Renowned director David Lynch, known for Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, has announced he can no longer direct on set due to emphysema but insists he will “never retire.”
American director David Lynch, 78, has revealed that he can no longer leave his house after being diagnosed with emphysema. Lynch, celebrated for his work on films like Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, and Mulholland Drive, as well as the TV series Twin Peaks, shared this news in a recent interview with Sight & Sound magazine.
Lynch attributed his condition to a lifelong smoking habit, explaining that he must now remain homebound due to the risk of contracting COVID-19. “I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not. It would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold,” he said. Lynch added that he can “only walk a short distance before” running out of oxygen.
Regarding his future in directing, Lynch mentioned the possibility of working remotely. “I would do it remotely if it comes to it,” he said, although he admitted, “I wouldn’t like that so much.”
Following the interview, Lynch clarified his comments on social media platform X, stating:
“Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them – but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema. I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire. I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern. Love, David.”
Emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is primarily caused by smoking and exposure to dust and chemicals. The World Health Organization predicts it will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030.
Despite being homebound, Lynch’s creativity remains undeterred. During the pandemic, he launched the “What is David Working on Today?” video series and daily weather reports on YouTube. He also recently released an album titled Cellophane Memories with Chrystabell, a frequent collaborator who appeared in Twin Peaks: The Return.
Lynch’s last screen project was the 2017 TV series Twin Peaks: The Return, which was named the Best Film of the Decade by French publication Cahiers du Cinéma despite being a television show. His last feature film was Inland Empire, released in 2006.
Among Lynch’s unreleased projects are a feature film titled Antelope Don’t Run No More and a rumored 13-part Netflix series called Wisteria / Unrecorded Night. Another long-discussed project is an animated film titled Snootworld, which he has been developing with Caroline Thompson (The Nightmare Before Christmas) for over two decades. The project was reportedly pitched to Netflix but was rejected.
We wish Mr. Lynch well and thank him for continuing to inspire with his vision and creativity.
