Twin Peaks director David Lynch has died at age 78.

The four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s family announced the devastating news via social media on Thursday.

Famous for directing his iconic TV series and the film Blue Velvet, Lynch had recently been battling ill health and was homebound due to emphysema.

In a post, shared on Facebook, his loved ones wrote: ‘It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the pᴀssing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.’

‘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,’ they concluded.

Lynch is survived by his wife Emily Stofle, and three children Jennifer Lynch, Austin Jack Lynch, and Riley Lynch.

Four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker David Lynch has died at age 78; seen in 2019

Under the announcement, fans shared their condolences to his family and their love for his uniquely dark vision. 

‘We love you so much, David Lynch! You have been a source of inspiration for so many people and speaking personally, you changed my perspective on art, spirituality, and life in general,’ one commented. 

Read More David Lynch, 78, ‘can hardly walk across a room’: Director hit by emphysema urges smokers to quit

Another wrote: ‘David is one of my biggest artistic inspirations. Will always be grateful for that. I will miss him terribly but know he will always be remembered. He’s made some of the best film and tv of all time – we’re so lucky to have shared time on earth with him.’ 

‘Icon hardly seems like enough to encapsulate David Lynch. Thank you for all the light he brought into this world, always marching to the beat of his own drum, giving hope to all of us who dare to be different. He will be greatly missed,’ a third expressed. 

American filmmaker and actor, Harmony Korine, was among the first to react to the news. 

‘David Lynch was one of our great artists, a Mount Rushmore-level director, truly a GOAT. He changed a lot of people’s lives. There will never be another one like him, because he made films at a point in history where nothing like that had ever been experienced before,’ he told IndieWire.

Jeremy O. Harris reposted the news to X, alongside a message, which read: ‘Most of us don’t remember our dreams, or if we do their images are hazy. Like a cartographer you mapped yours and in doing so helped the world navigate theirs. Thank you for your gifts and your dreams. #RIP.’ 

James Gunn tweeted: ‘RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us. ❤️’ 

The four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s family announced the devastating news via social media on Thursday

In a post, shared on Facebook , his loved ones wrote: ‘It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the pᴀssing of the man and the artist, David Lynch’

In an interview with Sight & Sound just five months ago, Lynch said that he got emphysema ‘for smoking so long.’

Lynch said: ‘I’m homebound whether I like it or not. I can’t go out. And I can only walk a short distance before I’m out of oxygen.’

The director of Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks got real as he said his love of cigarettes put him in this position.

Lynch said: ‘Smoking was something that I absolutely loved, but in the end, it bit me.

‘It was part of the art life for me: the tobacco and the smell of it, and lighting things and smoking and going back and sitting back and having a smoke and looking at your work, or thinking about things.

‘Nothing like it in this world is so beautiful. Meanwhile, it’s killing me. So I had to quit.’

Though his disease has prevented him from working on projects in person, he is not completely ruling out the possibility of directing in the future.

He said: ‘I like to be amongst the things and get ideas there. But I would try to do it remotely, if it comes to it.’

‘We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us,’ they concluded. ‘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’ (seen in 1990)

Lynch is survived by his wife Emily Stofle (seen together above in 2017), and three children Jennifer Lynch, Austin Jack Lynch, and Riley Lynch

Lynch was referencing his animated project – called Snootworld – which was pitched and ultimately pᴀssed on by Netflix. 

In November, he told People that he required supplemental oxygen for most activities and could ‘hardly walk across a room.’ 

‘It’s like you’re walking around with a plastic bag around your head,’ he said of his battle with emphysema. 

Despite not having any regrets, Lynch hopes his devastating health update will encourage other smokers to quit.

He also told the outlet: ‘Think about it. You can quit these things that are going to end up killing you.’

Lynch admitted there had been a ‘big price to pay’ for his lifelong habit but said he didn’t regret it.

By the time he gave up cigarettes the father-of-four could ‘hardly move without gasping for air.’

‘Quitting was my only choice,’ he said. 

In an August interview with Sight & Sound, Lynch said that he got the disease ‘for smoking so long’ (seen in 1984)

Some of Lynch’s other signature projects included Eraserhead (1977), The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (seen above in 2001), and Inland Empire (2006)

His most recent major project before his health issues was the revival of his series Twin Peaks for Showtime in 2017.

The original series had ran from 1990 to 1991 as it followed the investigation into the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (played by Sheryl Lee) as it took place in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington.  

When it first aired in the early 1990s the series had developed a cult following after its run on ABC which later resulted in the 1992 prequel feature film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk.

Over his career, he was awarded with numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2006 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2019; seen in 2019

Previously, Lynch revealed he had emphysema after ‘many years of smoking’ on X

Over two decades Lynch’s signature franchise made a comeback with Twin Peaks: The Return.

Kyle MacLachlan, Sherilyn Fenn, Mädchen Amick, Lee and David Duchovny – who starred in the original – returned for the revival.

Other stars were also added into the mix including Laura Dern, Amanda Seyfried, Jessica Szohr, Michael Cera, Richard Chamberlain, and Trent Reznor.

Lynch’s other signature projects included Eraserhead (1977), The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001), and Inland Empire (2006).