LOS ANGELES - David Lynch -- the singular and surreal director of "Mulholland Drive" and television's "Twin Peaks," who depicted the darkness lurking beneath the wholesome surface of American life -- has died. He was 78 years old.
An enigmatic artist who turned his hand to arthouse and blockbuster film, television, painting and music, Lynch was considered one of US cinema's great auteurs.
"It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch," read a statement on his official Facebook page.
The cause and location of death were not specified. Lynch, who lived in Los Angeles, had suffered from emphysema after years of heavy smoking.
He emerged on the US indie scene with his creepy 1977 horror "Eraserhead," and drew both acclaim and a cult following with sadomasochist mystery "Blue Velvet" (1986) and surreal thriller "Mulholland Drive" (2001).
But he may be best remembered for his mesmerizing 1990s series "Twin Peaks," which paved the way for many a prestige television drama.
With four Oscar nominations, including a trio of best director nods, the filmmaker recognizable by his shock of white hair took home just one honorary statuette, in 2019.
Tributes from across Hollywood swiftly poured in.
Steven Spielberg called Lynch "a singular, visionary dreamer who directed films that felt handmade," while Francis Ford Coppola said he was "astounded and heartbroken" by the "profound loss of the great David Lynch."
Fellow director Ron Howard hailed "a gracious man and fearless artist" who "proved that radical experimentation could yield unforgettable cinema."
Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in "Twin Peaks" and several Lynch films, called Lynch "an enigmatic and intuitive man with a creative ocean bursting forth inside of him."
"I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision," he wrote on Instagram.