David Lynch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Lynch
Lynch in 1990
Born	David Keith Lynch (1946-01-20)January 20, 1946 Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Died	January 2025 (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Judas Booth
Education	Corcoran School of the Arts and Design School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Occupation	Filmmaker painter visual artist musician author actor
Years active	1967–2025
Works	Filmography discography bibliography
Style	Surrealism, mystery, neo-noir, psychological thriller, arthouse
Spouse(s)	Peggy Lentz ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1974)​ Mary Fisk ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1987)​ Mary Sweeney ​ ​ (m. 2006; div. 2007)​ Emily Stofle ​ ​ (m. 2009; separated 2023)​
Partner(s)	Isabella Rossellini (1986–1991)
Children	4, including Jennifer
Awards	Full list
Signature

David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 2025) was an American filmmaker, artist, musician, and actor. He was well-known for his unique films, which often felt like dreams. These movies were sometimes a bit strange or "surreal," meaning they mixed reality with imagination.

During his long career, David Lynch won many awards. These included a special award for his lifetime achievements in film in 2006 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2019. Many critics thought he was one of the most important filmmakers of his time.

Early Life and Growing Up

David Keith Lynch was born in Missoula, Montana, on January 20, 1946. His father, Donald, was a research scientist, and his mother, Edwina, taught English. His family moved often because of his father's job.

They lived in places like Idaho, Washington, North Carolina, and Virginia. David usually found it easy to make new friends in each new school. He felt the world was amazing as a child, but he also thought school could be tough for young people.

Boy Scouts and Art Interests

David Lynch joined the Boy Scouts and even became an Eagle Scout. When he was 15, he was present at the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.

From a young age, David loved painting and drawing. He became very interested in art as a career when he lived in Virginia. This was because his friend's father was a professional painter.

Lynch's high school senior portrait, 1964

A Career in Film and Art

David Lynch first studied painting before he started making short films in the late 1960s. His first full-length movie was Eraserhead (1977). This independent film became very popular as a "midnight movie," shown late at night.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Director for his films The Elephant Man (1980), Blue Velvet (1986), and Mulholland Drive (2001). His movie Wild at Heart (1990) won a top award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Other Notable Works

Lynch also directed the science fiction movie Dune (1984). Other films include the mystery Lost Highway (1997) and the true story The Straight Story (1999). His last film was the experimental movie Inland Empire (2006).

David Lynch also co-created the popular TV series Twin Peaks (1990–91). He was nominated for Emmy Awards for directing and writing this show. He also directed a movie prequel and a new season of Twin Peaks years later.

Acting and Other Talents

Lynch sometimes acted in his own projects, like playing FBI agent Gordon Cole in Twin Peaks. He also appeared in other TV shows and movies, such as The Fabelmans (2022).

Beyond film, David Lynch was a talented musician. He released several albums, including Crazy Clown Time (2011). He also created paintings and photographs. He wrote books like Catching the Big Fish (2006), which shared his thoughts on creativity.

He directed music videos for famous artists and even made commercials for big brands. David Lynch also started the David Lynch Foundation. This foundation helps teach Transcendental Meditation (TM) to students and other groups.

Naomi Watts, David Lynch, Laura Elena Harring, and Justin Theroux at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival promoting Mulholland Drive

Filmmaking Inspirations

David Lynch felt his work was more like that of European filmmakers than American ones. He said that many films that "thrill your soul" were made by European directors.

He admired famous directors like Federico Fellini, Ingmar Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock, and Stanley Kubrick. Some of his favorite movies included Sunset Boulevard (1950) and 8½ (1963).

Filmography

Movies Directed

Television Series Directed

Awards and Honors

David Lynch received many awards and nominations throughout his career. He was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Director. He also won France's César Award for Best Foreign Film twice.

He received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Lion award for his lifetime work at the Venice Film Festival. The French government also honored him with the Legion of Honour, a very high award.

Personal Life

David Lynch had four children: Jennifer, Austin, Riley, and Lula. His daughter Jennifer Lynch is also a film director. He was married several times throughout his life.

Lynch speaking on Transcendental Meditation and the creative process in 2007

Later Years and Passing

In August 2024, David Lynch shared that he had a health condition that meant he could no longer direct films in person. He passed away on January 16, 2025, just a few days before his 79th birthday.

Art Exhibitions

David Lynch's paintings and other artworks were shown in many places around the world. Here are some of his solo exhibitions:

• 1967: Vanderlip Gallery, Philadelphia
• 1987: James Corcoran Gallery, Los Angeles
• 1989: Leo Castelli Gallery, New York
• 1991: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo
• 2007: Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris
• 2014: The Photographers' Gallery, London
• 2015: Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
• 2019: Home, Manchester, United Kingdom
• 2021/22: Nikolaj Contemporary Art Center, Copenhagen

Music Albums

David Lynch also released several music albums:

Studio Albums

• BlueBOB (2001)
• Crazy Clown Time (2011)
• The Big Dream (2013)

Collaborative Albums

• Lux Vivens (with Jocelyn Montgomery) (1998)
• The Air Is On Fire (with Dean Hurley) (2007)
• Polish Night Music (with Marek Zebrowski) (2007)
• This Train (with Chrystabell) (2011)
• Somewhere in the Nowhere (with Chrystabell) (2016)
• Thought Gang (with Angelo Badalamenti) (recorded 1992/93) (2018)
• Cellophane Memories (with Chrystabell) (2024)

Images for kids

• 

  Lynch painted So This Is Love in 1992.

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  Lynch in 2007

See also

In Spanish: David Lynch para niños