Early Life and Education of David Lynch: A Complete Timeline
How education and upbringing influenced the life of David Lynch. A timeline of key moments.
David Lynch is a highly acclaimed American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor known for his surrealist and experimental style. Often considered one of cinema's greatest and most influential figures, his career spans over five decades. Lynch has received numerous awards, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and an Academy Honorary Award, recognizing his significant contributions to film.
1915: Birth of Donald Walton Lynch
In 1915, Donald Walton Lynch, David Lynch's father, was born. He later worked as a research scientist for the USDA.
1919: Birth of Edwina "Sunny" Lynch
In 1919, Edwina "Sunny" Lynch, David Lynch's mother, was born. She later worked as an English-language tutor.
1943: Influence of Meshes of the Afternoon
In 1943, Maya Deren's experimental film Meshes of the Afternoon has been recognized as a possible influence on David Lynch.
January 20, 1946: Birth of David Keith Lynch
On January 20, 1946, David Keith Lynch was born in Missoula, Montana, to Donald Walton Lynch, a research scientist for the USDA, and Edwina "Sunny" Lynch, an English-language tutor.
January 20, 1946: David Lynch's Birth
On January 20, 1946, David Keith Lynch was born.
1950: Admiration for Sunset Boulevard
David Lynch cited Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, released in 1950, as one of his favorite pictures.
1953: Admiration for Monsieur Hulot's Holiday
In 1953, David Lynch expressed admiration for Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday as an influence on his work.
1954: Admiration for Rear Window
In 1954, David Lynch expressed admiration for Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window as an influence on his work.
1962: Admiration for Lolita
In 1962, David Lynch expressed admiration for Stanley Kubrick's Lolita as an influence on his work.
1963: Admiration for 8½
In 1963, David Lynch expressed admiration for Federico Fellini's 8½ as an influence on his work.
1963: Reaction to John F. Kennedy Assassination
In 1963, David Lynch, working on a display case at school, was the first to hear about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
1967: Marriage to Peggy Reavey
In 1967, David Lynch married Peggy Reavey, a fellow student, while in Philadelphia.
January 1968: Marriage to Peggy Reavey
In January 1968, David Lynch married Peggy Reavey. They had one child, Jennifer Lynch, who became a film director.
1968: The Beatles' Practice of Transcendental Meditation
In September 2024, David Lynch made his last published broadcast speech at Meditate America 2024, discussing The Beatles' practice of TM during their visit to India in 1968 and played a cover of "Across the Universe".
1970: Move to Los Angeles and Enrollment at AFI Conservatory
In 1970, David Lynch moved with his family to Los Angeles and began studying filmmaking at the AFI Conservatory.
1970: Influence of Deep End
In 1970, Deep End, directed by Jerzy Skolimowski, was recognized as an influence on David Lynch's work.
July 1973: Initiation into Transcendental Meditation
In July 1973, David Lynch was initiated into Transcendental Meditation and practiced the technique consistently thereafter.
1973: Practice of Transcendental Meditation
In 1973, David Lynch began practicing Transcendental Meditation, which he continued since.
1974: Divorce from Peggy Reavey
In 1974, David Lynch and Peggy Reavey filed for divorce.
1975: Meeting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
In 1975, David Lynch met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the founder of the Transcendental Meditation movement, at the Spiritual Regeneration Movement center in Los Angeles.
June 1977: Marriage to Mary Fisk
In June 1977, David Lynch married Mary Fisk. They had one child, Austin Jack Lynch, in 1982.
1977: Admiration for Stroszek
In 1977, David Lynch expressed admiration for Werner Herzog's Stroszek as an influence on his work.
1977: Marriage to Mary Fisk
In 1977, David Lynch married Mary Fisk, Jack Fisk's sister.
1977: Roman Polanski's Arrest
In 1977, director Roman Polanski was arrested for alleged sexual abuse. In 2009, David Lynch signed a petition supporting Polanski after his detention related to this arrest.
1982: Birth of Son Austin Jack Lynch
In 1982, David Lynch and Mary Fisk had a son, Austin Jack Lynch.
1984: Vote for Ronald Reagan
In the 1984 presidential election, David Lynch voted for Ronald Reagan.
1985: Separation from Mary Fisk
In 1985, David Lynch separated from Mary Fisk.
1986: Relationship with Isabella Rossellini
In 1986, David Lynch began a relationship with actress Isabella Rossellini, living together until 1991.
1987: Divorce from Mary Fisk
In 1987, David Lynch and Mary Fisk divorced.
1991: End of Relationship with Isabella Rossellini
In 1991, David Lynch ended his relationship with actress Isabella Rossellini, ending their time living together.
1992: Birth of Son Riley Sweeney Lynch
In 1992, David Lynch and his editor, Mary Sweeney, had a son, Riley Sweeney Lynch.
2000: Endorsement of Natural Law Party
In the 2000 presidential election, David Lynch endorsed the Natural Law Party, which advocated Transcendental Meditation.
2003: "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course"
In 2003, David Lynch became close with the Maharishi during a month-long "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course", which cost $1 million.
July 2005: Launch of David Lynch Foundation
In July 2005, David Lynch launched the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and Peace to fund Transcendental Meditation scholarships and research.
September 2005: College Tour Promoting Transcendental Meditation
In September 2005, David Lynch, along with John Hagelin and Fred Travis, began a tour on college campuses to promote Transcendental Meditation.
December 2005: Investment in Peace Buildings
As of December 2005, David Lynch had spent $400,000 of his own money and raised $1 million in donations towards building seven facilities where 8,000 people would practice advanced meditation.
May 2006: Marriage to Mary Sweeney and Divorce Filing
In May 2006, David Lynch married Mary Sweeney, his editor, producer and co-writer. However, they filed for divorce in June 2006.
December 2006: Continued Goal of Building Peace Buildings
In December 2006, The New York Times reported that David Lynch continued to pursue his goal of establishing seven buildings for advanced meditation practices.
2006: Views on Politics
In 2006, David Lynch described his political philosophy, stating he considered himself a libertarian in the 1990s but was now a Democrat due to smoking regulations, despite disliking Democrats as well.
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 process, career stories, and the benefits of Transcendental Meditation. The book explains the metaphor behind the title.
2008: Attendance at Maharishi's Funeral
In 2008, David Lynch attended the Maharishi's funeral in India, acknowledging the Maharishi's revolutionary impact on millions of lives.
April 4, 2009: "Change Begins Within" Benefit Concert
On April 4, 2009, David Lynch organized a benefit concert at Radio City Music Hall called "Change Begins Within" for the David Lynch Foundation, featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Donovan, Sheryl Crow, Eddie Vedder, Moby, Bettye LaVette, Ben Harper, and Mike Love.
2009: Marriage to Emily Stofle
In 2009, David Lynch married actress Emily Stofle, who appeared in his 2006 film Inland Empire.
2009: Support for Roman Polanski
In 2009, David Lynch signed a petition supporting director Roman Polanski after his detention related to a 1977 arrest for alleged sexual abuse.
2009: Filming Interviews for Maharishi Documentary
In 2009, David Lynch went to India to film interviews with people who knew the Maharishi as part of a biographical documentary.
2010: Release of 'David Wants to Fly'
In 2010, the documentary 'David Wants to Fly' by German filmmaker David Sieveking, which follows Sieveking's exploration of Transcendental Meditation through David Lynch, was released.
October 2011: Opening of Silencio Nightclub in Paris
In October 2011, the Silencio nightclub, conceived and designed by David Lynch in collaboration with Raphael Navot, Enia, and Thierry Dreyfus, opened in Paris. This private members' club, inspired by the Mulholland Drive club, is open to the public after midnight, offering concerts, films, and other performances in a series of uniquely themed rooms.
2011: Showing of 'Beyond The Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey'
In 2011, 'Beyond The Noise: My Transcendental Meditation Journey', an independent project starring David Lynch and directed by Dana Farley, was shown at film festivals including the Marbella Film Festival.
2012: Birth of Daughter Lula Boginia Lynch
In 2012, David Lynch and Emily Stofle had a daughter, Lula Boginia Lynch.
2012: Support for Barack Obama
In the 2012 presidential election, David Lynch said he would vote for Democratic incumbent Barack Obama.
2013: Statement on Transcendental Meditation
In 2013, David Lynch wrote, "Transcendental Meditation leads to a beautiful, peaceful revolution. A change from suffering and negativity to happiness and a life more and more free of any problems."
2016: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders and Vote for Gary Johnson
In 2016, David Lynch endorsed Bernie Sanders for president, describing him as "for the people". He voted for Sanders in the Democratic primaries, and for Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson in the general election.
2017: Appearance of Emily Stofle in Twin Peaks Revival
In 2017, Emily Stofle, David Lynch's wife, appeared in the revival of Twin Peaks.
June 2018: Comments on Donald Trump and Subsequent Clarification
In June 2018, David Lynch stated that Donald Trump could be one of the greatest presidents in history due to disrupting the country, later clarifying that his words were taken out of context and advising Trump to treat all people as he would like to be treated.
June 2018: Publication of 'Room to Dream'
In June 2018, David Lynch, along with Kristine McKenna, published 'Room to Dream', a biography-memoir hybrid.
2019: Views on Brain Utilization
In a 2019 interview by Alexander de Cadenet, David Lynch said that Transcendental Meditation utilizes the full brain for enlightenment and higher states of consciousness.
2020: Support for Black Lives Matter
In 2020, David Lynch expressed support for the Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd in one of his daily weather report videos.
2020: Emphysema Diagnosis
In August 2024, David Lynch revealed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with emphysema in 2020 after a lifetime of smoking, leading to him being housebound and potentially preventing him from directing new projects.
April 2022: Transcendental Meditation Initiative Announcement
In April 2022, David Lynch announced a $500 million transcendental meditation world peace initiative to fund transcendental meditation for 30,000 college students.
2022: Quitting Smoking and Health Decline
In 2022, David Lynch quit smoking, having started at age eight, but became reliant on supplemental oxygen and could barely walk due to health risks.
2022: Condemnation of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In a 2022 weather report, David Lynch condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and addressed Vladimir Putin, stating there was "no room for this kind of absurdity anymore" and that Putin would reap what he had sown.
2023: Emily Stofle Files for Divorce
In 2023, Emily Stofle filed for divorce from David Lynch.
August 2024: Diagnosis of Emphysema and Impact on Directing
In August 2024, David Lynch revealed in an interview that he had been diagnosed with emphysema in 2020 after a lifetime of smoking, leading to him being housebound and potentially preventing him from directing new projects.
September 2024: Last Broadcast Speech at Meditate America 2024
In September 2024, David Lynch made his last published broadcast speech at Meditate America 2024, discussing The Beatles' practice of TM and playing a cover of "Across the Universe".
December 20, 2024: Divorce Settlement Agreement Reached
On December 20, 2024, a divorce settlement agreement was reached between David Lynch and Emily Stofle, though the final divorce decree was not issued before Lynch's death.
2024: Equivalent cost of House in Fairmount
In Philadephia, David Lynch bought a 12-room house in the Fairmount neighborhood for $3,500 (equivalent to $33,000 in 2024) due to the area's high crime and poverty rates.
January 2025: Evacuation and Death in Los Angeles
In January 2025, David Lynch was evacuated from his Los Angeles home due to wildfires, preceding a decline in his health. He died at his daughter's home in Los Angeles on January 15, aged 78.
February 2025: Report of Death Certificate Details
In February 2025, David Lynch's death certificate was publicly reported, citing cardiac arrest due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dehydration. He was cremated, with ashes buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
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