [[desert planet]] [[Arrakis]], which grows the rare spice [[melange (fictional drug)|melange]], the empire's most highly prized commodity. Lynch was unhappy with the work, later saying, "''Dune'' was a kind of studio film. I didn't have [[final cut privilege|final cut]]. And, little by little, I was subconsciously making compromises" [to his own vision].<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|120}} Much of his footage was eventually removed from the final theatrical cut, dramatically condensing the plot.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|116–117}} Although De Laurentiis hoped it would be as successful as ''Star Wars'', ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]'' (1984) was a critical and commercial dud; it had cost $45&nbsp;million to make, and grossed $27.4&nbsp;million domestically. Later, [[Universal Pictures|Universal Studios]] released an "extended cut" for syndicated television, containing almost an hour of cutting-room-floor footage and new narration. It did not represent Lynch's intentions, but the studio considered it more comprehensible than the original version. Lynch objected to the changes and had his name struck from the extended cut, which has [[Alan Smithee]] credited as the director and "Judas Booth" (a pseudonym Lynch invented, reflecting his feelings of betrayal) as the screenwriter.<ref>{{cite book |url={{Google books|l5JwyKjpH2QC|plainurl=yes}} |title=The cinema of David Lynch: American dreams, nightmare visions |first1=Erica |last1=Sheen |first2=Annette |last2=Davison |publisher=Wallflower Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-903364-85-7 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024824/https://books.google.com/books?id=l5JwyKjpH2QC&pg=PA41 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1983, he began writing and drawing a comic strip, ''[[The Angriest Dog in the World]]'', that featured unchanging graphics of a tethered dog so angry it could not move, alongside cryptic philosophical references. It was published from 1983 to 1992 in ''[[The Village Voice]],'' ''[[Creative Loafing]]'', and other tabloid and alternative publications.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|109}} Around this time Lynch also became interested in photography as an art form, and traveled to northern England to photograph the degrading industrial landscape.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|109–111}}

Lynch was contractually still obliged to produce two other projects for De Laurentiis, the first a planned sequel to ''Dune'', which due to the film's failure never went beyond the script stage.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|115}} The other was a more personal work, based on a script Lynch had been working on for some time. Developing from ideas that Lynch had had since 1973, the film, ''[[Blue Velvet (film)|Blue Velvet]]'', was set in the real town of [[Lumberton, North Carolina]], and revolves around a college student, Jeffrey Beaumont (MacLachlan), who finds a severed ear in a field. Investigating further with the help of friend Sandy ([[Laura Dern]]), he discovers that it is related to a criminal gang led by psychopath [[Frank Booth (Blue Velvet)|Frank Booth]] ([[Dennis Hopper]]), who has kidnapped the husband and child of singer Dorothy Vallens ([[Isabella Rossellini]]) and repeatedly rapes her. Lynch has called the story "a dream of strange desires wrapped inside a mystery story".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|138}}

Lynch included pop songs from the 1960s in the film, including [[Roy Orbison]]'s "[[In Dreams (Roy Orbison song)|In Dreams]]" and [[Bobby Vinton]]'s "[[Blue Velvet (song)|Blue Velvet]]", the latter of which largely inspired the film. Lynch has said, "It was the song that sparked the movie&nbsp;... There was something mysterious about it. It made me think about things. And the first things I thought about were lawns—lawns and the neighborhood.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|134}} Other music for the film was composed by [[Angelo Badalamenti]], who wrote the music for most of Lynch's subsequent work.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|130–132}} De Laurentiis loved the film, and it received support at some of the early specialist screenings, but the preview screenings to mainstream audiences were very negatively received, with most of the viewers hating the film.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|148–149}} Lynch had found success with ''The Elephant Man'', but ''Blue Velvet''{{'}}s controversy with audiences and critics introduced him into the mainstream, and it became a huge critical and moderate commercial success. The film earned Lynch his second [[Academy Award for Best Director|Academy Award nomination for Best Director]]. [[Woody Allen]], whose ''[[Hannah and Her Sisters]]'' was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], said ''Blue Velvet'' was his favorite film of the year.<ref name="Peary">{{cite book | title = Cult Movies 3 | first = Danny | last = Peary | year = 1988 | publisher = Simon & Schuster Inc. | location = New York | pages = 38–42 | isbn = 0-671-64810-1}}</ref> In the late 1980s, Lynch began to work in television, directing a short piece, ''The Cowboy and the Frenchman'', for French television in 1989.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|81}}

=== 1990–1999: ''Twin Peaks'' and stardom ===
[[File:David Lynch at the 1990 Emmy Awards.jpg|thumb|upright|Lynch at the 1990 [[Emmy Awards]] ceremony]]
Around this time, he met the television producer [[Mark Frost]], who had worked on such projects as ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', and they decided to start working together on a biopic of [[Marilyn Monroe]] based on Anthony Summers's book ''The Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe'', but it never got off the ground. They went on to work on a comedy script, ''One Saliva Bubble'', but that did not see completion either.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|156–157}}<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|85}} While talking in a coffee shop, Lynch and Frost had the idea of a corpse washing up on a lakeshore, and went to work on their third project, initially called ''Northwest Passage'' but eventually ''[[Twin Peaks]]'' (1990–91).<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|157}} A drama series set in a small [[Washington (state)|Washington]] town where popular high school student [[Laura Palmer]] has been murdered, ''Twin Peaks'' featured [[FBI]] [[Dale Cooper|Special Agent Dale Cooper]] (MacLachlan) as the investigator trying to identify the killer, and discovering not only the murder's [[supernatural]] aspects but also many of the townsfolk's secrets; Lynch said, "The project was to mix a police investigation with the ordinary lives of the characters." He later said, "[Mark Frost and I] worked together, especially in the initial stages. Later on we started working more apart." They pitched the series to [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], which agreed to finance the pilot and eventually commissioned a season comprising seven episodes.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|157–159}}

During season one Lynch directed two of the seven episodes, devoting more time to his film ''Wild at Heart'', but carefully chose the other episodes' directors.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|174–175}} He also appeared in several episodes as FBI agent [[Gordon Cole (Twin Peaks)|Gordon Cole]]. The series was a success, with high ratings in the United States and many other countries, and soon spawned a cult following. Soon a second season of 22 episodes went into production, but ABC executives believed that public interest in the show was decreasing. The network insisted that Lynch and Frost reveal Laura Palmer's killer's identity prematurely, which Lynch grudgingly agreed to do,<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|180–181}} in what Lynch has called one of his biggest professional regrets.<ref>{{cite AV media|chapter=A Slice of Lynch|type=DVD featurette|title=Twin Peaks Definitive Gold Box Edition|year=2007}}</ref> After identifying the murderer and moving from Thursday to Saturday night, ''Twin Peaks'' continued for several more episodes, but was canceled after a ratings drop. Lynch, who disliked the direction that writers and directors took in the later episodes, directed the final episode. He ended it with a [[cliffhanger]] (like season one had), later saying, "that's not the ending. That's the ending that people were stuck with."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|182}}

While ''Twin Peaks'' was in production, the [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]] asked Lynch and Badalamenti, who wrote the music for ''Twin Peaks'', to create a theatrical piece to be performed twice in 1989 as a part of the [[New Music America Festival]]. The result was ''[[Industrial Symphony No.&nbsp;1]]: The Dream of the Broken Hearted'', which starred frequent Lynch collaborators such as [[Laura Dern]], [[Nicolas Cage]] and [[Michael J. Anderson]], and contained five songs sung by [[Julee Cruise]]. Lynch produced a 50-minute video of the performance in 1990.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|55–56}} Meanwhile, he was also involved in creating various [[commercials]] for companies including [[Yves Saint Laurent (brand)|Yves Saint Laurent]], [[Calvin Klein]], [[Giorgio Armani]] and the Japanese coffee company Namoi, which featured a Japanese man searching Twin Peaks for his missing wife.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|211–212}}

{{quote box|width=275px|align=right|quote=1990 was Lynch's annus mirabilis: ''Wild at Heart'' won the [[Palme d'Or]] at [[Cannes]], and the television series ''Twin Peaks'' was proving a smash hit with audiences across the world. The musical/performance piece ''Industrial Symphony No.&nbsp;1'', which Lynch had staged with Angelo Badalamenti at the Brooklyn Academy of music, had spawned the album ''Floating into the Night'' and launched singer [[Julee Cruise]]. Five one-man exhibitions between 1989 and 1991 emphasized Lynch's roots in fine art and painting, and a rash of ads (including a teaser trailer for [[Michael Jackson]]'s 'Dangerous' tour) confirmed the demand for the Lynch touch&nbsp;... In an unlikely scenario for the maker of ''Eraserhead'', Lynch had become an influential and fashionable brand name.|source= —Christopher Rodley<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|191}}
}}

[[File:David Lynch Cannes.jpg|thumb|upright|Lynch at the [[1990 Cannes Film Festival]]]]
While Lynch was working on the first few episodes of ''Twin Peaks'', his friend [[Monty Montgomery (producer)|Monty Montgomery]] "gave me a book that he wanted to direct as a movie. He asked if I would maybe be executive producer or something, and I said 'That's great, Monty, but what if I read it and fall in love with it and want to do it myself?' And he said, 'In that case, you can do it yourself'." The book was [[Barry Gifford]]'s novel ''Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula'', about two lovers on a road trip. Lynch felt that it was "just exactly the right thing at the right time. The book and the violence in America merged in my mind and many different things happened."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|193}} With Gifford's support, Lynch adapted the novel into ''[[Wild at Heart (film)|Wild at Heart]]'', a [[crime fiction|crime]] and [[road movie]] starring [[Nicolas Cage]] as Sailor and [[Laura Dern]] as Lula.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/film/2010/01/lynch-prosthetic-god-world|title=His dark materials|website=Newstatesman.com|language=en|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116074418/https://www.newstatesman.com/film/2010/01/lynch-prosthetic-god-world|url-status=live}}</ref> Describing its plot as a "strange blend" of "a road picture, a love story, a psychological drama and a violent comedy", Lynch altered much of the original novel, changing the ending and incorporating numerous references to ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]''.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|193–194, 198}} Despite a muted response from American critics and viewers, ''Wild at Heart'' won the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[1990 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="cannes-1990.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/164/year/1990.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Wild at Heart |access-date=August 7, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119153548/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/164/year/1990.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After ''Wild at Heart''{{'}}s success, Lynch returned to the world of the canceled ''Twin Peaks'', this time without Frost, to create a film that was primarily a prequel but also in part a sequel. Lynch said, "I liked the idea of the story going back and forth in time."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|187}} The result, ''[[Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me]]'' (1992), primarily revolved around the last few days in the life of Laura Palmer, and was much "darker" in tone than the TV series, with much of the humor removed, and dealing with such topics as [[incest]] and murder. Lynch has said the film is about "the loneliness, shame, guilt, confusion and devastation of the victim of incest". The company CIBY-2000 financed ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', and most of the TV series' cast reprised their roles, though some refused and many were unenthusiastic about the project.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|184–187}} The film was a commercial failure in the United States at the time of its release, but it has since experienced a critical reappraisal. A number of critics, such as [[Mark Kermode]], have called it Lynch's "masterpiece".<ref name="Kermode, Mark">{{cite news | last = Kermode | first = Mark | title = David Lynch | work =[[The Guardian]] | date = February 8, 2007 | url = http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,2011369,00.html | access-date = October 27, 2009 | location = London | archive-date = June 21, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080621010856/http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,,2011369,00.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

Meanwhile, Lynch worked on some new television shows. He and Frost created the comedy series ''[[On the Air (TV series)|On the Air]]'' (1992), which was canceled after three episodes aired, and he and Monty Montgomery created the three-episode [[HBO]] [[miniseries]] ''[[Hotel Room]]'' (1993) about events that happen in one hotel room on different dates.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|82–84}}

In 1993, Lynch collaborated with Japanese musician [[Yoshiki (musician)|Yoshiki]] on the video for [[X Japan]]'s song "[[Longing (song)|Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~]]". The video was never officially released, but Lynch claimed in his 2018 memoir ''Room to Dream'' that "some of the frames are so fuckin' beautiful, you can't believe it."<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Room to Dream|author1=Lynch, David|author2=McKenna, Kristine|isbn=9780399589195|edition= First|location=New York, N.Y.|page=327|oclc=1019843510}}</ref>

After his unsuccessful TV ventures, Lynch returned to film. In 1997, he released the non-linear [[film noir|noiresque]] ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]'', which was co-written by Barry Gifford and starred [[Bill Pullman]] and [[Patricia Arquette]]. The film failed commercially and received a mixed response from critics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lost Highway (1997)|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Lost-Highway#tab=summary|website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-date=June 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616053411/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Lost-Highway#tab=summary|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lost Highway Reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/lost-highway|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|archive-date=May 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505005724/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/lost-highway|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch then began work on a film from a script by [[Mary Sweeney]] and John E. Roach, ''[[The Straight Story]]'', based on a true story: that of [[Alvin Straight]] ([[Richard Farnsworth]]), an elderly man from [[Laurens, Iowa|Laurens]], Iowa, who goes on a 300-mile journey to visit his sick brother ([[Harry Dean Stanton]]) in [[Mount Zion, Wisconsin]], by [[Riding mower|riding lawnmower]]. Asked why he chose this script, Lynch said, "that's what I fell in love with next", and expressed his admiration of Straight, describing him as "like [[James Dean]], except he's old".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|247, 252}} Badalamenti wrote the music for the film, saying it was "very different from the kind of score he's done for [Lynch] in the past".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|260}}

Among the many differences from Lynch's other films, ''[[The Straight Story]]'' contains no profanity, sexuality or violence, and is rated G (general viewing) by the [[Motion Picture Association of America]], which came as "shocking news" to many in the film industry, who were surprised that it "did not disturb, offend or mystify".<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|245}} Le Blanc and Odell write that the plot made it "seem as far removed from Lynch's earlier works as could be imagined, but in fact right from the very opening, this is entirely his film—a surreal road movie".<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|69}} It was also Lynch's only title released by [[Walt Disney Pictures]] in the U.S., after studio president [[Peter Schneider (film executive)|Peter Schneider]] screened the film before its Cannes Film Festival premiere and quickly had Disney acquire the distribution rights. Schneider said it is "a beautiful movie about values, forgiveness and healing and celebrates America. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a Walt Disney film."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Petrikin |first1=Chris |last2=Dawtrey |first2=Adam |date=May 10, 1999 |title=Disney, Lynch go 'Straight' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/disney-lynch-go-straight-1117500191/ |access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref>

===2000–2009: Established career ===
[[File:Mulholland drive(lynch)--.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Four people stand beside each other facing off-camera, from left to right: a blonde woman wearing a tan dress suit, a man with salt-and-pepper hair wearing a blazer over white shirt and slacks, a brunette wearing red pants and a black top, and a dark-haired man wearing a black leather jacket over black clothes.|Naomi Watts, David Lynch, Laura Elena Harring, and Justin Theroux at the [[2001 Cannes Film Festival]] promoting ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]'']]
That year, Lynch approached [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] again with ideas for a television drama. The network gave Lynch the go-ahead to shoot a two-hour pilot for the series ''Mulholland Drive'', but disputes over content and running time led to the project being shelved indefinitely. But with $7 million from the French [[production company]] [[StudioCanal]], Lynch completed the pilot as a film, ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]''. The film, a non-linear narrative surrealist tale of [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]'s dark side, stars [[Naomi Watts]], [[Laura Harring]] and [[Justin Theroux]]. It performed relatively well at the box office worldwide and was a critical success, earning Lynch [[Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival)|Best Director]] at the [[2001 Cannes Film Festival]] (shared with [[Joel Coen]] for ''[[The Man Who Wasn't There (2001 film)|The Man Who Wasn't There]]'') and Best Director from the New York Film Critics Association. He also received his third Academy Award nomination for Best Director.<ref name="oscar-db">{{cite web|title=Academy Award Database: Lynch, David|url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=13035139382341|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113073650/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=13035139382341|archive-date=January 13, 2012|publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|access-date=April 23, 2011}}</ref> In 2016, the film was named the best film of the 21st century in a BBC poll of 177 film critics from 36 countries.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Brown |title=Mulholland Drive leads the pack in list of 21st century's top films |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 22, 2016 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/mulholland-drive-david-lynch-21st-century-top-films-bbc-poll |access-date=August 23, 2016 |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822235543/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/aug/23/mulholland-drive-david-lynch-21st-century-top-films-bbc-poll |url-status=live }}</ref>

With the rising popularity of the Internet, Lynch decided to use it as a distribution channel, releasing several new series he had created exclusively on his website, davidlynch.com, which went online on December 10, 2001.<ref>{{cite web|first=Enrique|last=Rivero|url=http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_ID=2849|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020604204833/http://www.hive4media.com/news/html/Product_article.cfm?article_ID=2849|title=Director David Lynch Has Do-It-Himself DVD|website=hive4media.com|archive-date=June 4, 2002|date=March 28, 2002|access-date=September 10, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2002, he created a series of online shorts, ''[[DumbLand]]''. Intentionally crude in content and execution, the eight-episode series was later released on DVD.<ref>{{cite news|title=It's Just Lynch|url=http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/screen/its_just_lynch-38410479.html|access-date=August 16, 2012|newspaper=Philadelphia Weekly|date=January 4, 2006|first=Leo|last=Charney|agency=Review Publishing Limited Partnership|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912101457/http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/screen/its_just_lynch-38410479.html|archive-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> The same year, Lynch released a surreal sitcom, ''[[Rabbits (film)|Rabbits]]'', about a family of humanoid rabbits. Later, he made his experiments with [[DV (video format)|Digital Video]] available in the form of the Japanese-style horror short ''[[Darkened Room]]''. In 2006, Lynch's feature film ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' was released. At three hours, it is the longest of his films. Like ''Mulholland Drive'' and ''Lost Highway'', it does not follow a traditional narrative structure. It stars Lynch regulars [[Laura Dern]], [[Harry Dean Stanton]] and [[Justin Theroux]], with cameos by [[Naomi Watts]] and [[Laura Harring]] as the voices of Suzie and Jane Rabbit, and a performance by [[Jeremy Irons]]. Lynch has called ''Inland Empire'' "a mystery about a woman in trouble". In an effort to promote it, he made appearances with a cow and a placard bearing the slogan "Without cheese there would be no ''Inland Empire''".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Lynch-dives-within-The-cult-director-discusses-2651144.php |title=Lynch dives within |first=Neva |last=Chonin |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=February 7, 2007 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118202403/http://articles.sfgate.com/2007-02-07/entertainment/17233482_1_inland-empire-bird-feeders-squirrels |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Lynch produced a documentary web series directed by his son Austin Lynch and friend Jason S., ''Interview Project''.<ref>{{Cite magazine | last=Hart | first=Hugh | title=David Lynch's Interview Project Probes American Dreams | url=https://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/05/david-lynchs-interview-project-probes-american-dreams/ | magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] | date=May 30, 2009 | access-date=August 30, 2011 | archive-date=January 13, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113075430/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/05/david-lynchs-interview-project-probes-american-dreams/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Interested in working with [[Werner Herzog]], in 2009 Lynch collaborated on Herzog's film ''[[My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?]]'' With a nonstandard narrative, the film is based on a true story of an actor who committed [[matricide]] while acting in a production of the [[Oresteia]], and starred Lynch regular [[Grace Zabriskie]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kay|first=Jeremy|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=September 1, 2011|work=[[The Guardian]]|title=Werner Herzog: a killer at the table|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jun/22/werner-herzog-david-lynch|location=London|archive-date=February 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212235304/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jun/22/werner-herzog-david-lynch|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Lynch had plans to direct a documentary on [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]] consisting of interviews with people who knew him,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_1313317 |title=David Lynch to shoot film about TM guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India |work=Daily News & Analysis |date=November 18, 2009 |access-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-date=November 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121020439/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_1313317 |url-status=live }}</ref> but nothing has come of it.

=== 2010–2019: Return to television ===
In 2010, Lynch began making guest appearances on the ''[[Family Guy]]'' spin-off ''[[The Cleveland Show]]'' as [[Mr. Flippers|Gus the Bartender]]. He had been convinced to appear in the show by its lead actor, [[Mike Henry (voice actor)|Mike Henry]], a fan of Lynch who felt that his whole life had changed after seeing ''Wild at Heart''.<ref>{{cite web | last = Faye | first = Denis | url = http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3802 | title = A Kinder, Gentler Family Guy | publisher = Writers Guild of America, West | access-date = November 29, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101130153215/http://wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3802 | archive-date = November 30, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> ''[[Lady Blue Shanghai]]'' is a 16-minute promotional film that was written, directed and edited by Lynch for [[Dior]]. It was released on the Internet in May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Copping|first1=Nicola|date=May 14, 2010|title=David Lynch's new film for Christian Dior|url=https://www.ft.com/content/38daed66-5ecc-11df-af86-00144feab49a?mhq5j=e1|website=[[Financial Times]]|access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>

Lynch directed a concert by English [[new wave music|new wave]] band [[Duran Duran]] on March 23, 2011. The concert was [[Streaming media|streamed live]] on YouTube from the [[Mayan Theater]] in Los Angeles as the kickoff to the second season of ''[[Unstaged: An Original Series from American Express]]''. "The idea is to try and create on the fly, layers of images permeating Duran Duran on the stage", Lynch said. "A world of experimentation and hopefully some happy accidents".<ref>{{cite web | last = Lewis | first = Dave | url = http://www.hitfix.com/articles/duran-duran-david-lynch-team-for-unstaged-streaming-concert | title = Watch: David Lynch, Duran Duran team for 'Unstaged' streaming concert | website = HitFix.com | access-date = March 22, 2011 | archive-date = March 20, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110320044849/http://www.hitfix.com/articles/duran-duran-david-lynch-team-for-unstaged-streaming-concert | url-status = live }}</ref> The animated short ''I Touch a Red Button Man'', a collaboration between Lynch and the band [[Interpol (band)|Interpol]], played in the background during Interpol's concert at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]] in April 2011. The short, which features Interpol's song "Lights", was later made available online.<ref name="redbutton">{{cite news |title=David Lynch/Interpol Collaboration, 'I Touch A Red Button Man' (EXCLUSIVE) |first=Gazelle |last=Emami |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/david-lynch-interpol_n_893149.html |newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=October 30, 2011 |archive-date=October 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111028220832/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/david-lynch-interpol_n_893149.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:David Lynch and Kyle MacLachlan at the Twin Peaks Premiere 2017.jpg|thumb|Lynch (left) with [[Kyle MacLachlan]] at the 2017 premiere of ''[[Twin Peaks (season 3)|Twin Peaks: The Return]]'']]
It was believed that Lynch was going to retire from the [[film industry]]; according to [[Abel Ferrara]], Lynch "doesn't even want to make films any more. I've talked to him about it, OK? I can tell when he talks about it."<ref>{{cite news|last=Leigh|first=Danny|title=Has David Lynch retired, or is it just a bad dream?|date=August 19, 2011|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/aug/19/has-david-lynch-retired|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923145537/http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/aug/19/has-david-lynch-retired|url-status=live}}</ref> But in a June 2012 ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' interview, Lynch said he lacked the inspiration to start a new movie project, but "If I got an idea that I fell in love with, I'd go to work tomorrow".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-david-lynch-has-no-ideas-for-a-new-film-20120622,0,3728502.story|title=David Lynch says he doesn't have any ideas for a new film|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 22, 2012|url-status=live|archive-date=July 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709000918/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-david-lynch-has-no-ideas-for-a-new-film-20120622,0,3728502.story}}</ref> In September 2012, he appeared in the three-part "Late Show" arc on FX's ''[[Louie (U.S. TV series)|Louie]]'' as Jack Dahl. In November 2012, Lynch hinted at plans for a new film while attending [[Plus Camerimage]] in [[Bydgoszcz]], Poland, saying, "something is coming up. It will happen but I don't know exactly when".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/home/blogs/david-lynch-hints-at-new-film/5049373.article?blocktitle=Diary-Blog&contentID=2048|title=David Lynch hints at new film &#124; Diary Blog|work=[[Screen International]]|publisher=[[EMAP|Top Right Group]]|last=Rosser|first=Michael|date=November 26, 2012|access-date=November 26, 2012|archive-date=March 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319003723/http://www.screendaily.com/home/blogs/david-lynch-hints-at-new-film/5049373.article?blocktitle=Diary-Blog&contentID=2048|url-status=live}}</ref> At Plus Camerimage, Lynch received a lifetime achievement award and the [[Key to the City]] from Bydgoszcz's mayor, [[Rafał Bruski]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/-david-lynch-and-keanu-reeves-open-plus-camerimage/5049367.article|title=David Lynch and Keanu Reeves open Plus Camerimage &#124; News|work=[[Screen International]]|publisher=[[EMAP|Top Right Group]]|last=Rosser|first=Michael|date=November 25, 2012|access-date=November 26, 2012|archive-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128064536/http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/-david-lynch-and-keanu-reeves-open-plus-camerimage/5049367.article|url-status=live}}</ref> In a January 2013 interview with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Laura Dern confirmed that she and Lynch were planning a new project,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0115-laura-dern-20130115,0,1823315.story|title=Laura Dern's Enlightened approach|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|last=Blake|first=Meredith|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=January 17, 2013|archive-date=January 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116133845/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0115-laura-dern-20130115,0,1823315.story|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/david-lynch-and-laura-dern-have-a-mysterious-project-in-the-works-1.57069|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213135727/http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/david-lynch-and-laura-dern-have-a-mysterious-project-in-the-works-1.57069|archive-date=February 13, 2013|title=David Lynch and Laura Dern Have a Mysterious Project in the Works – Movies|work=[[BlackBook]]|last=Weston|first=Hilary|date=January 16, 2013|access-date=January 17, 2013}}</ref> and ''[[The New York Times]]'' later revealed that Lynch was working on the script.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html|title=David Lynch Is Back&nbsp;... as a Guru of Transcendental Meditation|work=[[The New York Times]]|last=Hoffman|first=Claire|date=February 22, 2013|access-date=February 23, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222211638/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Idem Paris]]'', a short documentary film about the lithographic process, was released online in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/david-lynch-short-film-idem-paris-recalls-the-industrial-tone-of-his-debut|title=David Lynch Short Film Idem Paris Recalls the Industrial Tone of His Debut|work=[[/Film]]|last=Fischer|first=Russ|date=February 12, 2013|access-date=February 25, 2013|archive-date=February 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215052729/http://www.slashfilm.com/david-lynch-short-film-idem-paris-recalls-the-industrial-tone-of-his-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref> On June 28, 2013, a video Lynch directed for the [[Nine Inch Nails]] song "[[Came Back Haunted]]" was released.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nine-inch-nails-photos-preview-came-back-haunted-clip-20130627|title=Nine Inch Nails Photos Preview 'Came Back Haunted' Clip|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Jon|last=Blistein|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629011231/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nine-inch-nails-photos-preview-came-back-haunted-clip-20130627|url-status=live}}</ref> He also did photography for the [[Dumb Numbers]]' self-titled album released in August 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dumbnumbers.bandcamp.com/|title=Dumb Numbers II, by Dumb Numbers|website=Dumbnumbers.bandcamp.com|access-date=July 31, 2015|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307040254/http://dumbnumbers.bandcamp.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 6, 2014, Lynch confirmed via Twitter that he and Frost would start shooting a new, nine-episode season of ''[[Twin Peaks (season 3)|Twin Peaks]]'' in 2015, with the episodes expected to air in 2016 on [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]].<ref name="revival">{{cite web |title=Twin Peaks Revival to Air on Showtime in 2016 |url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/twin-peaks-revival-to-air-on-showtime-in-2016-1201322329 |work=Variety |first=Cynthia |last=Littleton |date=October 6, 2014 |access-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214070105/http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/twin-peaks-revival-to-air-on-showtime-in-2016-1201322329/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lynch and Frost wrote all the episodes. On April 5, 2015, Lynch announced via Twitter that the project was still alive, but he was no longer going to direct because the budget was too low for what he wanted to do.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/twin-peaks-david-lych-leaves-as-director-1201466709/|title=David Lynch Says He Won't Direct the 'Twin Peaks' Revival|date=April 5, 2015|publisher=Variety|last=Stedman|first=Alex|url-status=live|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002105739/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/twin-peaks-david-lych-leaves-as-director-1201466709/}}</ref> On May 15, 2015, he said via Twitter that he would return to the revival, having sorted out his issues with Showtime.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McCown|first1=Alex|title=David Lynch just announced he's rejoined Showtime's ''Twin Peaks''|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/david-lynch-just-announced-hes-rejoined-showtimes--219531|website=[[The A.V. Club]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|date=May 15, 2015|archive-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801062110/http://www.avclub.com/article/david-lynch-just-announced-hes-rejoined-showtimes--219531|url-status=live}}</ref> Showtime CEO David Nevins confirmed this, announcing that Lynch would direct every episode of the revival and that the original nine episodes had been extended to 18.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Yaniz|first1=Robert Jr.|title='Twin Peaks' Revival To Resolve Questions From Previous Seasons|url=https://screenrant.com/twin-peaks-season-3-revival-showtime/|website=[[Screen Rant]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|date=August 12, 2015|archive-date=August 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804211103/http://screenrant.com/twin-peaks-season-3-revival-showtime/|url-status=live}}</ref> Filming was completed by April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title='Twin Peaks' Update: Premiere Set For Early 2017, David Lynch Halfway Done|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/twin-peaks-update-premiere-date-early-2017-david-lynch-1201681533/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|date=January 12, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803073417/http://deadline.com/2016/01/twin-peaks-update-premiere-date-early-2017-david-lynch-1201681533/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title='Twin Peaks': Here Is the Full Cast Of David Lynch's Showtime Reboot|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/twin-peaks-full-cast-david-lynch-showtime-series-1201743122/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=August 3, 2016|date=April 25, 2016|archive-date=April 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425232427/http://deadline.com/2016/04/twin-peaks-full-cast-david-lynch-showtime-series-1201743122/|url-status=live}}</ref> The two-episode premiere aired on May 21, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/twin-peaks-season-3-david-lynch-2017-2|title='Twin Peaks' is coming back after 25 years – here's everything you need to know about it|last=Snyder|first=Chris|website=Business Insider|date=February 10, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218143404/http://www.businessinsider.com/twin-peaks-season-3-david-lynch-2017-2|url-status=live}}</ref>

While doing press for ''Twin Peaks'', Lynch was again asked if he had retired from film and seemed to confirm that he had made his last feature film, responding, "Things changed a lot... So many films were not doing well at the box office even though they might have been great films and the things that were doing well at the box office weren't the things that I would want to do".<ref name="never">{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/david-lynch-on-the-return-of-twin-peaks-and-why-he-will-never-make-another-film-20170416-gvlr60.html |title=David Lynch on the Return of ''Twin Peaks'' and Why He Will Never Make Another Film |last=Idato |first=Michael |date=May 5, 2017 |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528063853/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/david-lynch-on-the-return-of-twin-peaks-and-why-he-will-never-make-another-film-20170416-gvlr60.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Lynch later said that this statement had been misconstrued: "I did not say I quit cinema, simply that nobody knows what the future holds."<ref name="never-2">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/05/david-lynch-retirement-filmmaking-1201832700/ |title=David Lynch Is Not Retiring From Filmmaking After All, But His Future Still Remains Unclear |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=May 26, 2017 |work=[[Indiewire]] |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818024728/https://www.indiewire.com/2017/05/david-lynch-retirement-filmmaking-1201832700/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:John Ford 3 Allan Warren.jpg|thumb|right|Lynch portrayed director [[John Ford]] in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' (2022).]]
Since the last episode of ''The Return'' aired, there has been speculation about a fourth season. Lynch did not deny the possibility of another season, but said that if it were to happen, it would not air before 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2017/09/15/twin-peaks-season-4-premiere-date-year-2021/ |title=Twin Peaks: David Lynch Lays Out Timetable for Any Potential Season 4 |last1=Mitovich |first1=Matt |date=September 15, 2017 |website=[[TVLine]] |access-date=October 12, 2020 |archive-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017211250/https://tvline.com/2017/09/15/twin-peaks-season-4-premiere-date-year-2021/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2020–present: Weather reports and other projects  ===
Lynch did weather reports on his now-defunct website in the 2000s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By9d_0wBvLM&list=PLLqW44EeDnAs4FZDcDa0DMszVYGtYVjOK&index=1| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/By9d_0wBvLM?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By9d_0wBvLM| archive-date=September 20, 2021|title=David Lynch weather report|website = YouTube| date=April 2008 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> He returned to doing weather reports from his apartment in Los Angeles, along with two new series, ''What is David Lynch Working on Today?'', which details him making collages and ''Today's Number Is...'', where each day he picks a random number from 1 to 10 using a jar containing ten numbered ping-pong balls. In one of his weather reports, he detailed a dream he had about being a German soldier shot by an American soldier on [[D-Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDLD_zxiuyh1IMasq9nbjrA|title=David Lynch Theater |website=YouTube|access-date=June 11, 2020|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611145918/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDLD_zxiuyh1IMasq9nbjrA|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=David Lynch ends daily weather report by recalling dream about being a dying German soldier on D-Day|url=https://www.avclub.com/david-lynch-ends-daily-weather-report-by-recalling-drea-1843952285|last=McCarter|first=Reid|date=June 8, 2020|access-date=June 11, 2020|work=AV Club|archive-date=June 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609163354/https://news.avclub.com/david-lynch-ends-daily-weather-report-by-recalling-drea-1843952285|url-status=live}}</ref> After his final weather report on December 16, 2022, Lynch said the series would not return, adding: "Now I can sleep longer in the morning. I had to get up very early to consult the real weather bulletin. In two years I have not missed a single one."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pulver |first=Andrew |date=April 24, 2023 |title='It's all in the damn history books': David Lynch rails against the death of cinemas |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/apr/24/its-all-in-the-damn-history-books-david-lynch-rails-against-the-death-of-cinemas |access-date=June 9, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

In June 2020, Lynch rereleased his 2002 web series ''[[Rabbits (film)|Rabbits]]'' on YouTube.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Lynch Shares 2002-Era Web Series 'Rabbits' to YouTube|url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/david-lynch-shares-2002-era-web-series-rabbits-to-youtube|last=Zhang|first=Charlie|date=June 9, 2020|access-date=June 11, 2020|website=[[Hypebeast (website)|Hypebeast]]|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611200514/https://hypebeast.com/2020/6/david-lynch-shares-2002-era-web-series-rabbits-to-youtube|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=David Lynch's creepy web series 'Rabbits' is back online|url=https://www.engadget.com/david-lynchs-creepy-web-series-rabbits-is-back-online-100002786.html|last=England|first=Rachel|date=June 10, 2020|access-date=June 11, 2020|work=[[Engadget]]|archive-date=June 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611101511/https://www.engadget.com/david-lynchs-creepy-web-series-rabbits-is-back-online-100002786.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 17, 2020, his store for merchandise released a set of face masks with Lynch's art on them for the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|title= David Lynch Now Has Line of Face Masks|url= https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/333752/studio-david-lynch-now-has-line-of-face-masks/|last=Millican|first=Josh|date=July 17, 2020|access-date=July 20, 2020|work=Dread Central|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719110403/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/333752/studio-david-lynch-now-has-line-of-face-masks/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2022, it was announced that Lynch had been cast in [[Steven Spielberg]]'s film ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' in a role ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called "a closely guarded secret", later revealed to be that of film director [[John Ford]], whose encounter with Spielberg is dramatized in the film's final moments, with the film's protagonist [[Sammy Fabelman]] (played by [[Gabriel LaBelle]]) in Spielberg's place.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Murphy|first=J. Kim|date=February 4, 2022|title=David Lynch Joins Cast of Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-lynch-the-fabelmans-steven-spielberg-1235172006/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> Lynch and the cast were nominated for the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-sag-awards-nominations-list-film-tv-nominees-screen-actors-guild-1235216790/|title= SAG Awards Nominations: The Complete List|website= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date= January 11, 2023|accessdate= January 21, 2023}}</ref>

In August 2024, Lynch publicized that he had been diagnosed with [[emphysema]], which he attributed to his years of smoking, and he could no longer direct in person. He said a project for [[Netflix]], with working titles ''Wisteria'' and ''Unrecorded Night'', had fallen through but that he would like to see his unproduced projects ''Antelope Don't Run No More'' and ''[[David Lynch's unrealized projects#Snootworld|Snootworld]]'' realized.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harrison |first1=Scoop|title=David Lynch Suffers from Emphysema, No Longer Able to Direct |url=https://consequence.net/2024/08/david-lynch-emphysema-directing/ |access-date=August 5, 2024 |date=August 5, 2024}}</ref> Lynch confirmed he was working on existing projects as able, and later released a statement in which he said that he was in good health and had no plans to retire.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://deadline.com/2024/08/david-lynch-health-covid-1236031810/|title = David Lynch Says "I Will Never Retire" In Response To Health Reports – Update|last = D'Alessandro|first = Anthony|date = August 5, 2024|accessdate = August 5, 2024|work = [[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

==Cinematic influences and themes==
===Influences===
{{quote box|width=25%|align=right|quote=I look at the world and I see absurdity all around me. People do strange things constantly, to the point that, for the most part, we manage not to see it. That's why I love coffee shops and public places—I mean, they're all out there.|source= —David Lynch<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|199}}}}

Lynch has said his work is more similar to that of European filmmakers than American ones, and that most films that "get down and thrill your soul" are by European directors.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|62}} He has expressed his admiration for [[Federico Fellini]],<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|62}} [[Jean-Luc Godard]],<ref name=Russell>{{cite web |author1=Calum Russell |title=The movies that David Lynch "oriented" himself on |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/movies-david-lynch-oriented-himself-on/ |website=Far Out |publisher=Far Out Magazine |access-date=September 15, 2022 |date=July 15, 2022 |quote=As for the filmmakers that have particularly inspired Lynch's craft, the director goes on to say, "Everyone should find their own voice. It's not about copying", before finally admitting that "[Jean-Luc] Godard, [Federico] Fellini and [Ingmar] Bergman were my heroes".}}</ref> [[Ingmar Bergman]],<ref name="Russell" /> [[Werner Herzog]], [[Alfred Hitchcock]],<ref>{{cite interview |subject=David Lynch |interviewer=Diego Schonhals |publication-date=October 13, 2007 |title=David Lynch Favorites Movies and FilmMakers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1s7EwOeowU |access-date=September 28, 2017 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018130352/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1s7EwOeowU |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roman Polanski]], [[Jacques Tati]],<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|62}} [[Stanley Kubrick]], and [[Billy Wilder]]. He has said that Wilder's ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Boulevard]]'' (1950) is one of his favorite pictures,<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|71}} as are Kubrick's ''[[Lolita (1962 film)|Lolita]]'' (1962), Fellini's ''[[8½]]'' (1963), Tati's ''[[Monsieur Hulot's Holiday]]'' (1953), Hitchcock's ''[[Rear Window]]'' (1954), and Herzog's ''[[Stroszek]]'' (1977).<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|21}} He has also cited [[Herk Harvey]]'s ''[[Carnival of Souls]]'' (1962) and [[Jerzy Skolimowski]]'s ''[[Deep End (film)|Deep End]]'' (1970) as influences on his work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moviefone.com/2007/10/12/retro-cinema-carnival-of-souls/|title=Retro Cinema: Carnival of Souls|website=Moviefone|date=October 12, 2007|access-date=February 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218064656/https://www.moviefone.com/2007/10/12/retro-cinema-carnival-of-souls/|archive-date=February 18, 2017}}</ref>

===Motifs===
Several themes recur in Lynch's work. Le Blanc and Odell write, "his films are so packed with motifs, recurrent characters, images, compositions and techniques that you could view his entire output as one large jigsaw puzzle of ideas".<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|8}} One of the key themes they note is the usage of dreams and dreamlike imagery and structure, something they relate to the "[[Surrealism|surrealist]] ethos" of relying "on the subconscious to provide visual drive". This can be seen in Merrick's dream of his mother in ''The Elephant Man'', Cooper's dreams of the red room in ''Twin Peaks'' and the "dreamlike logic" of the narratives of ''Eraserhead'', ''Mulholland Drive'' and ''Inland Empire''.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|8–9}} Of his attitude to dreams, Lynch has said, "Waking dreams are the ones that are important, the ones that come when I'm quietly sitting in a chair, letting my mind wander. When you sleep, you don't control your dream. I like to dive into a dream world that I've made or discovered; a world I choose&nbsp;... [You can't really get others to experience it, but] right there is the power of cinema."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|15}} His films are known for their use of [[magic realism]]. The motif of dreams is closely linked to his recurring use of drones, real-world sounds and musical styles.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=The Audiovisual Eerie: Transmediating Thresholds in the Work of David Lynch|last=Rogers|first=Holly|title=Transmedia Directors: Artistry, Industry and the New Audiovisual Aesthetics|editor-last1=Vernallis|editor-first1=Carol|editor-last2=Rogers|editor-first2=Holly|editor-last3=Perrott|editor-first3=Lisa|publisher=Bloomsbury}}</ref>

Another of Lynch's prominent themes is industry, with repeated imagery of "the clunk of machinery, the power of pistons, shadows of oil drills pumping, screaming woodmills and smoke billowing factories", as seen in the industrial wasteland in ''Eraserhead'', the factories in ''The Elephant Man'', the sawmill in ''Twin Peaks'' and the lawnmower in ''The Straight Story''.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|9–11}} Of his interest in such things, Lynch has said, "It makes me feel good to see giant machinery, you know, working: dealing with molten metal. And I like fire and smoke. And the sounds are so powerful. It's just big stuff. It means that things are being made, and I really like that."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|110}}

Another theme is the dark underbelly of violent criminal activity in a society, such as [[Frank Booth (Blue Velvet)|Frank Booth]]'s gang in ''Blue Velvet'' and the cocaine smugglers in ''Twin Peaks''. The idea of deformity is also found in several of Lynch's films, from ''The Elephant Man'' to the deformed baby in ''Eraserhead'', as well as death from head wounds, found in most of Lynch's films. Other imagery common in Lynch's works includes flickering electricity or lights, fire, and stages upon which a singer performs, often surrounded by drapery.<ref name=leblancodell/>{{rp|9–11}}

Except ''The Elephant Man'' and ''Dune'', which are set in [[Victorian era|Victorian London]] and [[Duniverse|a fictitious galaxy]] respectively, all of Lynch's films are set in the United States, and he has said, "I like certain things about America and it gives me ideas. When I go around and I see things, it sparks little stories, or little characters pop out, so it just feels right to me to, you know, make American films."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|18}} A number of his works, including ''Blue Velvet'', ''Twin Peaks'' and ''Lost Highway'', are intentionally reminiscent of 1950s American culture despite being set in later decades of the 20th century. Lynch has said, "It was a fantastic decade in a lot of ways&nbsp;... there was something in the air that is not there any more at all. It was such a great feeling, and not just because I was a kid. It was a really hopeful time, and things were going up instead of going down. You got the feeling you could do anything. The future was bright. Little did we know we were laying the groundwork for a disastrous future.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|3–5}}

Lynch also tends to feature his leading female actors in "split" roles, so that many of his female characters have multiple, fractured identities. This practice began with his casting [[Sheryl Lee]] as both [[Laura Palmer]] and her cousin [[Maddy Ferguson]] in ''Twin Peaks'' and continued in his later works. In ''Lost Highway'', [[Patricia Arquette]] plays the dual role of Renee Madison/Alice Wakefield; in ''Mulholland Drive'' [[Naomi Watts]] plays Diane Selwyn/Betty Elms and [[Laura Harring]] plays Camilla Rhodes/Rita; in ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' [[Laura Dern]] plays Nikki Grace/Susan Blue. The numerous alternative versions of lead characters and fragmented timelines may echo and/or reference the [[many worlds interpretation]] of [[quantum physics]] and perhaps Lynch's broader interest in [[quantum mechanics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tm.org/blog/video/world-peace-from-the-quantum-level-david-lynch-and-john-hagelin/ |title=World peace from the quantum level: Dr. John Hagelin and David Lynch |website=tm.org |date=April 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014083403/https://www.tm.org/blog/video/world-peace-from-the-quantum-level-david-lynch-and-john-hagelin/ |archive-date=October 14, 2017 }}</ref> Some have suggested that Lynch's love for Hitchcock's ''[[Vertigo (film)|Vertigo]]'', which employs a split lead character (the Judy Barton and Madeleine Elster characters, both portrayed by [[Kim Novak]]) may have influenced this aspect of his work.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cinearchive.org/post/116927300550/david-lynch-watching-vertigo-the-most-studied |title=David Lynch watching Vertigo |website=cinearchive.org |access-date=October 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014035038/http://cinearchive.org/post/116927300550/david-lynch-watching-vertigo-the-most-studied |archive-date=October 14, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Cwik |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2015/04/9-great-films-influenced-by-alfred-hitchcocks-vertigo-62999/ |title=9 Great Films Influenced By Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' |website=IndieWire |date=April 16, 2015 |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=December 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215231041/https://www.indiewire.com/2015/04/9-great-films-influenced-by-alfred-hitchcocks-vertigo-62999/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

His films frequently feature characters with supernatural or omnipotent qualities. They can be seen as physical manifestations of various concepts, such as hatred or fear. Examples include The Man Inside the Planet in ''Eraserhead'', [[Killer BOB|BOB]] in ''Twin Peaks'', The Mystery Man in ''Lost Highway'', The Bum in ''Mulholland Drive'', and The Phantom in ''Inland Empire''. Lynch approaches his characters and plots in a way that steeps them in a dream state rather than reality.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/09/david-lynch-racial-politics.html|title=What Does David Lynch Have to Say About Race?|last=Guan|first=Frank|work=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]]|date=September 12, 2017|access-date=November 15, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115152428/http://www.vulture.com/2017/09/david-lynch-racial-politics.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Recurring collaborators===
{{Main|List of frequent David Lynch collaborators}}
Lynch is also widely noted for his collaborations with various production artists and composers on his films and other productions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/my-beautiful-broken-brain-the-amazing-collaboration-of-david-lynch-and-a-woman-who-video-selfied-her-a6937571.html|title=My Beautiful Broken Brain: The woman who 'video-selfied' her stroke|date=March 17, 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=March 26, 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=March 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327151704/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/my-beautiful-broken-brain-the-amazing-collaboration-of-david-lynch-and-a-woman-who-video-selfied-her-a6937571.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He frequently worked with [[Angelo Badalamenti]] to compose music for his productions, former wife [[Mary Sweeney]] as a film editor, casting director [[Johanna Ray]], and cast members [[Harry Dean Stanton]], [[Jack Nance]], [[Kyle MacLachlan]], [[Naomi Watts]], [[Isabella Rossellini]], [[Grace Zabriskie]], and [[Laura Dern]].

==Filmography==
{{main|David Lynch filmography}}

'''Film'''
{| class="wikitable"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Distributor 
! scope="col" | Ref.
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Eraserhead]]''
| [[Ben Barenholtz|Libra Films]]
|rowspan=10|<ref name="allrovi">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/david-lynch-p100454/ |title=David Lynch movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography |work=[[AllMovie]] |publisher=[[Allrovi]] |first=Jason |last=Ankeny |access-date=August 13, 2012 |archive-date=June 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627101313/http://www.allmovie.com/artist/david-lynch-p100454/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Elephant Man (film)|The Elephant Man]]''
| [[Paramount Pictures]]
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Dune (1984 film)|Dune]]''
| [[Universal Pictures]]
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Blue Velvet (film)|Blue Velvet]]''
| [[De Laurentiis Entertainment Group]]
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Wild at Heart (film)|Wild at Heart]]''
| [[The Samuel Goldwyn Company]]
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me]]''
| [[New Line Cinema]]
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Lost Highway (film)|Lost Highway]]''
| [[October Films]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Straight Story]]''
| [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Buena Vista Pictures]] (under the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner<ref name=AFI>{{cite web|title=The Straight Story (1999)|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]]|access-date=February 9, 2022|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61718-THE-STRAIGHTSTORY?sid=b9d2126e-1539-4e1c-ba73-6a0c6e1c1296&sr=7.913997&cp=1&pos=0}}</ref>)   
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Mulholland Drive (film)|Mulholland Drive]]''
| Universal Pictures
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]''
| Absurda, 518 Media<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/lynch-set-release-empire-143369/ |title=Lynch set to self-release 'Empire' |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |last=Goldstein |first=Gregg |agency=Associated Press |date=November 16, 2006 |access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>
|}

'''Television'''
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Network
! scope="col" | Ref(s)
|-
| 1990–1991 
| ''[[Twin Peaks]]''
|rowspan=2| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="allrovi"/>
|-
| 1992 
| ''[[On the Air (TV series)|On the Air]]''
|rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | <ref name=barney/>{{rp|xxvi}}
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Hotel Room]]''
| [[HBO]]
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Twin Peaks season 3|Twin Peaks: The Return]]''
| [[Showtime (TV network)|Showtime]]
| style="text-align:center;" | <ref name="allrovi"/>
|-
|}

==Other work==
===Painting===
[[File:Lynch's So This is Love painting.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Lynch painted ''So This Is Love'' in 1992.]]
Lynch first trained as a painter, and although he is now better known as a filmmaker, he has continued to paint. Lynch has stated that "all my paintings are organic, violent comedies. They have to be violently done and primitive and crude, and to achieve that I try to let [[nature]] paint more than I paint."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|22}} Many of his works are very dark in color, and Lynch has said this is because

{{blockquote|I wouldn't know what to do with [color]. Color to me is too real. It's limiting. It doesn't allow too much of a dream. The more you throw black into a color, the more dreamy it gets&nbsp;... Black has depth. It's like a little egress; you can go into it, and because it keeps on continuing to be dark, the mind kicks in, and a lot of things that are going on in there become manifest. And you start seeing what you're afraid of. You start seeing what you love, and it becomes like a dream.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|20}}}}

Many of his works also contain letters and words added to the painting. He explains:

{{blockquote|The words in the paintings are sometimes important to make you start thinking about what else is going on in there. And a lot of times, the words excite me as shapes, and something'll grow out of that. I used to cut these little letters out and glue them on. They just look good all lined up like teeth&nbsp;... sometimes they become the title of the painting.<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|22}}}}

Lynch considers the 20th-century Irish-born British artist [[Francis Bacon (artist)|Francis Bacon]] to be his "number one kinda hero painter", stating that "Normally I only like a couple of years of a painter's work, but I like everything of Bacon's. The guy, you know, had the stuff."<ref name=lynch05/>{{rp|16–17}}

Lynch was the subject of a major art retrospective at the [[Fondation Cartier]], Paris from March 3 – May 27, 2007. The show was titled ''The Air is on Fire'' and included numerous paintings, photographs, drawings, alternative films and sound work. New site-specific art [[Installation art|installations]] were created specially for the exhibition. A series of events accompanied the exhibition including live performances and concerts.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6412525.stm | work=BBC News | title=David Lynch's dark arts laid bare | date=March 2, 2007 | access-date=May 1, 2010 | first=Caroline | last=Wyatt | archive-date=February 8, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208154450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6412525.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

His alma mater, the [[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]], presented an exhibition of his work, entitled "The Unified Field", which opened on September 12, 2014, and ended in January 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pafa.org/davidlynch|title=David Lynch: The Unified Field|work=pafa.org|date=October 27, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2017|archive-date=February 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225205447/https://www.pafa.org/davidlynch|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch is represented by Kayne Griffin Corcoran in Los Angeles, and has been exhibiting his paintings, drawings, and photography with the gallery since 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artnews.com/2018/09/07/like-dogs-human-head-david-lynch-shows-new-paintings-los-angeles/ |title='I Like Dogs with a Human Head': David Lynch Shows New Paintings in Los Angeles |website=ArtNews.com |date=September 7, 2018 |access-date=October 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021024651/http://www.artnews.com/2018/09/07/like-dogs-human-head-david-lynch-shows-new-paintings-los-angeles/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

His favorite photographers include [[William Eggleston]] (''[[The Red Ceiling]]''), [[Joel-Peter Witkin]], and [[Diane Arbus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/art/david-lynch-interview-there-is-something-so-incredibly-cosmically-magical-about-curtains|title=David Lynch interview: 'There is something so incredibly cosmically magical about curtains'|website=Timeout.com|date=January 13, 2014 |access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729022756/https://www.timeout.com/london/art/david-lynch-interview-there-is-something-so-incredibly-cosmically-magical-about-curtains|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Music===
[[File:David Lynch -microphone -10Aug2007-2p (cropped).jpg|thumb|Lynch in 2007]]
Lynch has been involved in several music projects, many of them related to his films, including sound design for some of his films (sometimes alongside collaborators [[Alan Splet]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Q&A with David Lynch's Music Collaborator Dean Hurley - Part 2: Being Open Creatively and Knowing When to Walk Away |url=https://www.synchtank.com/blog/qa-with-david-lynchs-music-collaborator-dean-hurley-part-2-being-open-creatively-and-knowing-when-to-walk-away/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=Synchtank |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Dean Hurley]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three Soundtrack Albums and a Record Player: A Twin Peaks Music Review (Sort Of) |url=https://offscreen.com/view/three-soundtrack-albums-and-a-record-player-a-twin-peaks-music-review |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=offscreen.com |language=en|author-first1=Randolph|author-last1=Jordan}}</ref> and [[Angelo Badalamenti]]<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last1=Lynskey |first1=Dorian |title='Make it like the wind, Angelo': How the Twin Peaks soundtrack came to haunt music for nearly 30 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/24/twin-peaks-soundtrack-david-lynch-angelo-badalamenti |website=The Guardian |date=March 24, 2017 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112005507/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/mar/24/twin-peaks-soundtrack-david-lynch-angelo-badalamenti |url-status=live }}</ref>). His album genres include [[experimental rock]], [[ambient music|ambient]] soundscapes and, most recently, avant-garde [[electropop]] music. He produced and wrote lyrics for [[Julee Cruise]]'s first two albums, ''[[Floating into the Night]]'' (1989) and ''[[The Voice of Love (Julee Cruise album)|The Voice of Love]]'' (1993), in collaboration with Badalamenti, who composed the music and also produced. In 1991, Lynch directed a 30-second teaser trailer for the [[Michael Jackson]] album [[Dangerous (Michael Jackson album)|''Dangerous'']], personally requested by Jackson.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Lynch on Michael Jackson and That Crazy Frog From 'Twin Peaks' |work=The New York Times |date=June 13, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/arts/television/david-lynch-room-to-dream.html |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Lynch also worked on the 1998 [[Jocelyn Montgomery]] album ''Lux Vivens (Living Light), The Music of Hildegard von Bingen''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/lux-vivens-the-music-of-hildegard-von-bingen-mw0000600349 |title=Lux Vivens: the Music of Hildegard von Bingen Jocelyn Montgomery|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=August 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142638/https://www.allmusic.com/album/lux-vivens-the-music-of-hildegard-von-bingen-mw0000600349}}</ref> He composed music for ''Wild at Heart'', ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'', ''Mulholland Drive'', and ''Rabbits''. In 2001, he released ''[[BlueBob]]'', a rock album performed by Lynch and John Neff. The album is notable for Lynch's unusual guitar playing style. He plays "upside down and backwards, like a lap guitar", and relies heavily on effects pedals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lynchnet.com/articles/bug.html |title=BOSS Users Group magazine Vol.&nbsp;5, No.&nbsp;1 Summer 2001 |website=Lynchnet.com |access-date=July 6, 2011 |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525095227/http://www.lynchnet.com/articles/bug.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Most recently Lynch composed several pieces for ''Inland Empire'', including two songs, "Ghost of Love" and "Walkin' on the Sky", in which he makes his public debut as a singer. In 2009, his new book-CD set ''[[Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse Present: Dark Night of the Soul|Dark Night of the Soul]]'' was released.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/15/danger-mouses-dark-night-of-the-soul-album-threatened-by-lawsuit/|title=Music – New Music News, Reviews, Pictures, and Videos|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=August 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225131420/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/15/danger-mouses-dark-night-of-the-soul-album-threatened-by-lawsuit/|archive-date=February 25, 2010}}</ref> In 2008, he started his own record label, David Lynch MC, which first released ''Fox Bat Strategy: A Tribute to Dave Jaurequi'' in early 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.offbeat.com/music/fox-bat-strategy-a-tribute-to-dave-jaurequi-absurda/ |title=Fox Bat Strategy, A Tribute to Dave Jaurequi (Absurda) |last=Rawls |first=Alex |date=July 1, 2009 |website=[[OffBeat (music magazine)|OffBeat]] |access-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref>

In November 2010, Lynch released two [[electropop]] music singles, "Good Day Today" and "I Know", through the independent British label [[Sunday Best (music company)|Sunday Best Recordings]]. Describing why he created them, he stated that "I was just sitting and these notes came and then I went down and started working with Dean [Hurley, his engineer] and then these few notes, 'I want to have a good day, today' came and the song was built around that".<ref>{{cite news |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/nov/28/david-lynch-turns-pop-singer-songwriter?intcmp=239 |title=The latest offbeat experiment from filmmaker David Lynch: pop singles |newspaper=The Guardian |date=November 28, 2010 |access-date=November 30, 2010 |location=London |archive-date=September 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907235505/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/nov/28/david-lynch-turns-pop-singer-songwriter?intcmp=239 |url-status=live }}</ref> The singles were followed by an album, ''[[Crazy Clown Time]]'', which was released in November 2011 and described as an "electronic blues album".<ref name="clowntime">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/arts/music/david-lynchs-album-crazy-clown-time.html | title=Music, Not Movies, But Still Exploring Places of Darkness | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] | date=November 11, 2011 | access-date=January 30, 2012 | first=David | last=Lynch | archive-date=January 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105080834/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/arts/music/david-lynchs-album-crazy-clown-time.html | url-status=live }}</ref> The songs were sung by Lynch, with guest vocals on one track by [[Karen O]] of the [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15999-david-lynch-crazy-clown-time/ | last=Powell | first=Mike | title=Crazy Clown Time | website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] | date=November 8, 2011 | access-date=January 30, 2012 | archive-date=January 17, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117234805/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15999-david-lynch-crazy-clown-time/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and composed and performed by Lynch and [[Dean Hurley]].<ref name="clowntime"/> All or most of the songs for ''Crazy Clown Time'' were put into art-music videos, Lynch directing the title song's video.<ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caWXt9lCVrc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/caWXt9lCVrc?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caWXt9lCVrc | archive-date=September 20, 2021|title=David Lynch - Crazy Clown Time (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdDGFZhoVT0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/IdDGFZhoVT0?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdDGFZhoVT0| archive-date=September 20, 2021|title=David Lynch Feat. Karen O - Pinky's Dream (Unofficial Video)|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IugOfDBWcGc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/IugOfDBWcGc?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IugOfDBWcGc| archive-date=September 20, 2021|title=David Lynch 'Good Day Today' (Official Video)|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cph9o8faQUo| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/Cph9o8faQUo?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cph9o8faQUo| archive-date=September 20, 2021|title=David Lynch - So Glad|publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On September 29, 2011, Lynch released ''This Train'' with vocalist and longtime musical collaborator [[Chrystabell]] on the La Rose Noire label. <ref>{{cite web|last=Battan|first=Carrie|title=David Lynch Unveils Album Cover Art|url=https://www.pitchfork.com/news/43992-david-lynch-unveils-album-cover-art/|website=Pitchfork|date=September 14, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729034609/https://pitchfork.com/news/43992-david-lynch-unveils-album-cover-art/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=Strauss|first=Matthew|title=David Lynch and Chrysta Bell Team Up for New EP|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/67416-david-lynch-and-chrysta-bell-team-up-for-new-ep/|website=Pitchfork|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729040721/https://pitchfork.com/news/67416-david-lynch-and-chrysta-bell-team-up-for-new-ep/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch's third studio album, ''[[The Big Dream]]'', was released in 2013 and included the single "[[I'm Waiting Here]]", with Swedish singer-songwriter [[Lykke Li]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/50983-david-lynch-announces-new-album-the-big-dream-shares-track-featuring-lykke-li|title=David Lynch Announces New Album, The Big Dream, Shares Track Featuring Lykke Li &#124; News|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Minkser|first=Evan|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-date=June 5, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605211558/http://pitchfork.com/news/50983-david-lynch-announces-new-album-the-big-dream-shares-track-featuring-lykke-li/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Big Dream''{{'}}s release was preceded by ''TBD716'', an enigmatic 43-second video featured on Lynch's YouTube and [[Vine (app)|Vine]] accounts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/video-of-the-day-david-lynchs-tbd716|title=Video of the day: David Lynch's TBD716|work=Notebook|publisher=[[MUBI]]|date=May 31, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-date=June 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608001424/http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/video-of-the-day-david-lynchs-tbd716|url-status=live}}</ref>

For Record Store Day 2014, David Lynch released ''The Big Dream Remix EP'' which featured four songs from his album remixed by various artists. This included the track "Are You Sure" remixed by [[Bastille (band)|Bastille]]. The band Bastille have been known to take inspiration from David Lynch's work for their songs and music videos, the main one being their song "[[Laura Palmer (song)|Laura Palmer]]" which is influenced by Lynch's television show ''Twin Peaks''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nme.com/news/david-lynch/75997|title=David Lynch collaborates with Moby and Bastille for Record Store Day EP – listen|website=[[NME]]|date=March 11, 2014 |access-date=April 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426214824/http://www.nme.com/news/david-lynch/75997|archive-date=April 26, 2014}}</ref>

On November 2, 2018, a collaborative album by Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti, titled ''[[Thought Gang]]'', was released on vinyl and on compact disc. The album was recorded around 1993 but was unreleased at the time. Two tracks from the album already appeared on the soundtrack from the 1992 movie ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' and three other tracks were used for the ''Twin Peaks'' TV series in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/david-lynch-and-angelo-badalamentis-lost-90s-album-is-getting-released/|last=Blais-Billie|first=Braudie|title=David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti's Lost '90s Album Is Getting Released|date=September 18, 2018|publisher=Pitchfork|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=September 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919171917/https://pitchfork.com/news/david-lynch-and-angelo-badalamentis-lost-90s-album-is-getting-released/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/thought-gang-mw0003211114|title=Thought Gang Review|last=Bemrose|first=Bekki|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=November 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112223528/https://www.allmusic.com/album/thought-gang-mw0003211114}}</ref>

In May 2019, Lynch provided guest vocals on the track "Fire is Coming" by [[Flying Lotus]]. He also co-wrote the track that appears on Flying Lotus' album ''[[Flamagra]]''. A video accompanying the song was released on April 17, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flying-lotus-david-lynch-new-song-fire-is-coming-video-823372/|title=Flying Lotus Previews New Album With Freaky David Lynch Collaboration|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=April 17, 2019|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=June 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605091959/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/flying-lotus-david-lynch-new-song-fire-is-coming-video-823372/}}</ref>

In May 2021, Lynch produced a new track by Scottish artist [[Donovan]] titled "[[I Am the Shaman]]". The song was released on May 10, Donovan's 75th birthday. Lynch also directed the accompanying video.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rockcellarmagazine.com/donovan-is-back/ |title=Donovan is Back! |website=rockcellarmagazine.com |last=Cazanov |first=Jeff |date=April 16, 2012 |access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>

===Design===
Lynch designed and constructed furniture for his 1997 film ''Lost Highway'', including the small table in the Madison house and the VCR case. In April 1997, he presented a furniture collection at the prestigious [[Milan Furniture Fair]]. "Design and music, art and architecture – they all belong together."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cityofabsurdity.com/furniture.html|title=The City of Absurdity: David Lynch's Furniture|website=Cityofabsurdity.com|access-date=October 16, 2011|archive-date=March 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310220737/http://cityofabsurdity.com/furniture.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Working with designer Raphael Navot, architectural agency Enia and light designer Thierry Dreyfus, Lynch has conceived and designed a nightclub in Paris.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2011/09/07/silencio-by-david-lynch/|title=Silencio by David Lynch|date=September 7, 2011|website=Dezeen.com|access-date=December 12, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220140719/https://www.dezeen.com/2011/09/07/silencio-by-david-lynch/|url-status=live}}</ref> "Silencio" opened in October 2011, and is a private members' club although is free to the public after midnight. Patrons have access to concerts, films and other performances by artists and guests. Inspired by the club of the same name in his 2001 film ''Mulholland Drive'', the underground space consists of a series of rooms, each dedicated to a certain purpose or atmosphere. "Silencio is something dear to me. I wanted to create an intimate space where all the arts could come together. There won't be a Warhol-like guru, but it will be open to celebrated artists of all disciplines to come here to programme or create what they want."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/aug/31/david-lynch-disco-paris?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038/|title=Inside David Lynch's Paris nightclub|first=Fiachra|last=Gibbons|date=August 31, 2011|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=December 28, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729110534/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/aug/31/david-lynch-disco-paris?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038%2F|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Literature===
In 2006, Lynch wrote a short book, ''[[Catching the Big Fish|Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity]]'', which describes his creative processes, stories from his career, and the benefits he has realized from his practice of [[Transcendental Meditation]]. He describes the metaphor behind the title in the introduction:

{{blockquote|Ideas are like fish.

If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you've got to go deeper.

Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They're huge and abstract. And they're very beautiful.}}

The book weaves a nonlinear autobiography with descriptions of Lynch's experiences during Transcendental Meditation.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lynch|first1=David|title=Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity|date=2006|publisher=The Penguin Group|isbn=978-1-58542-540-2|page=1|url={{Google books|qQqitBgFpOkC|plainurl=yes}}|access-date=June 14, 2014|archive-date=July 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711115831/http://books.google.com/books?id=qQqitBgFpOkC|url-status=live}}</ref>

Working with [[Kristine McKenna]], Lynch published a biography-memoir hybrid, ''Room to Dream'', in June 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/room-to-dream/|title=Book Marks reviews of Room to Dream by David Lynch and Kristine McKenna| website=bookmarks.reviews|language=en-US|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-date=June 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630025132/https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/room-to-dream/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{{Main|List of accolades received by David Lynch}}
Lynch has received multiple awards and nominations, including three [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and one for [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]]. He has twice won France's [[César Award for Best Foreign Film]], as well as the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] and a [[Golden Lion]] award for lifetime achievement at the [[Venice Film Festival]]. The French government has awarded him the [[Legion of Honour]], the country's top civilian distinction, honoring him first as a ''Chevalier'' in 2002 and then as an ''Officier'' in 2009; Lynch has also been awarded the [[key to the city]] of [[Bydgoszcz]], Poland. In 2017, [[The MacDowell Colony]] awarded Lynch [[Edward MacDowell Medal|The Edward MacDowell Medal]] for outstanding contributions to American culture.

==Reception==
In 2007, a panel of critics convened by ''[[The Guardian]]'' announced that "after all the discussion, no one could fault the conclusion that David Lynch is the most important film-maker of the current era",<ref name="40 best directors"/> and [[AllMovie]] called him "the [[Renaissance man]] of modern American filmmaking".<ref>{{cite web | last = Ankeny | first = Jason | url = https://www.allmovie.com/artist/david-lynch-100454 | title = David Lynch: Biography | website = AllMovie | access-date = November 29, 2010 | archive-date = December 28, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024833/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/david-lynch-p100454 | url-status = live }}</ref> His work led to him being labeled "the first [[populist]] [[surrealist]]" by film critic [[Pauline Kael]].<ref name=lynch05>{{Cite book |title= Lynch on Lynch |last1= Lynch |first1= David|last2=Rodley|first2= Chris |year= 2005 |publisher= Faber and Faber |location= New York |isbn=978-0-571-22018-2|edition= revised }}</ref>{{rp|xi}}

The moving image collection of David Lynch is held at the Academy Film Archive, which has preserved two of his student films.<ref>{{cite news|title=David Lynch Collection|url=http://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/david-lynch-collection|newspaper=Oscars.org &#124; Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|date=September 4, 2014|access-date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703052036/https://www.oscars.org/film-archive/collections/david-lynch-collection|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Relationships===
Lynch has had several long-term relationships. In January 1968, he married Peggy Reavey,<ref name=":1" /> with whom he had one child, [[Jennifer Lynch]], born in 1968, who is a film director.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jones|first=J.R.|date=May 3, 2017|title=For David Lynch, nothing was scarier than dear old dad|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/david-lynch-art-life-twin-peaks-eraserhead/Content?oid=26393970|website=ChicagoReader.com|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028105255/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/david-lynch-art-life-twin-peaks-eraserhead/Content?oid=26393970|url-status=live}}</ref> They filed for divorce in 1974.<ref name=Vulture180625>{{cite magazine|last=Marchese|first=David|date=June 25, 2018|title=In Conversation: David Lynch|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/david-lynch-in-conversation.html|magazine=Vulture|access-date=October 26, 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210341/https://www.vulture.com/2018/06/david-lynch-in-conversation.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 1977, Lynch married Mary Fisk, and the couple had one child, Austin Jack Lynch, born in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodward|first=Richard B.|date=January 14, 1990|title=A Dark Lens on America|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/14/magazine/a-dark-lens-on-america.html|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 26, 2020|url-access=registration|archive-date=June 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604135046/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/14/magazine/a-dark-lens-on-america.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They separated in 1985 and divorced in 1987.<ref name=Vulture180625/> Lynch developed a relationship with actress [[Isabella Rossellini]], with whom he lived between 1986 and 1991. In 1992, he and his editor [[Mary Sweeney]] had a son, Riley Sweeney Lynch.<ref>{{cite web|date=April 1, 2011|title=Mary Sweeney – "Baraboo"|url=https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/directors-cut/directors-cut-mary-sweeney-baraboo/|publisher=[[PBS Wisconsin]]|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204839/https://pbswisconsin.org/watch/directors-cut/directors-cut-mary-sweeney-baraboo/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sweeney also worked as Lynch's producer and co-wrote and produced ''[[The Straight Story]]''. The two married in May 2006, but filed for divorce that June.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Acoymo|first1=Mary Margaret|last2=Keith|first2=Amy Elisa|date=June 14, 2006|title=David Lynch, Wife Split After 1 Month|url=https://people.com/celebrity/david-lynch-wife-split-after-1-month/|work=People|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211315/https://people.com/celebrity/david-lynch-wife-split-after-1-month/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Lynch married actress Emily Stofle,<ref name=II120908/> who appeared in his 2006 film ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]'' as well as the [[Twin Peaks (season 3)|2017 revival of ''Twin Peaks'']]. The couple have one child, Lula Boginia Lynch, born in 2012.<ref name=II120908>{{cite news|date=September 8, 2012|title=Director David Lynch and wife welcome first daughter|url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/director-david-lynch-and-wife-welcome-first-daughter-26895824.html|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=October 26, 2020|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212020/https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/director-david-lynch-and-wife-welcome-first-daughter-26895824.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Stofle filed for divorce in 2023.

===Political and public views===
Lynch has said that he is "not a political person" and that he knows little about politics.<ref name=barney/>{{rp|103}} Describing his political philosophy in 2006, he said, "at that time [the 1990s], I thought of myself as a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]]. I believed in next to zero government. And I still would lean toward no government and not so many rules, except for traffic lights and things like this. I really believe in traffic regulations."<ref name=reason>{{cite web|url=http://reason.com/blog/2006/12/11/was-david-lynch-the-original-l|title=Was David Lynch the Original Libertarian Democrat?|date=December 11, 2006|website=Reason.com|access-date=October 25, 2014|archive-date=October 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025220834/http://reason.com/blog/2006/12/11/was-david-lynch-the-original-l|url-status=live}}</ref> He continued: "I'm a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] now. And I've always been a Democrat, really. But I don't like the Democrats a lot, either, because I'm a smoker, and I think a lot of the Democrats have come up with these rules for non-smoking."<ref name=reason/> He has said he voted for [[Ronald Reagan]] in the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984 U.S. presidential election]]; in the [[2000 U.S. presidential election]] he endorsed the [[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law Party]], which advocated [[Transcendental Meditation]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lim |first=Dennis |date=June 29, 2018 |title=Donald Trump's America and the Visions of David Lynch |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/donald-trumps-america-and-the-visions-of-david-lynch |access-date=February 29, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}}</ref><ref name=barney>{{cite book |url={{Google books|9dTCkwmvEyIC|plainurl=yes}}|title=David Lynch: Interviews |first=Richard A. |last=Barney |year=2009 |publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]] |isbn=978-1-60473-236-8 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-date=April 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428075845/https://books.google.com/books?id=9dTCkwmvEyIC |url-status=live }}</ref> He said he would vote for Democratic incumbent [[Barack Obama]] in the [[2012 U.S. presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web | first=David | last=Lynch | url=http://90days90reasons.com/52.php | title=Reason 52: I Have Noticed Something in Mitt Romney's name. | work=90 Days, 90 Reasons | access-date=October 26, 2012 | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103074940/http://90days90reasons.com/52.php | url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Lynch signed [[2009 Roman Polanski Petition|a petition in support of director Roman Polanski]] after Polanski's arrest on his 1977 [[Roman Polanski sexual abuse case|sexual abuse charges]]. Polanski had been detained while traveling to a film festival. The petition argued the arrest would undermine the tradition of film festivals as a place for works to be shown "freely and safely", and that arresting filmmakers traveling to neutral countries could open the door "for actions of which no-one can know the effects."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shoard|first1=Catherine|author2=agencies|date=September 29, 2009|title=Release Polanski, demands petition by film industry luminaries|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/29/roman-polanski-petition|url-status=live|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180108124633/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/sep/29/roman-polanski-petition|archive-date=January 8, 2018|access-date=August 29, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2012 |title=Le cinéma soutient Roman Polanski / Petition for Roman Polanski - SACD |url=http://www.sacd.fr/Le-cinema-soutient-Roman-Polanski-Petition-for-Roman-Polanski.1340.0.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120604100742/http://www.sacd.fr/Le-cinema-soutient-Roman-Polanski-Petition-for-Roman-Polanski.1340.0.html |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=archive.ph}}</ref>

In the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], he endorsed [[Bernie Sanders]],<ref>{{cite tweet |user=DAVID_LYNCH |first=David |last=Lynch |date=March 29, 2016 |title=Dear Twtter Friends, YAY! BERNIE SANDERS FOR PRESIDENT!!! |number=714871987043078144 |access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> whom he described as "for the people",<ref>{{cite tweet |user=DAVID_LYNCH |first=David |last=Lynch |date=April 26, 2016 |title=Dear Bernie Sanders, You are for the people. Great good luck to you going forward!!! |number=724991687286628352 }}</ref> He voted for Sanders in the [[2016 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2016 Democratic primaries]],<ref name="Carrol">{{cite news |last=Carrol |first=Rory |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/23/david-lynch-gotta-be-selfish-twin-peaks#comments |title=David Lynch: 'You gotta be selfish. It's a terrible thing' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 25, 2018 |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624213836/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jun/23/david-lynch-gotta-be-selfish-twin-peaks#comments |url-status=live }}</ref> and for Libertarian candidate [[Gary Johnson]] in the general election.<ref>{{cite news |last=Peyser |first=Eve |url=https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43595b/no-david-lynch-didnt-actually-praise-trump |title=No, David Lynch Didn't Actually Praise Trump |newspaper=[[Vice News]] |date=June 26, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420184522/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/43595b/no-david-lynch-didnt-actually-praise-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> In a June 2018 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', he said that [[Donald Trump]] could go down as "one of the greatest presidents in history because he has disrupted the [country] so much. No one is able to counter this guy in an intelligent way." He added: "Our so-called leaders can't take the country forward, can't get anything done. Like children, they are. Trump has shown all this."<ref name="Carrol"/> The interviewer clarified that "while Trump may not be doing a good job himself, Lynch thinks, he is opening up a space where other outsiders might."<ref name="Carrol"/> At a rally later that month, Trump read out sections of the interview, claiming Lynch was a supporter.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 26, 2018|title=Trump jokes David Lynch's career 'is over' as he quotes Guardian interview|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeU8-HqUgYA&feature=youtu.be&t=20|access-date=November 5, 2020|website=YouTube|archive-date=November 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101232245/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeU8-HqUgYA&feature=youtu.be&t=20|url-status=live}}</ref> Lynch later clarified on Facebook that his words were taken out of context, saying that Trump would "not have a chance to go down in history as a great president" if he continued on the course of "causing suffering and division" and advising him to "[[Golden Rule|treat all the people as you would like to be treated]]".<ref>{{cite web |title=David Lynch |url=https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1800909923291220&id=236978119684416&__tn__=%2As%2As-R |website=Facebook |access-date=June 26, 2018 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228024827/https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1800909923291220&id=236978119684416&__tn__=%2As%2As-R |url-status=live }}</ref>

In one of his daily weather report videos, Lynch expressed support for [[Black Lives Matter]] protests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/06/david-lynch-black-lives-matter-weather-video-1202235254/|title=David Lynch Adds Black Lives Matter Message to Daily Web Series: 'Peace, Justice, No Fear'|date=June 3, 2020|last=Sharf|first=Zack|publisher=IndieWire}}</ref> In another such video, Lynch condemned the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and addressed Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] directly, telling him there was "no room for this kind of absurdity anymore" and that Putin would reap what he had sown, lifetime after lifetime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=February 25, 2022 |title=David Lynch Condemns Putin: 'All This Death and Destruction Will Come Back to Visit You' |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-lynch-condemns-putin-russia-ukraine-1235190262/ |access-date=March 16, 2022 |website=Variety}}</ref>

===Transcendental Meditation===
[[File:David Lynch at Town Hall.jpg|thumb|upright|Lynch speaking on [[Transcendental Meditation]] and the creative process in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.new.prx.org/pieces/19719#description|title=Filmmaker David Lynch explains how to catch big ideas (Lecture)|publisher=KUOW-FM|archive-date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531190241/http://www.new.prx.org/pieces/19719#description}}</ref>]]
Lynch advocates [[Transcendental Meditation]] as a spiritual practice.<ref name="NS 2013"/> He was initiated into Transcendental Meditation in July 1973, and has practiced the technique consistently since then.<ref>{{cite news|title=The pleasure of life grows|first=David|last=Lynch|date=July 3, 2008|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/03/healthandwellbeing.davidlynch|location=London|access-date=December 11, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307154324/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/03/healthandwellbeing.davidlynch|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WP-12-01-2005">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101798.html |title=Yogi Bearer|last=Booth|first=William|date=December 2, 2005|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=November 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110121711/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/01/AR2005120101798.html}}</ref> Lynch says he met [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]], the founder of the [[Transcendental Meditation movement|TM movement]], for the first time in 1975 at the [[Spiritual Regeneration Movement]] center in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/02/david_lynch_talks_about_the_de.html|title=David Lynch's Guru and His Art|last=Hoffman|first=Claire|date=March 12, 2012|newspaper=Washington Post|archive-date=March 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312155601/http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2008/02/david_lynch_talks_about_the_de.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last=Kress| first=Michael| url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Celebrities/David-Lynchs-Peace-Plan.aspx| title=David Lynch's Peace Plan| website=BeliefNet.com| access-date=November 29, 2010| archive-date=July 24, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724223417/http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Celebrities/David-Lynchs-Peace-Plan.aspx| url-status=live}}</ref> He became close with the Maharishi during a month-long "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course" held in 2003, the fee for which was $1 million.<ref name=Stevens>{{cite news|title=And now children, it's time for your yogic flying lesson|first1=Jacqueline|last1=Stevens|first2=Patrick|last2=Barkham|work=The Guardian|date=January 27, 2009|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/27/david-lynch-meditation|location=London|access-date=December 11, 2016|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812000251/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/27/david-lynch-meditation|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2005, Lynch launched the [[David Lynch Foundation|David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace]],<ref name="Williams"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidlynchfoundation.com/ |title=David Lynch Foundation For Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050727005530/http://www.davidlynchfoundation.com/ |archive-date=July 27, 2005}}</ref> established to help finance scholarships for students in middle and high schools who are interested in learning Transcendental Meditation and to fund research on the technique and its effects on learning. Together with [[John Hagelin]] and Fred Travis, a brain researcher from [[Maharishi University of Management]] (MUM), Lynch promoted his vision on college campuses with a tour that began in September 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Lynch – John Hagelin Tour Inspires Thousands of College Students on East and West Coasts|url=http://istpp.org/news/2005_09_lynchtour.html|publisher=Institute of Science, Technology and Public Policy|access-date=August 16, 2012|year=2005|archive-date=July 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723222120/http://istpp.org/news/2005_09_lynchtour.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Lynch is on MUM's board of trustees<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/filmmaker-david-lynch-give-2016-commencement-address-maharishi-university-management-2115565.htm|title=Filmmaker David Lynch to Give 2016 Commencement Address at Maharishi University of Management|date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128021130/http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/filmmaker-david-lynch-give-2016-commencement-address-maharishi-university-management-2115565.htm|archive-date=January 28, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=January 28, 2018}}</ref> and has hosted an annual "David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation" there since 2005.<ref name=Reimer>{{cite magazine|magazine=Paste Magazine|first=Emily|last=Reimer|date=October 30, 2009|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/4th-annual-david-lynch-weekend-for-worldpeace-and.html|title=Fourth Annual David Lynch Weekend for World Peace and Meditation Taking Place in Iowa|access-date=November 15, 2009|archive-date=November 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105113841/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2009/10/4th-annual-david-lynch-weekend-for-worldpeace-and.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lynch was working for the building and establishment of seven buildings in which 8,000 salaried people would practice advanced meditation techniques, "pumping peace for the world". He estimates the cost at US$7 [[1,000,000,000|billion]]. As of December 2005, he had spent $400,000 of his money and raised $1 million in donations.<ref name="WP-12-01-2005" /> In December 2006, ''The New York Times'' reported that he continued to have that goal.<ref name="Williams" /> Lynch's book ''[[Catching the Big Fish]]'' (Tarcher/Penguin, 2006) discusses Transcendental Meditation's effect on his creative process. Lynch attended the funeral of the Maharishi in India in 2008.<ref name=Stevens/> He told a reporter, "In life, he revolutionized the lives of millions of people. ... In 20, 50, 500 years there will be millions of people who will know and understand what the Maharishi has done."<ref>{{cite news|title=West meets East on guru Mahesh Yogi's funeral pyre|date=February 11, 2008|first=Krittivas|last=Mukherjee|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-31875220080211|work=Reuters|access-date=May 7, 2010|archive-date=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112221917/http://in.reuters.com/article/2008/02/11/idINIndia-31875220080211|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, Lynch went to India to film interviews with people who knew the Maharishi as part of a biographical documentary.<ref>{{cite news|title=David Lynch to shoot film about TM guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in India|date=November 18, 2009|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_100276506.html|work=Thaindian News|access-date=May 7, 2010|archive-date=January 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127062011/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/david-lynch-to-shoot-film-about-tm-guru-maharishi-mahesh-yogi-in-india_100276506.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/48442|title=David Lynch to make film about Beatles guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi|last=Bychawski|first=Adam|date=November 18, 2009|publisher=NME|archive-date=April 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421200330/http://www.nme.com/news/the-beatles/48442}}</ref>

In 2009, Lynch organized a benefit concert at [[Radio City Music Hall]] for the David Lynch Foundation. On April 4, 2009, the "Change Begins Within" concert featured [[Paul McCartney]], [[Ringo Starr]], [[Donovan]], [[Sheryl Crow]], [[Eddie Vedder]], [[Moby]], [[Bettye LaVette]], [[Ben Harper]], and [[Mike Love]] of the Beach Boys.<ref name="NYT-04-04-09">{{cite news|url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-reunite-at-radio-city|title=Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Reunite at Radio City|last=Pareles|first=Jon|author-link=Jon Pareles|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 4, 2009|access-date=August 27, 2022|url-status=live|archive-date=April 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408171838/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/paul-mccartney-ringo-starr-reunite-at-radio-city/}}</ref> ''[[David Wants to Fly]]'', released in May 2010, is a documentary by German filmmaker David Sieveking "that follows the path of his professional idol, David Lynch, into the world of Transcendental Meditation (TM)".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://german-documentaries.de/media/pdf/german-documentaries_10.pdf |title=''German Documentaries'', AGDF, March 2010. "The young filmmaker David Sieveking follows the path of his professional idol, David Lynch, into the world of Transcendental Meditation (TM)." |access-date=May 7, 2010 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719031922/http://german-documentaries.de/media/pdf/german-documentaries_10.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117942181.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&nid=2562 |title=Review: 'David Wants to Fly' |last=Simon |first=Alissa |date=February 14, 2010 |website=Variety |access-date=April 1, 2022 |quote='David Wants to Fly' follows German writer-helmer David Sieveking on his road to enlightenment, a journey that involves David Lynch, various headquarters of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement and the icy source of the Ganges. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229173815/http://variety.com/2010/film/reviews/david-wants-to-fly-1117942181/ |archive-date=December 29, 2015}}</ref> At the end of the film, Sieveking becomes disillusioned with Lynch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/fuer-lynch-bin-ich-ein-feind_aid-561039|title="Für Lynch bin ich ein Feind"|date=November 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101133735/https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/fuer-lynch-bin-ich-ein-feind_aid-561039 |access-date=July 17, 2022|archive-date=November 1, 2019 }}</ref>

An independent project starring Lynch called ''Beyond The Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey'', directed by film student Dana Farley, who has severe dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, was shown at film festivals in 2011,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dlf.tv/2010/beyond-the-noise/ | work=David Lynch Foundation | title=Beyond The Noise | date=August 24, 2010 | access-date=August 24, 2010 | archive-date=September 8, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908003911/http://dlf.tv/2010/beyond-the-noise/ | url-status=live }}</ref> including the Marbella Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/archives/awards-2011/|title=List of 2011 documentaries|publisher=Marbella Film Festival|year=2011|archive-date=March 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318123254/http://www.marbellafilmfestival.com/archives/awards-2011/}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Kevin Sean Michaels]] is one of the producers.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=tt1705102|title=Beyond the Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey}}</ref> In 2013, Lynch wrote: "Transcendental Meditation leads to a beautiful, peaceful revolution. A change from suffering and negativity to happiness and a life more and more free of any problems."<ref name="NS 2013">{{cite web |title=David Lynch on meditation: Heaven is a place on earth |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/heaven-place-earth |work=[[New Statesman]] |first=David|last=Lynch|date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031225647/http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/heaven-place-earth |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a 2019 interview of Lynch by British artist [[Alexander de Cadenet]], Lynch said of TM: "Here's an experience that utilizes the full brain. That's what it's for. It's for enlightenment, for higher states of consciousness, culminating in the highest state of unity consciousness."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awakenedartists.com/post/2019/09/19/david-lynch-on-transcendental-meditation|title=Post|website=awakenedartists|date=February 5, 2020|language=en|access-date=February 20, 2020|archive-date=February 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220130659/https://www.awakenedartists.com/post/2019/09/19/david-lynch-on-transcendental-meditation|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2022, Lynch announced a $500 million transcendental meditation world peace initiative to fund transcendental meditation for 30,000 college students.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergeson |first=Samantha |date=April 15, 2022 |title=David Lynch Launches $500 Million Transcendental Meditation World Peace Initiative |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/david-lynch-transcendental-meditation-world-peace-initiative-1234716956/ |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=IndieWire |language=en}}</ref>

===Website===
Lynch designed his personal website, a site exclusive to paying members, where he posts short videos and his [[absurdism|absurdist]] series ''[[Dumbland]]'', plus interviews and other items. The site also featured a daily [[Weather forecasting|weather report]], where Lynch gives a brief description of the weather in Los Angeles, where he resides. He continues to broadcast this weather report (usually no longer than 30 seconds) on his personal YouTube channel, ''DAVID LYNCH THEATER'', along with "TODAY'S NUMBER", where he draws a random number, between one and ten, out of a bingo cage.<ref name="The mystery of David Lynch's daily lottery">{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Brit |title=The mystery of David Lynch's daily lottery |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/50592/1/the-mystery-of-david-lynch-daily-lottery-youtube-channel |website=Dazed Digital |date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref><ref name="David Lynch gives a weather report from LA">{{cite web |title=David Lynch gives a weather report from LA |url=https://hero-magazine.com/article/171626/david-lynch-gives-a-weather-report-from-la |website=HERO |access-date=July 8, 2022}}</ref> Lynch also created a short film, "Rabbits", for his website.<ref>{{IMDb title|id=tt0347840|title=Rabbits}}</ref> An absurd [[ringtone]] ("I like to kill deer") from the website was a common [[sound bite]] on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'' in early 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-lynch-bizarre-ringtones-series/ |title=Listen to David Lynch's bizarre series of unique ringtones |last=Russell |first=Calum |date=June 9, 2021 |website=[[Far Out (magazine)|Far Out]] |access-date=June 10, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610111809/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/david-lynch-bizarre-ringtones-series/ |archive-date=June 10, 2021}}</ref>

Lynch is a coffee drinker and has his own line of special organic blends available for purchase on his website and at [[Whole Foods]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/whole-foods-market-and-filmmaker-david-lynch-pour-new-signature-coffee-line |title=Whole Foods Market® and Filmmaker David Lynch Pour New Signature Coffee Line |location=Los Angeles, CA |date=August 20, 2013 |website=Newsroom |publisher=Whole Foods Market |access-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713065818/http://media.wholefoodsmarket.com/news/whole-foods-market-and-filmmaker-david-lynch-pour-new-signature-coffee-line |archive-date=July 13, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/xy73bq/david-lynchs-philosophy-on-drinking-coffee|title=David Lynch's Philosophy on Drinking Coffee|website=Munchies|date=July 17, 2014 |language=fr|access-date=August 18, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818221055/https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/xy73bq/david-lynchs-philosophy-on-drinking-coffee|url-status=live}}</ref> Called "David Lynch Signature Cup", the coffee has been advertised via flyers included with several recent Lynch-related DVD releases, including ''Inland Empire'' and the Gold Box edition of ''Twin Peaks''. The brand's tagline is "It's all in the beans ... and I'm just full of beans."<ref>{{cite AV media|chapter=David Lynch Signature Cup|type=Flyer included in DVD Set|title=Twin Peaks Definitive Gold Box Edition|year=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|chapter=David Lynch Signature Cup|type=Flyer included in DVD Set|title=Eraserhead (Digitally Remastered)|year=2006}}</ref> This is also a line said by [[Justin Theroux]]'s character in ''[[Inland Empire (film)|Inland Empire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a364477/david-lynch-10-reasons-to-worship-the-twin-peaks-surrealist/ |title=David Lynch: 10 reasons to worship the Twin Peaks surrealist |last=Rawson-Jones |first=Ben |date=February 14, 2012 |website=[[Digital Spy]] |access-date=August 22, 2015}}</ref>

===Health===
In an August 2024 interview with ''[[Sight and Sound]]'', Lynch said he was suffering from [[emphysema]] due to years of smoking, and had become housebound due to health risks. He said this would likely preclude any further directorial projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/david-lynch-age-movies-emphysema-smoking-b2591296.html |title=David Lynch has emphysema and can no longer 'leave the house' due to Covid fears |last=Stolworthy |first=Jacob |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=August 5, 2024 |access-date=August 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulver |first1=Andrew |title=David Lynch says he is too ill to direct films in person |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/05/david-lynch-says-he-is-too-ill-to-direct-films-in-person |access-date=August 5, 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=August 5, 2024}}</ref>

In November 2024, Lynch told ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' that he quit smoking in 2022, two years after he was diagnosed with emphysema, and that he had started smoking when he was 8. He said he is now reliant on supplemental oxygen for most daily activities. "I can hardly walk across a room", he said.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finan |first1=Eileen |title=David Lynch Started Smoking at Age 8 — Now He Needs Oxygen to Walk: 'It's a Big Price to Pay' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/david-lynch-smoking-at-age-8-now-he-needs-oxygen-copd-exclusive-8743594 |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=People.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Solo exhibitions==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* 1967: Vanderlip Gallery, Philadelphia<ref name="artnet">{{cite web |url=http://www.artnet.com/artists/david-lynch/biography |title=David Lynch Biography |website=[[Artnet]] |access-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313234539/http://www.artnet.com/artists/david-lynch/biography |archive-date=March 13, 2016}}</ref>
* 1983: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico<ref name="artnet" />
* 1987: James Corcoran Gallery, Los Angeles<ref name="artnet" />
* 1989: [[Leo Castelli]] Gallery, New York<ref name="artnet" />
* 1990: Tavelli Gallery, Aspen<ref name="artnet" />
* 1991: [[Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo]]<ref name="artnet" />
* 1992: Sala Parpallo, Valencia<ref name="artnet" />
* 1993: James Corcoran Gallery, Los Angeles<ref name="artnet" />
* 1995: Painting Pavilion, Open Air Museum, Hakone<ref name="artnet" />
* 1996: Park Tower Hall, Tokyo<ref name="artnet" />
* 1997: Galerie Piltzer, Paris<ref name="artnet" />
* 2007: [[Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain]], Paris<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fondationcartier.com/en/exhibitions/david-lynch-the-air-is-on-fire |title=David Lynch, The Air is on Fire |website=[[Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain]] |access-date=October 10, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010051613/https://www.fondationcartier.com/en/exhibitions/david-lynch-the-air-is-on-fire |archive-date=October 10, 2018}}</ref>
* 2008: Epson Kunstbetrieb, Düsseldorf<ref name="artnet" />
* 2009: Max-Ernst-Museum, Brühl<ref name="artnet" />
* 2010: Mönchehaus Museum, Goslar<ref name="artnet" />
* 2010: GL Strand, Copenhagen<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: David Lynch Art Exhibit in Copenhagen|url=http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/01/review-david-lynch-art-exhibit-in-copenhagen-tanya-lee-markul/|website=Elephantjournal.com|date=January 13, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2014|archive-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204103501/http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/01/review-david-lynch-art-exhibit-in-copenhagen-tanya-lee-markul/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2012: Galerie Chelsea, Sylt
* 2012: Galerie Pfefferle, Munich
* 2013: Galerie Barbara von Stechow, Frankfurt
* 2014: The Photographers' Gallery, London
* 2014: [[Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art]]
* 2014/15: [[Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts]], Philadelphia
* 2015: [[Queensland Gallery of Modern Art]], Brisbane
* 2017: Centre of Contemporary Art Znaki Czasu, [[Toruń]], Poland
* 2018: Kayne Griffin Corcoran, Los Angeles
* 2018/19: [[Bonnefantenmuseum]], Maastricht, The Netherlands
* 2019: [[HOME (Manchester)|Home]], Manchester, United Kingdom<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10737/a-major-david-lynch-exhibition-is-coming-to-the-uk |title=A Major David Lynch Exhibition Is Coming to the UK &#124; AnotherMan |website=Anothermanmag.com |date=March 11, 2019 |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729034821/https://www.anothermanmag.com/life-culture/10737/a-major-david-lynch-exhibition-is-coming-to-the-uk |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2019: Sperone Westwater Gallery, New York<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speronewestwater.com/exhibitions/david-lynch/installations#press-release |title=Installations – David Lynch – Squeaky Flies in the Mud – 1 November – 21 December 2019 – Exhibitions – Sperone Westwater Gallery |website=Speronewestwater.com |access-date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212071459/https://www.speronewestwater.com/exhibitions/david-lynch/installations#press-release |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 2021/22: [[Kunsthallen Nikolaj|Nikolaj Contemporary Art Center]], Copenhagen<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cphpost.dk/?p=126334 |title=David Lynch to display photos at Nikolaj Kunsthal in September 
|last=Grandetoft |first=Kasper |date=July 12, 2021 |website=CPH Post Online |publisher=The Copenhagen Post |access-date=August 8, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Discography==
{{Main|David Lynch discography}}
Studio albums
*''[[BlueBOB]]'' (2001)
*''[[Crazy Clown Time]]'' (2011)
*''[[The Big Dream]]'' (2013)

Collaborative albums
*''Lux Vivens'' (with Jocelyn Montgomery) (1998)
*''The Air Is On Fire'' (with [[Dean Hurley]]) (2007)
*''[[Polish Night Music]]'' (with Marek Zebrowski) (2007)
*''This Train'' (with [[Chrystabell]]) (2011)
*''Somewhere in the Nowhere'' (with Chrystabell) (2016)
*''[[Thought Gang]]'' (with [[Angelo Badalamenti]]) (recorded 1992/93) (2018)
*''[[Cellophane Memories]]'' (with Chrystabell) (2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2024/06/david-lynch-chrystabell-new-album/|title=David Lynch, Chrystabell Conjure 'Cellophane Memories' - SPIN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/david-lynch-new-album-chrystabell-1236017914/|title=David Lynch's New Project Is an Album and Music Video With Chrystabell From 'Twin Peaks: The Return'|first=Pat|last=Saperstein|date=June 5, 2024}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[David Lynch's unrealized projects]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* Lynch, David and McKenna, Kristine (2018). ''Room to Dream''. Random House. {{ISBN|9780399589195}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190206201316/http://lynchconference.hbk-bs.de/ ''David Lynch: The Art of the Real''], the website of a 2012 Berlin conference on the artistic work of David Lynch with all lectures in text form.
* ''David Lynch: The Unified Field'' by Robert Cozzolino with Alethea Rockwell (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia and the University of California Press, 2014 {{ISBN|9780520283961}}).
* ''The Passion of David Lynch: Wild at Heart in Hollywood'' by Martha Nochimson (University of Texas Press, 1997, {{ISBN|0-292-75565-1}}).
* ''The Complete Lynch'' by David Hughes (Virgin Virgin, 2002, {{ISBN|0-7535-0598-3}}).
* ''Weirdsville U.S.A.: The Obsessive Universe of David Lynch'' by Paul A. Woods (Plexus Publishing. UK, Reprint edition, 2000, {{ISBN|0-85965-291-2}}).
* ''David Lynch'' (Twayne's Filmmakers Series) by Kenneth C. Kaleta (Twayne Publishers, 1992, {{ISBN|0-8057-9323-2}}).
* ''Pervert in the Pulpit: Morality in the Works of David Lynch'' by Jeff Johnson (McFarland & Company, 2004, {{ISBN|0-7864-1753-6}}).
* ''Snowmen'' by David Lynch (Foundation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris, 2008, {{ISBN|978-3-86521-467-6}}).
* ''David Lynch: Beautiful Dark'' by Greg Olson (Scarecrow Press, 2008, {{ISBN|0-8108-5917-3}}).
* ''The Film Paintings of David Lynch: Challenging Film Theory'' by Allister Mactaggart (Intellect, 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-84150-332-5}}).
* ''Interpretazione tra mondi. Il pensiero figurale di David Lynch'' by Pierluigi Basso Fossali (Edizioni ETS, Pisa, 2008, {{ISBN|88-467-1671-X}}, 9788846716712).
* ''David Lynch'' ed. by Paolo Bertetto (Marsilio, Venezia, 2008, {{ISBN|88-317-9393-4}}, 9788831793933).
* ''David Lynch – Un cinéma du maléfique'', by Enrique Seknadje, Editions Camion Noir, 2010. {{ISBN|978-2-35779-086-5}}.
* [http://litteraria.ff.cuni.cz/books/lynch.html ''David Lynch in Theory''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718171203/http://litteraria.ff.cuni.cz/books/lynch.html |date=July 18, 2011 }}, a collection of essays edited by Francois-Xavier Gleyzon (Charles University Press, 2010) {{ISBN|978-80-7308-317-5}}.
* ''David Lynch, 2nd Edition'' by Michel Chion (BFI Publishing, 2006, {{ISBN|978-1-84457-030-0}}).
* [https://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/view/114 ''Mulholland Drive: An Intertextual Reading''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602235012/http://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/view/114 |date=June 2, 2018}} by Ebrahim Barzegar (CINEJ Cinema Journal, 2014)
* [https://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/view/150 ''Labyrinths and Illusions in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive and Inland Empire''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603075028/http://cinej.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cinej/article/view/150 |date=June 3, 2018}} by Ebrahim Barzegar (CINEJ Cinema Journal, 2016)
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|d=Q2071|c=category:David Lynch|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|s=no|wikt=no}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/c/DAVIDLYNCHTHEATER/ Official YouTube Channel]
* {{IMDb name|0000186}}
* {{AllMovie person|100454}}
* [http://www.moviefone.com/celebrity/david-lynch/1031718/main David Lynch] at [[Moviefone]]
* [http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/lynch.html Bibliography of books and articles about Lynch] via [[University of California, Berkeley Library System|UC Berkeley Media Resources Center]]
{{David Lynch}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of accolades received by David Lynch|Awards for David Lynch]]
|list =
{{Academy Honorary Award}}
{{BAFTA Best Film recipients}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}
{{Cannes Film Festival Best Director Award}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director}}
{{Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement}}
{{The Life Career Award}}
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Director}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Director}}}}
{{Cannes Film Festival jury presidents}}
{{Venice Film Festival jury presidents}}
{{Transcendental Meditation movement}}

{{Authority control}}

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