---
name: "David Lynch"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-lynch"
fi1m_id: "david-lynch"
imdb_id: "nm0000186"
tmdb_id: 5602
wikidata_id: "Q2071"
roles: ["Director","Writer","Producer"]
born: "20 January 1946"
died: "16 January 2025"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 85
average_as: "director"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-09T04:02:55.047082+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Lynch

## Identity

David Lynch

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-lynch
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-lynch
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000186
- **TMDB ID:** 5602
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2071
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2071, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000186/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5602

Director and writer. Born 20 January 1946 in Missoula, Montana, USA. Died 16 January 2025.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 20 January 1946, Missoula, Montana, USA
- **Died:** 16 January 2025
- **Active:** 1977–2022
- **Also known as:** David Keith Lynch, DKL
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 10: 2 acting, 8 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Mary Sweeney](https://film.one/person/mary-sweeney.md), [Harry Dean Stanton](https://film.one/person/harry-dean-stanton.md), [Jonathan Sanger](https://film.one/person/jonathan-sanger.md), [Kyle MacLachlan](https://film.one/person/kyle-maclachlan.md), [Laura Dern](https://film.one/person/laura-dern.md), [Neal Edelstein](https://film.one/person/neal-edelstein.md)
- **Cannes Film Festival:** 2 Cannes prizes (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 85, as director, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 84 (1), 1980s 86 (2), 1990s 82 (4), 2000s 92 (1), 2010s 76 (1), 2020s 76 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 85 to 79 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Mystery 4, Thriller 4, Crime 2, Adventure 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $87m across 7 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2071, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000186/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5602

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Blue Velvet*](https://film.one/film/blue-velvet.md) (88), [*Louie*](https://film.one/tv/louie.md) (76)
- **Disney+:** [*The Straight Story*](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story.md) (88)
- **Apple TV:** [*Twin Peaks*](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md) (86)
- **HBO Max:** [*Eraserhead*](https://film.one/film/eraserhead.md) (84)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Lynch

> David Lynch makes ordinary wants and jealousies unsettling, then asks us to take the people feeling them seriously. We admire that generosity, especially in *Twin Peaks*, though his patience with mystery can outlast ours.

The jealousies in *Twin Peaks* (1990) are familiar; the behaviour they provoke is harder to place. David Lynch and Mark Frost build their rural soap around people with things to hide, but the hiding is only part of the attraction. We were moved by the way the programme takes their feelings seriously even when their behaviour is ridiculous. That care is why its mysteries matter to us, and why we recommend it despite stretches we would shorten.

The early features help explain how he reached that mixture. The industrial strangeness of *Eraserhead* (1977) was followed by the wider recognition of *The Elephant Man* (1980). By *Blue Velvet* (1986), the familiar American setting with something violent beneath it had become a defining habit. On television, *Twin Peaks* gave that unease a place in a rural soap, where jealousy could sustain a story and peculiar behaviour could be funny. It also gave Lynch room to linger, sometimes longer than the material needed.

Kyle MacLachlan gives *Twin Peaks* a steady centre, which matters when so much around him threatens to become merely peculiar. His presence lets us stay with the programme without requiring every oddity to make immediate sense. Music is just as important to Lynch's work: composer Angelo Badalamenti's blend of jazz, ambient and industrial sounds helps make the ordinary feel unsafe. That attention to sound gives both *Twin Peaks* and *Mulholland Drive* (2001) much of their unsettling force.

Some critics found *Inland Empire* (2006) and parts of *Twin Peaks: The Return* (2017) self-indulgent. Our objection to the original series is more specific: sometimes it drifts, and affection for these people does not make every pause worthwhile. We do not need every mystery solved, but we do need a reason to remain interested in the people living with it. Start with *Twin Peaks*, and give its people at least as much attention as its puzzles.

## Biography

David Lynch was an American filmmaker, visual artist and musician. He was born in Missoula, Montana, on 20 January 1946 and died on 16 January 2025.

Lynch studied painting before turning to film in the late 1960s. His first feature, *Eraserhead* (1977), became a cult success. He directed and co-wrote *Twin Peaks* (1990) with Mark Frost. Other notable films include *The Elephant Man* (1980), *Blue Velvet* (1986), *Wild at Heart* (1990), *Lost Highway* (1997), *The Straight Story* (1999), *Mulholland Drive* (2001) and *Inland Empire* (2006). He also directed *Dune* (1984) and the 2017 revival of *Twin Peaks*.

*Sources: bbc.co.uk, britannica.com, nytimes.com, theguardian.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

### Performed in (2)

- *The Fabelmans* (2022), Fi1m 76, as John Ford — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fabelmans.md)
- *Louie* (2010), Fi1m 76, as Jack Dall — [page](https://film.one/tv/louie.md)

### Directed (8) — the average rests on these

- *Mulholland Drive* (2001), Fi1m 92, Sound Designer, Writer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/mulholland-drive.md)
- *The Straight Story* (1999), Fi1m 88, Director, Sound Designer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story.md)
- *Lost Highway* (1997), Fi1m 78, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Writer, Sound Designer, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/lost-highway.md)
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), Fi1m 86, as Gordon Cole — [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *Wild at Heart* (1990), Fi1m 78, Screenplay, Director — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-at-heart.md)
- *Blue Velvet* (1986), Fi1m 88, Director, Writer — [page](https://film.one/film/blue-velvet.md)
- *The Elephant Man* (1980), Fi1m 84, Director, Screenplay, Sound Designer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-elephant-man.md)
- *Eraserhead* (1977), Fi1m 84, Producer, Director, Editor, Screenplay, Music, Production design, Sound Effects, Special Effects, Original Music Composer, Production Design, Art Direction — [page](https://film.one/film/eraserhead.md)

## Complete filmography (126)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Aprender a Caer* (2026), In Memory Of
- *The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld* (2025), Actor
- *The Legend of the Happy Worker* (2025), Executive Producer
- *Jack Paints It Red* (2025), Music
- *Tríptico* (2025), Thanks
- *The Fabelmans* (2022), as John Ford — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fabelmans.md)
- *The Other Me* (2022), Executive Producer
- *Faraway Eyes* (2021), Thanks
- *Morceaux de Cannes* (2021), Actor
- *A Talk with Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl Lee* (2019), Executive Producer
- *The Original Image - David Lynch* (2019), Actor
- *Waiting for Mr. Lynch* (2018), Director, Writer, Producer
- *Ant Head* (2018), Music, Cinematography, Writer, Editor, Producer, Sound, Director
- *Curtains Up* (2018), Actor
- *WHAT DID JACK DO?* (2017), as Detective · Director, Sound Mixer, Sound Designer, Set Decoration, Writer, Editor, Music, Set Designer
- *Lucky* (2017), as Howard
- *Night Ride* (2017), Music
- *The Black Ghiandola* (2017), as Man In Black
- *Girlfriend's Day* (2017), as Narrator (voice)
- *Kitsune* (2016), Thanks
- *Shadows of Paradise* (2016), Actor
- *Psychogenic Fugue* (2016), Creative Consultant
- *Land of Nothing* (2015), Executive Producer
- *Fire (Pożar)* (2015), Director, Writer
- *My Beautiful Broken Brain* (2014), Executive Producer
- *Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces* (2014), as Gordon Cole · Director, Editor, Writer, Characters, Sound Mixer
- *Duran Duran: Unstaged* (2014), Director
- *Idem Paris* (2013), Director
- *Memory Film* (2012), Director
- *Meditation, Creativity, Peace* (2012), Writer
- *20 Little Films* (2012), Director
- *Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage* (2011), Writer, Director
- *Interpol: I Touch a Red Button* (2011), Director
- *Readymade, Emile Reynaud et la peinture s'anima* (2010), Set Designer
- *42 One Dream Rush* (2010), Director
- *My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done* (2010), Executive Producer
- *Louie* (2010), series, as Jack Dall — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/louie.md)
- *When Lynch Met Lucas* (2010), Actor
- *The Cleveland Show* (2009), series, as Gus (voice)
- *The Peaceline Project* (2009), Executive Producer
- *Red Fish* (2009), as O Sábio
- *The Way of Samodelkin* (2009), as Stranger in a dream
- *Interview Project* (2009), series, Creator
- *Early Experiments* (2008), Director of Photography, Director, Writer, Editor, Producer
- *Hollyshorts Greeting* (2008), Director
- *Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008* (2008), Writer, Producer, Director
- *Surveillance* (2008), Executive Producer
- *Ballerina* (2007), Director, Writer, Producer, Cinematography
- *The Sound of Lynch* (2007), Actor
- *To Each His Own Cinema* (2007), Director
- *Out Yonder — Chicken* (2007), Director
- *More Things That Happened* (2007), Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Editor
- *Dynamic:01: The Best of DavidLynch.com* (2007), Director, Executive Producer
- *Inland Empire* (2006), as Bucky J, the gaffer (voice) · Editor, Director, Producer, Director of Photography, Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Camera Operator, Writer
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as Mad Scientist (voice)
- *What Is It?* (2005), Thanks
- *Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart* (2004), Actor
- *Bug Crawls* (2004), Director
- *Intervalometer Experiments* (2004), Director
- *Boat* (2003), as The Man · Writer, Director
- *Does That Hurt You?* (2003), Sound, Writer
- *Lamp* (2003), Producer, Director of Photography, Director
- *Cabin Fever* (2003), Thanks
- *Out Yonder — Teeth* (2003), Director
- *The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed* (2002), Producer, Writer, Director
- *Industrial Soundscape* (2002), Director
- *Rabbits* (2002), Screenplay, Director
- *Rabbits* (2002), series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *The Pig Walks* (2002), Writer, Cinematography, Producer, Editor, Director
- *The Short Films of David Lynch* (2002), Director, Writer, Producer, Sound Director
- *Darkened Room* (2002), Writer, Director, Cinematography, Producer, Editor
- *I Don't Know Jack* (2002), Presenter
- *BlueBob Egg* (2002), as Billy Groper · Writer, Director, Producer, Cinematography
- *Out Yonder — Neighbor Boy* (2002), Director
- *Pierre and Sonny Jim* (2002), Director
- *Steps* (2002), Director
- *Dead Mouse with Ants* (2002), Cinematography, Writer, Producer, Director
- *Coyote #1* (2002), Producer, Cinematography, Editor, Director, Writer
- *Factory Mask* (2001), Writer, Producer, Cinematography, Director
- *DumbLand* (2001), series, as Randy / Wife / Sparky (voice) · Writer, Producer, Editor, Director of Photography, Animation, Director, Creator
- *Head with Hammer* (2001), Writer, Editor, Producer, Director
- *Sunset #1* (2001), Director
- *Eraserhead Stories* (2001), Director
- *Mulholland Drive* (2001), Director, Writer, Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/mulholland-drive.md)
- *The Straight Story* (1999), Director, Sound Designer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-straight-story.md)
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Gus (voice), David Lynch (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch* (1997), Music, Still Photographer
- *Lost Highway* (1997), Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Director, Writer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/lost-highway.md)
- *Lumière & Company* (1995), Director
- *Nadja* (1995), as Morgue Receptionist · Executive Producer
- *Premonitions Following an Evil Deed* (1995), Director
- *Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films* (1993), Director
- *Hotel Room* (1993), series, Executive Producer, Sound Designer, Director, Creator
- *Twin Peaks: Visual Soundtrack* (1992), Music Producer, Creator, Lyricist
- *On the Air* (1992), series, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* (1992), as Gordon Cole · Director, Writer, Original Series Creator, Sound Designer, Executive Producer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Characters
- *The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez* (1991), Executive Producer
- *The King of Ads* (1991), Director
- *American Chronicles* (1990), series, Producer
- *Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted* (1990), Director, Producer, Music
- *Wild at Heart* (1990), Director, Screenplay — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-at-heart.md)
- *Twin Peaks* (1990), series, as Gordon Cole · Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Story, Additional Editor, Sound Designer, Creator — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/twin-peaks.md)
- *Twin Peaks* (1989), Director, Writer, Executive Producer
- *Cinéma, de notre temps* (1989), series, as David Lynch
- *The Cowboy and the Frenchman* (1988), Director, Writer
- *The French as Seen by…* (1988), Director
- *Zelly & Me* (1988), as Willie
- *No Frank in Lumberton* (1988), Music
- *Blue Velvet* (1986), Director, Writer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/blue-velvet.md)
- *Dune* (1984), as Spice Miner (uncredited) · Screenplay, Director
- *The Elephant Man* (1980), as Man in the Bowler Hat in the Mob Chasing Merrick (uncredited) · Screenplay, Director, Sound Designer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-elephant-man.md)
- *Heart Beat* (1980), as Painter (uncredited)
- *Eraserhead* (1977), Special Effects, Original Music Composer, Editor, Art Direction, Production Design, Producer, Screenplay, Sound Effects, Director — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/eraserhead.md)
- *The Amputee* (1974), as The Nurse · Director, Producer, Writer
- *In Pursuit of Treasure* (1972), as Set Painter
- *The Grandmother* (1970), Director, Animation, Script, Screenplay, Camera Operator, Producer, Writer
- *The Alphabet* (1969), Director, Sound, Writer, Animation, Director of Photography, Editor
- *Absurd Encounter with Fear* (1967), Director
- *Six Men Getting Sick* (1967), Director, Producer, Editor, Cinematography, Animation
- *Sailing with Bushnell Keeler* (1967), Camera Operator, Director
- *Mulholland Dr.*, series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *The Sea Behind Her Head*, In Memory Of
- *A Fall from Grace*, Executive Producer
- *Interview Project*, Director
- *Hyena*, Executive Producer
- *Snootworld*, Writer

## Gallery

- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-8d1d83fa2873.jpg) David Lynch — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/David_Lynch_at_the_1990_Emmy_Awards.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Transcendental Meditation (TM) is taught in 2,000 schools in Latin America, here in Peru, through the David Lynch Foundation, the program is called "A Conscious (2011)](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-e6a57f34fafd.jpg) Transcendental Meditation (TM) is taught in 2,000 schools in Latin America, here in Peru, through the David Lynch Foundation, the program is called "A Conscious (2011) — Dr Jean Fortunet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/1590-MT-au-Peru-2011-Consciousness-Based-Education.JPG/1280px-1590-MT-au-Peru-2011-Consciousness-Based-Education.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![1990 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-c8412ba2f652.jpg) 1990 Emmy Awards NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish, broadcast or post any of my photos, but please credit "photo by Alan Light" if you can. Thanks. Scan — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Bruce_Linser_and_David_Lynch_%282081408989%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Linser_and_David_Lynch_%282081408989%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Linser with director David Lynch at the Governor's Ball held immediately after the 1990 Emmy Awards 9/16/90 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadca](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-cfd9bf822dbb.jpg) Bruce Linser with director David Lynch at the Governor's Ball held immediately after the 1990 Emmy Awards 9/16/90 - Permission granted to copy, publish, broadca — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Bruce_with_David_Lynch_%28253702638%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-9f66ee4542d9.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-dfbd27288cad.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-b458e1715c6c.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB
- ![Festiwal Energa Camerimage 2017 (2025)](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-cf305ce1ee7d.jpg) Festiwal Energa Camerimage 2017 (2025) — Aawiosnaa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/D._Lynch_Energa_Camerimage_2017.jpg/1280px-D._Lynch_Energa_Camerimage_2017.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Lynch at the 42nd Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball in September 1990. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit 'photo by Alan Ligh](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-00c520a6af61.jpg) David Lynch at the 42nd Emmy Awards - Governor's Ball in September 1990. NOTE: Permission granted to copy, publish or post but please credit 'photo by Alan Ligh — Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/David_Lynch_%281990%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-6719d3871b38.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-c7f9c0df201c.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB
- ![David Lynch](https://film.one/media/person/61432/gallery-da8f9d22a1e0.jpg) David Lynch — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 4 nominated

- 2002: Best Director (nominated), for *Mulholland Drive*
- 1987: Best Director (nominated), for *Blue Velvet*
- 1981: Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (nominated), for *The Elephant Man*
- 1981: Best Director (nominated), for *The Elephant Man*

### Cannes Film Festival — 2 won

- 2001: Cannes Best Director Award (won), for *Mulholland Drive*
- 1990: Palme d'Or (won), for *Wild at Heart*

### Venice Film Festival — 2 won

- 2006: Golden Lion (won)
- 2006: Lifetime Achievement (won)

### Other awards — 8 won

- Academy Honorary Award 2020: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Sitges Grand Honorary Award 2020: Sitges Grand Honorary Award (won)
- Officer of the Legion of Honour 2007: Officer of the Legion of Honour (won)
- Knight of the Legion of Honour 2002: Knight of the Legion of Honour (won)
- European Film Award for Best Non-European Film 1999: European Film Award for Best Non-European Film (won), for *The Straight Story*
- Saturn Awards 1993: Saturn Awards (won)
- César Award 1982: César Award (won)
- César Award for Best Foreign Film 1982: César Award for Best Foreign Film (won), for *The Elephant Man*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-lynch