Famed Eraserhead and Twin Peaks director David Lynch passed away on January 16 of this year at the age of 78. As of yesterday, the experimental filmmaker and musician’s cause of death has been revealed.
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David Lynch’s Cause of Death Revealed to Be Cardiac Arrest
According to recent reports, David Lynch died as a direct result of cardiac arrest, as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease listed as an underlying cause. The report of Lynch’s cause of death was released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health yesterday, February 7.
Lynch had been suffering from emphysema since around 2020. He was a lifelong smoker and even revealed that he required round-the-clock oxygen to walk just months before his death.
“A big important part of my life was smoking,” Lynch said in a November 2024 interview with People. “I loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco. I loved lighting cigarettes. It was part of being a painter and a filmmaker for me. […] In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s [not] healthy, so you’re literally playing with fire. It can bite you. I took a chance, and I got bit.”
Lynch was more or less confined to his home in Los Angeles and relied on supplemental oxygen up until his death. Deadline reported that Lynch was also forced to relocate from his home due to the destruction of the Sunset Wildfire, which caused his health to take “a turn for the worse.”
David Lynch’s Legacy is Remembered Worldwide
David Lynch was best known for directing the 1977 surrealist film Eraserhead and the 1990 mystery-horror series Twin Peaks. He is also known for a wealth of other films, from Mulholland Drive to Blue Velvet. Lynch was an avid practitioner of Transcendental Meditation as well, which makes sense considering so much of his film work involves altered states of perception.
Lynch was also an avid musician. He released several studio albums in addition to a number of spoken-word records, soundtracks, and music videos. Lynch collaborated with several musicians throughout his career, from Angelo Badalamenti (of Twin Peaks fame) to Dean Hurley. He explored a number of genres, including experimental rock and avant-garde electropop.
David Lynch was cremated and buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetary following his death in January. Fans of the famed director still mourn this devastating loss.
Photo by Michael Tran/FilmMagic
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