# David Lynch

> American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor (1946–2025)

**Wikidata**: [Q2071](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2071)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Lynch)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-lynch

## Summary
David Lynch is an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor (1946–2025), best known for his surreal, psychological, and often unsettling films that redefined the horror and drama genres. He directed iconic works like *Eraserhead* (1977), *Blue Velvet* (1986), and *Mulholland Drive* (2001), and created the cult TV series *Twin Peaks* (1990–1991). His distinctive style, blending surrealism, dark themes, and dreamlike imagery, has left a lasting impact on cinema and popular culture.

## Biography
- Born: January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana, USA
- Nationality: American
- Education: Attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, George Washington University, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts
- Known for: Pioneering surrealist and psychological filmmaking, creating *Twin Peaks*, and blending visual art with cinema
- Employer(s): George Washington University, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, AFI Conservatory, Corcoran College of Art and Design
- Field(s): Film direction, visual arts, music, acting

## Contributions
- Directed *Eraserhead* (1977), a surrealist horror film that redefined the genre with its disturbing imagery and minimal dialogue.
- Created *Twin Peaks* (1990–1991), a groundbreaking TV series that blended mystery, surrealism, and dark themes, influencing later crime dramas.
- Directed *Blue Velvet* (1986), a neo-noir film that explored themes of violence, childhood trauma, and psychological horror.
- Produced *The Elephant Man* (1980), a biographical film about Joseph Merrick, which won the Academy Award for Best Makeup.
- Directed *Mulholland Drive* (2001), a surrealist mystery film that reimagined Hollywood and the nature of storytelling.
- Composed music for films like *Dune* (1984) and *Wild at Heart* (1990), showcasing his talent as a musician.
- Created *On the Air* (1992), a surrealist TV series that explored the blurred lines between reality and fiction.
- Directed *Lost Highway* (1997), a surrealist film that delved into themes of memory, identity, and the American Dream.
- Directed *Hotel Room* (1993), a surrealist TV film that explored the psychological effects of isolation and paranoia.
- Directed *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* (1992), a documentary-style film that provided behind-the-scenes insights into *Twin Peaks*.
- Directed *Industrial Symphony No. 1* (1990), a surrealist film that explored the relationship between humans and machines.
- Directed *Wild at Heart* (1990), a neo-noir film that told the story of two outlaws on the run, blending crime and romance.
- Directed *Dune* (1984), a science fiction film based on Frank Herbert’s novel, which won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
- Directed *The Straight Story* (1999), a drama film that explored the life of a man with dwarfism, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
- Directed *Inland Empire* (2006), a surrealist film that explored the interconnected lives of several characters in Los Angeles.
- Directed *The F Word* (2013), a short film that explored themes of language, power, and identity.
- Directed *The Alphabet* (2013), a short film that explored the relationship between letters and words.
- Directed *The Grandmother* (2015), a surrealist film that explored the relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter.
- Directed *Came Back Haunted* (2017), a surrealist film that explored the psychological effects of returning home after a long absence.
- Directed *Catching the Big Fish* (2018), a surrealist film that explored the relationship between a father and his son.
- Directed *The Nightingale* (2018), a surrealist film that explored the life of a nightingale and its relationship with humans.
- Directed *The Witch and the Beast* (2020), a surrealist film that explored the relationship between a witch and a beast.
- Directed *The Son* (2022), a surrealist film that explored the relationship between a father and his son.

## References

1. ZKM Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe
2. Who's Who
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. BnF authorities
5. Integrated Authority File
6. [Source](https://www.mulholland-drive.net/cast/david.htm)
7. [Source](https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/index.php?curid=192410)
8. RKDartists
9. [Source](https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/278291050/david-lynch)
10. [Source](https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2007/10/01/25014-david-lynch-fait-officier-legion-honneur-nicolas-sarkozy.html)
11. [The Winners. European Film Academy](https://members.europeanfilmacademy.org/European-Film-Awards-Winners-1999.74.0.html)
12. Academy Awards Database
13. CiNii Research
14. [David Lynch. TheaterEncyclopedie](https://theaterencyclopedie.nl/wiki/index.php?curid=192410)
15. MusicBrainz
16. David Lynch. RKDartists
17. SNAC
18. Comiclopedia
19. Discogs
20. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
21. The Fine Art Archive
22. Artists of the World Online
23. Babelio
24. Munzinger Personen
25. [David Lynch's cause of death revealed. 2025](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/david-lynch-death-cause-cardiac-arrest-b2694405.html)
26. [David Lynch's Cause of Death Revealed. 2025](https://consequence.net/2025/02/david-lynch-cause-of-death/)
27. [death certificate](https://dam.tmz.com/document/8c/o/2025/02/07/8c672356119443d5b30e4ae578669200.pdf)
28. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
29. [Source](http://www.ubu.com/sound/lynch.html)
30. [Source](http://www.ubu.com/film/lynch.html)
31. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1981)
32. [Source](https://www.europeanfilmacademy.org/1999.97.0.html)
33. CONOR.SI
34. BBC Things
35. The Movie Database
36. [Source](https://movie.douban.com/subject_search?search_text=%E5%A4%A7%E5%8D%AB%C2%B7%E6%9E%97%E5%A5%87)
37. LIBRIS
38. DACS register
39. [Source](https://www.hoopladigital.com/artist/david-lynch/169023?tab=BIO)
40. Virtual International Authority File
41. YouTube API
42. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
43. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands
44. [Source](https://library.nga.gov/permalink/01NGA_INST/1cl1g8d/alma994213214104896)