David Lynch died as a result of cardiac arrest, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cited as the underlying cause, according to a death certificate released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Friday (via TMZ).
The 78-year-old filmmaker passed away on January 16th, 2025. He was cremated and his remains were buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the death certificate notes.
A lifelong smoker, Lynch had been suffering from emphysema since 2020. In recent months, the disease had left him confined to his home and relying on supplemental oxygen. According to Deadline, Lynch was forced to relocate from his Los Angeles-area house due to the Sunset Fire and “then took a turn for the worse.”
Related Video
Read Michael Roffman’s essay, “Now It’s Dark: Grieving David Lynch and What We Just Lost,” and revisit our ranking of Lynch’s films and the great music you didn’t know he made.
