I’m still in shock over the passing of David Lynch. Sometimes an artist’s influence and identity is so thoroughly ingrained in our culture that it’s almost impossible to fathom a world without him.
From what I’ve gathered, it seems the L.A. fires exacerbated Lynch’s emphysema as he had to be evacuated from his home, and his health took a nosedive immediately after.
As expected, tributes are pouring in for the legendary auteur. Most touching of all is Kyle McLachlan’s — a longtime Lynch muse who owes his career to the filmmaker:
Below you’ll find many more tributes. I’ll keep updating this post as they come along …
John Carpenter (via X): “I got to be friends with David Lynch when we were both at Universal years ago. A very kind man, he was a fan of Bob's Big Boy. So was I. I'm going to miss him. R.I.P. David.”
Francis Ford Coppola (via Instagram): “I am astounded and heartbroken I can’t express with any words the profound loss of the great David Lynch my friend.”
Naomi Watts (via Instagram): “My heart is broken […] It wasn’t just his art that impacted me – his wisdom, humor, and love gave me a special sense of belief in myself I’d never accessed before. Every moment together felt charged with a presence I've rarely seen or known. Probably because, yes, he seemed to live in an altered world, one that I feel beyond lucky to have been a small part of. And David invited all to glimpse into that world through his exquisite storytelling, which elevated cinema and inspired generations of filmmakers across the globe. I just cannot believe that he's gone. I’m in pieces but forever grateful for our friendship. I’m yelling from the bullhorn: Godspeed, Buddy Dave! Thank you for your everything.
—Buttercup xox”
Steven Soderbergh (via AP): “He’s one of those filmmakers who was influential but impossible to imitate. People would try but he had one kind of algorithm that worked for him and you attempted to recreate it at your peril. As non-linear and illogical as they often seemed, they were clearly highly organized in his mind.”
Steven Spielberg (via Variety): “I loved David’s films. ‘Blue Velvet,’ ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘Elephant Man’ defined him as a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade,” Spielberg said in a statement. “I got to know David when he played John Ford in ‘The Fabelmans.’ Here was one of my heroes—David Lynch playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of David’s own movies. The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.”
Harmony Korine (via IndieWire): “Harmony Korine also remembered Lynch, telling IndieWire “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. We live in a time where everything has been seen. Lynch invented a new language. He was a once in a generation talent who absorbed the embers of America’s wildness. He embraced his own inner logic and filtered it through a subconscious magic. He created worlds and unmatched vibrations. He hit on things that were inexplicable and sacred and beyond articulation. He is a treasure. His work will live forever.”
Ron Howard (via X): “A gracious man and fearless artist who followed his heart & soul and proved that radical experimentation could yield unforgettable cinema.”
James Gunn (via X): “RIP David Lynch. You inspired so many of us.”
Nicolas Cage (via Deadline): “A singular genius in cinema, one of the greatest artists of this or any time. He was brave, brilliant, and a maverick with a joyful sense of humor. I never had more fun on a film set than working with David Lynch. He will always be solid gold.”
Damien Leone (via X): “I can't believe this. Truly devastated. One of my biggest idols and one of the greatest and most fascinating artists/filmmakers/icons of my time.”
Edgar Wright (via X)": What can be said about David Lynch that hasn’t already been captured in countless tributes by fans and filmmakers? A director of singular vision, defined by his magical style and fascinating ambiguities. Though his work is one of a kind, he has inspired many to pick up a camera. While my work may not seem particularly "Lynchian," his influence always looms large …”
Richard Kelly (via L.A. Times): “One of the greatest artists to ever live.”
The ‘Smile’ franchise has a new director. David Bruckner, who made “The Night House” and the 2022 “Hellraiser” reboot, has been hired to direct “Smile 3” for Paramount.