David Lynch's cause of death revealed, weeks after death at 78

David Lynch's cause of death has been revealed -- weeks after his heartbreaking passing.

David Lynch's cause of death has been revealed. Credit: Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images

The groundbreaking writer-director - perhaps best known for his works Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks - sadly passed away last month at the age of 78.

Lynch’s death was confirmed via a statement posted to his Facebook page, which read: "It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.

"We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ … It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way."

A family member confirmed to TMZ that the trailblazing director passed away on January 15 at his daughter's house. Lynch had been residing there amid the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

Now, according to a death certificate issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, it has been revealed that Lynch died from cardiac arrest brought on by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

David Lynch died at the age of 76. Credit: Michael Tran / Getty

The Independent and TMZ - which was the first to report the news - obtained the official document confirming the cause.

Additionally, dehydration was cited as a significant contributing factor in Lynch’s passing, per the redacted certificate shared by TMZ. The document was released to the public on Friday, Feb. 7.

a family member told TMZ Lynch died on Wednesday, January 15, at his daughter's house -- where he had been staying during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

According to the certificate, Lynch was cremated and his remains were buried on January 22 at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Remembering David Lynch

David Keith Lynch was born on January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana.

Lynch's work could never be mistaken for anybody else's. Credit: William karel/Sygma via Getty Image

His father, Donald, was a research scientist, and his mother, Edwina, worked as an English teacher. The family’s frequent relocations across the United States — from Montana to Idaho, Washington, and Virginia — shaped Lynch’s perspective on small-town life, a recurring theme in his later work.

Lynch’s journey into the arts began with painting, before moving to Los Angeles in 1971 to study filmmaking at the AFI’s Conservatory for Advanced Film Studies, where he would create short films.

His 1977 feature debut, Eraserhead - which took him years to create - became a cult classic on the midnight movie circuit, showcasing his singular, unsettling style.

A Career of Highs and Lows

Lynch broke into mainstream Hollywood with The Elephant Man (1980), a deeply moving biopic about the life of a deformed sideshow performer. Produced by Mel Brooks’ company, the film earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Lynch’s first nod for Best Director.

Lynch received three Oscars nominations for 'Best Director'. Credit Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

However, his next major project, a 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune, was a commercial disaster. Despite the film’s failure, Lynch rebounded with Blue Velvet (1986), a haunting exploration of small-town darkness, and Wild at Heart (1990), a violent and provocative road movie that won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Nobody could mistake Lynch’s work for anyone else’s. Blending elements of surrealism with noir and horror, Lynch created dreamlike, often disturbing worlds. Critic Pauline Kael once called him “the first populist surrealist,” likening his approach to the works of Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí.

His films often felt timeless, disconnected from any specific era or locale, leaving viewers mesmerized but unsettled. Lynch’s narratives were as enigmatic as M.C. Escher’s drawings and as haunting as Grimms’ fairy tales. While critics debated whether his films followed a logical thread, few doubted the power of his imagination.

Accolades and Legacy

Lynch’s work has been celebrated internationally, even as it sometimes divided domestic audiences. In a 2012 poll conducted by Sight & Sound magazine, nearly 900 experts ranked Mulholland Drive (2001) at No. 28 and Blue Velvet (1986) at No. 69 on the list of the greatest films ever made. However, none of his works appeared in the American Film Institute’s most recent top 100 list.

The Academy also showed limited recognition for Lynch’s work. Despite four Oscar nominations—for The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive—he did not win any competitive awards. In 2019, he received an honorary Oscar celebrating his extraordinary career.

Late Career and Personal Pursuits

Lynch’s cinematic output slowed in his later years. His 2006 feature Inland Empire failed to resonate with critics and audiences alike, marking the end of his major film projects. His 2017 short, What Did Jack Do?, in which he interrogated a monkey, captured more attention for its eccentricity than its artistry.

Lynch is known for his remarkable works like The Elephant Man and Mulholland Drive. Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty Images

In later life, Lynch shifted his focus to other passions, including painting, coffee production, and transcendental meditation.

He credited meditation with transforming his life, as he recounted in his 2018 memoir Room to Dream: “Everything in me changed when I started meditating. Within two weeks of starting, Peggy [his first wife, Peggy Lentz] comes to me and says … ‘Your anger. Where did it go?’”

Our thoughts continue to go out to Lynch's family, friends, and loved ones.

Featured image credit: Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images