Director David Lynch passed away at the age of 78: the cause of death has not been disclosed
17 january 2025 в 06:37
David Lynch had a long and successful career in film until his death in January 2025. The late 78-year-old director and actor of the series «Twin Peaks» smoked for most of his life — since childhood, as he once admitted — and struggled with health problems in his final years. Nevertheless, David always maintained a positive attitude, even telling PEOPLE in November 2024 that he had no regrets about smoking. However, he still advised others to «quit those things that will ultimately kill them».
Learn about David’s health and his final months before his death below.
During his interview with PEOPLE in November 2024, David revealed that he started smoking when he was just 8 years old. He noted that smoking was a «big, important part of [his] life» and that he «loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco».
«I enjoyed lighting cigarettes», - he added. «It was part of my existence as an artist and filmmaker».
For decades, David did not quit smoking until he was diagnosed with emphysema in 2020. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease and a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The director of the film «Eraserhead» admitted that he knew smoking would lead to problems during his interview with PEOPLE in 2024.
«In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s harmful, so you’re literally playing with fire», - he said at the time. «It can bite you. I took the risk and I got bit. … I saw a sign on the wall that said, 'You will die in a week if you don’t stop.'»
At one point, David recalled that he could «barely» move without getting out of breath. So «quitting was [his] only choice», - noted the actor of «Fabelmans». However, he said that David did not regret smoking.
«It was important to me. I wish the same thing as any addict: that what we love is good for us», - explained the director of «Mulholland Drive». «I never thought of it as glamorous. It was part of life. Some characters would be smokers, just like in real life».
However, David did not want other people to follow his example. He concluded in his interview: «I really wanted to get this across: think about it. You can quit those things that will ultimately kill you. I owe it to them — and to myself — to say this».
The official cause of David’s death was not disclosed. Deadline reported that he was forced to evacuate his home in the Los Angeles area during a sunset fire in January 2025, and after that «his condition worsened»
Learn about David’s health and his final months before his death below.
During his interview with PEOPLE in November 2024, David revealed that he started smoking when he was just 8 years old. He noted that smoking was a «big, important part of [his] life» and that he «loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco».
«I enjoyed lighting cigarettes», - he added. «It was part of my existence as an artist and filmmaker».
For decades, David did not quit smoking until he was diagnosed with emphysema in 2020. Emphysema is a chronic lung disease and a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The director of the film «Eraserhead» admitted that he knew smoking would lead to problems during his interview with PEOPLE in 2024.
«In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s harmful, so you’re literally playing with fire», - he said at the time. «It can bite you. I took the risk and I got bit. … I saw a sign on the wall that said, 'You will die in a week if you don’t stop.'»
At one point, David recalled that he could «barely» move without getting out of breath. So «quitting was [his] only choice», - noted the actor of «Fabelmans». However, he said that David did not regret smoking.
«It was important to me. I wish the same thing as any addict: that what we love is good for us», - explained the director of «Mulholland Drive». «I never thought of it as glamorous. It was part of life. Some characters would be smokers, just like in real life».
However, David did not want other people to follow his example. He concluded in his interview: «I really wanted to get this across: think about it. You can quit those things that will ultimately kill you. I owe it to them — and to myself — to say this».
The official cause of David’s death was not disclosed. Deadline reported that he was forced to evacuate his home in the Los Angeles area during a sunset fire in January 2025, and after that «his condition worsened»
© Artemenko Olga
