Career Timeline of David Lynch: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of David Lynch, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
David Lynch is a highly acclaimed American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor known for his surrealist and experimental films. Often considered a visionary, Lynch's career spans over five decades, during which he has received numerous awards, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and an Academy Honorary Award. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
1965: Frank Herbert's science fiction novel Dune
In 1965, Frank Herbert's science fiction novel Dune was published, which David Lynch would later adapt into a film.
1967: Made first short film
In 1967, David Lynch made his first short film, Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times), purchasing the cheapest 16mm camera he could find for the project.
1968: The Alphabet Short Film
In 1968, David Lynch produced the four-minute short film The Alphabet, starring his wife Peggy as The Girl. The film shows The Girl chanting the alphabet to a series of images of horses before she hemorrhages blood all over her bed sheets and dies at the end.
May 29, 1972: Filming Eraserhead Begins
On May 29, 1972, filming began for Eraserhead at night in some abandoned stables, with the production team setting up a camera room, green room, editing room, sets, as well as a food room and a bathroom.
1973: Ideas for Blue Velvet Develop
In 1973, David Lynch began developing ideas that would later form the basis for his film Blue Velvet. These ideas centered around strange desires and a mystery story.
1974: The Amputee Short Film
During a break in filming Eraserhead in 1974, David Lynch made The Amputee, a one-shot film about two minutes long, to present to AFI to test two different types of film stock.
1976: Eraserhead Finished
In 1976, David Lynch finished the film Eraserhead.
1977: Eraserhead Release
In 1977, David Lynch released his first feature film, the independent body horror film Eraserhead. It found success as a midnight movie.
1980: The Elephant Man
In 1980, David Lynch earned critical acclaim and nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director for the biographical drama The Elephant Man.
1986: Blue Velvet Release
In 1986, David Lynch released the neo-noir mystery art film Blue Velvet and earned critical acclaim and nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director.
1989: Exhibitions Emphasize Lynch's Roots
In 1989, David Lynch had the first of multiple one-man exhibitions which emphasized his roots in fine art and painting.
1990: Lynch Adapts Wild at Heart
In 1990, David Lynch adapted Barry Gifford's novel Wild at Heart: The Story of Sailor and Lula into a film starring Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern. The plot involves a road trip for two lovers into the dark night of the Southern Gothic soul. Despite a muted response from American critics and viewers, Wild at Heart won the Palme d'Or at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival.
1990: Twin Peaks Series
In 1990, David Lynch and Mark Frost created the ABC surrealist horror-mystery series Twin Peaks.
1990: Wild at Heart Release
In 1990, David Lynch received the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his romantic crime drama Wild at Heart.
1990: Wild at Heart Wins Palme d'Or
In 1990, David Lynch's film Wild at Heart won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. His television series Twin Peaks was also a major hit, and his work in fine art and advertising gained recognition.
1991: Twin Peaks Series
In 1991, David Lynch continued to work on the ABC surrealist horror-mystery series Twin Peaks, for which he received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
1991: Exhibitions Emphasize Lynch's Roots
In 1991, David Lynch had the last of multiple one-man exhibitions which emphasized his roots in fine art and painting.
1992: On the Air Series Created
In 1992, David Lynch and Mark Frost created the comedy series On the Air, which was canceled after only three episodes were aired.
1992: Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
In 1992, David Lynch co-wrote and directed Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, a film prequel to the Twin Peaks series.
1993: Collaboration with Yoshiki on Music Video
In 1993, David Lynch collaborated with Japanese musician Yoshiki on the video for X Japan's song "Longing ~Setsubou no Yoru~". The video was ultimately never officially released.
1997: Lost Highway Release
In 1997, David Lynch directed the neo-noir film Lost Highway.
1997: Release of Lost Highway
In 1997, David Lynch released the non-linear noiresque film Lost Highway, co-written by Barry Gifford and starring Bill Pullman and Patricia Arquette. The film received a mixed response from critics and was a commercial failure.
1999: Mulholland Drive Pilot
In 1999, David Lynch approached ABC with ideas for a television drama, resulting in a two-hour pilot for the series Mulholland Drive. However, disputes led to the project being shelved. Lynch then completed the pilot as a film with funding from StudioCanal.
1999: The Straight Story Release
In 1999, David Lynch directed the road movie The Straight Story.
2000: Funding of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
In 2000, the company CIBY-2000 financed Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me.
December 10, 2001: DavidLynch.com Goes Online
On December 10, 2001, David Lynch launched his official website, davidlynch.com, using it as a distribution channel for his new series.
2001: Mulholland Drive Release
In 2001, David Lynch released the neo-noir mystery art film Mulholland Drive and earned critical acclaim and nominations for the Academy Award for Best Director.
2002: Release of Online Shorts and Sitcom
In 2002, David Lynch released the online short series DumbLand and the surreal sitcom Rabbits. DumbLand was later released on DVD.
July 2005: Launch of the David Lynch Foundation
In July 2005, David Lynch launched the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace, providing scholarships for students learning Transcendental Meditation and funding research on its effects.
September 2005: College Campus Tour
Beginning in September 2005, David Lynch, along with John Hagelin and Fred Travis, embarked on a tour promoting Transcendental Meditation on college campuses.
December 2005: Investment in Meditation Buildings
As of December 2005, David Lynch had invested $400,000 of his own money and raised $1 million in donations toward the construction of seven buildings for advanced meditation practice.
December 2006: Continued Goal of Building Meditation Centers
In December 2006, The New York Times reported that David Lynch continued to pursue his goal of building meditation centers.
2006: Inland Empire Release
In 2006, David Lynch directed the experimental psychological thriller Inland Empire.
2006: Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement
In 2006, David Lynch received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.
2006: Publication of "Catching the Big Fish"
In 2006, David Lynch wrote "Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness, and Creativity", a book detailing his creative processes, career stories, and the benefits of Transcendental Meditation.
2006: Release of Inland Empire
In 2006, David Lynch's longest film, Inland Empire, was released. The film, starring Laura Dern, Harry Dean Stanton, and Justin Theroux, lacks a traditional narrative structure.
April 4, 2009: "Change Begins Within" Benefit Concert
On April 4, 2009, David Lynch organized the "Change Begins Within" benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall for the David Lynch Foundation, featuring artists like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Sheryl Crow.
2009: Interview Project and Herzog Collaboration
In 2009, David Lynch produced the documentary Web series Interview Project directed by his son Austin Lynch and friend Jason S. He also collaborated with Werner Herzog on the film My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, which is based on a true story.
2009: Filming Documentary Interviews in India
In 2009, David Lynch traveled to India to film interviews for a biographical documentary about the Maharishi.
2010: The Cleveland Show
From 2010 to 2013, David Lynch's acting career included roles on The Cleveland Show.
October 2011: Opening of Silencio Nightclub in Paris
In October 2011, the Silencio nightclub, conceived and designed by David Lynch in collaboration with designer Raphael Navot, architectural agency Enia, and light designer Thierry Dreyfus, opened in Paris. This members-only club, inspired by Mulholland Drive, became accessible to the public after midnight, offering concerts, films, and performances.
2011: Screening of "Beyond The Noise"
In 2011, "Beyond The Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey", starring David Lynch and directed by Dana Farley, was shown at film festivals including the Marbella Film Festival.
2012: Louie
In 2012, David Lynch's acting career included roles on Louie.
2013: The Cleveland Show
From 2010 to 2013, David Lynch's acting career included roles on The Cleveland Show.
2017: Twin Peaks Third Season
In 2017, David Lynch worked on a third season of the series Twin Peaks.
2017: Emily Stofle in Twin Peaks Revival
In 2017, David Lynch's wife Emily Stofle appeared in the revival of Twin Peaks.
2017: The Edward MacDowell Medal
In 2017, The MacDowell Colony awarded David Lynch The Edward MacDowell Medal for his outstanding contributions to American culture.
June 2018: Publication of "Room to Dream"
In June 2018, David Lynch published "Room to Dream", a biography-memoir hybrid, co-authored with Kristine McKenna.
2019: Academy Honorary Award
In 2019, David Lynch received an Academy Honorary Award for his contributions to film.
April 2022: Transcendental Meditation World Peace Initiative
In April 2022, David Lynch announced a $500 million transcendental meditation world peace initiative to fund transcendental meditation for 30,000 college students.
2022: The Fabelmans Film
In 2022, David Lynch appeared in the film The Fabelmans.
2024: Funding First Film
David Lynch spent $150, which at the time he felt was a lot of money, to produce Six Men Getting Sick. H. Barton Wasserman, offered him $1,000 (equivalent to $9,000 in 2024).
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