“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” according to a Facebook post. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, “Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.” It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”
A visionary auteur
Lynch was widely admired for his radically original style and capacity to blend American film noir with an atmosphere of lingering mystery. Three times an Oscar nominee for Best Director, he won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1990 for Wild at Heart.
His career breakthrough arrived with The Elephant Man (1980), which earned six Academy Award nominations and established Lynch as a Hollywood powerhouse. Blue Velvet (1986) soon followed, becoming his first cult classic, applauded by critics and garnering him a second Oscar nod for directing.
Lynch also revolutionized television, co-creating and directing the 1990 series Twin Peaks, considered a milestone for quality scripted TV. In 2019, he received an honorary Oscar for his life’s work, a fitting tribute to his groundbreaking achievements.
The Guardian hailed him as “one of the most innovative voices in film and television,” praising his singular ability to merge dreamlike imagery with Hollywood storytelling, leaving a lasting mark on cinema.
(jh)
Source: PAP, The Guardian