David Lynch’s message in final public appearance ‘felt like goodbye’ as he was praised by Hugh Jackman for iconic career

"It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time," the family statement said.

"There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us. But, as he would say, 'Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.' It's a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way."

Who was David Lynch?

Lynch, who was born on January 20, 1946, transcended American filmmaking with his dark, surrealistic artistic vision with films such as Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and the television show Twin Peaks.

His work blended elements of horror, film noir and a classical European surrealism.

Before he entered filmmaking, Lynch was revered as a painter.

He described his painting of of having to be "organic, violently done and crude" to "achieve that I try to let nature paint more than I paint."

Lynch transitioned his artistic mindset and style into filmmaking in the late 1970s, when he burst onto the scene with his 1977 feature Eraserhead - a horrific, black-humored work that became a disturbing fixture on the midnight movie circuit.

The film quickly took Hollywood and the international movie industry by storm, leading to him signing with Mel Brooks' production company.

The 1980 drama film The Elephant Man captivated audiences, earning eight Academy Award nominations.

Blue Velvet, a frightening hellride, combining film noir and psychological horror, took viewers through the underbelly of a small American town.

It earned Lynch a second Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

In the years after the film's release, Blue Velvet was named one of the greatest films of the 1980s.

In April 1990, Lynch worked alongside screenwriter Mark Frost to produce the ABC horror mystery show Twin Peaks.

The show centered on a detective who teams with a fellow FBI agent to investigate the murder of a homecoming queen.

Although Twin Peaks only ran for two seasons before its cancelation, the show gained a following in the years that followed and is often cited as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

Lynch was married four times throughout his life and had three children, Jennifer, Austin Jack, and Riley.

In August 2024, he diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking. Lynch disclosed that he was unable to leave his home because of the pulmonary disease.