David Lynch health problems: Defiant filmmaker insists he will ‘never retire’ despite emphysema diagnosis
Cultural icon David Lynch has remained defiant in the face of ill health, stating he will “never retire” from filmmaking.
Lynch, 78, is the director of some of cinema’s most revered and strange works including Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet and TV series Twin Peaks.
He revealed in an interview with Sight and Sound magazine that he was diagnosed with emphysema, a condition which affects the lungs, and is now homebound because of a fear of contracting COVID-19.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not… and now, because of COVID, it would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold,” he told the publication.
Lynch added he can only walk a short distance before he runs out of oxygen.
In the original interview, the filmmaker said it would be unlikely for him to direct again, but if he did, he would do it remotely, even though he “wouldn’t like it very much”.
After the news spread, Lynch jumped on social media to clarify that he was not retired.
He posted, “Ladies and gentlemen, 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.”
Lynch is famed for his challenging films which often delve into the dark side of human nature. A 2017 BBC Culture poll of 177 film critics named Mulholland Drive the greatest film of the 21st century.
The last feature film he directed was Inland Empire, which was released in 2006. In 2017, he revived Twin Peaks with a critically acclaimed revival season. He directed all 18 episodes and also co-wrote the series with Mark Frost.
In more recent years, Lynch has written, produced or directed a number of short films, music videos and web videos. He also appeared in a cameo role in Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, playing the role of legendary director John Ford.
It is possible to direct a feature film remotely. During the pandemic, filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, after coming into contact with a Covid-positive person, directed Jake Gyllenhaal thriller The Guilty from a van equipped with screens.
