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 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.
1915: Donald Walton Lynch Born
In 1915, Donald Walton Lynch, David Lynch's father, was born. He was a research scientist working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
1919: Edwina "Sunny" Lynch Born
In 1919, Edwina "Sunny" Lynch (née Sundholm), David Lynch's mother, was born. She was an English-language tutor.
1943: Influence of Meshes of the Afternoon
Maya Deren's 1943 experimental film Meshes of the Afternoon has been recognized as a possible influence on David Lynch's work.
January 20, 1946: David Keith Lynch Born
On January 20, 1946, David Keith Lynch was born. He would later become a filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor.
1950: Admiration for Sunset Boulevard
David Lynch cited Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950) as one of his favorite films.
1953: Admiration for Monsieur Hulot's Holiday
David Lynch expressed admiration for Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot's Holiday (1953).
1954: Admiration for Rear Window
David Lynch expressed admiration for Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954).
1962: Admiration for Lolita and Carnival of Souls
David Lynch expressed admiration for Stanley Kubrick's Lolita (1962) and Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls (1962) as influences on his work.
1963: Admiration for 8½
David Lynch expressed admiration for Federico Fellini's 8½ (1963).
1963: Reaction to Kennedy Assassination
In 1963, David Lynch, working on a display case at school, was the first to hear of John F. Kennedy's assassination.
1967: Married Peggy Reavey
In 1967, David Lynch began a relationship with Peggy Reavey and married her.
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.
January 1968: Marriage to Peggy Reavey
In January 1968, David Lynch married Peggy Reavey, with whom he later had a daughter, Jennifer Lynch.
1968: Reference to The Beatles' TM Practice
In his September 2024 speech at Meditate America 2024, David Lynch discussed the Beatles' (particularly John Lennon's) practice of TM during their visit to India in 1968 and played a cover of "Across the Universe".
1970: Influence of Deep End
David Lynch cited Jerzy Skolimowski's Deep End (1970) as an influence on his work.
1970: Moves to Los Angeles
In 1970, David Lynch moved with his wife and daughter to Los Angeles, where he began studying filmmaking at the AFI Conservatory.
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.
July 1973: Initiation into Transcendental Meditation
In July 1973, David Lynch was initiated into Transcendental Meditation and consistently practiced the technique thereafter.
1973: Transcendental Meditation
In 1973, David Lynch's sister suggested he try Transcendental Meditation, which he claimed "to never have missed a session since: twenty minutes, twice a day."
1974: Divorce from Peggy Reavey
In 1974, David Lynch and Peggy Reavey divorced.
1975: Meeting Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
In 1975, David Lynch met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for the first time at the Spiritual Regeneration Movement center in Los Angeles.
June 1977: Marriage to Mary Fisk
In June 1977, David Lynch married Mary Fisk, and the couple later had a son named Austin Jack Lynch.
1977: Admiration for Stroszek
David Lynch expressed admiration for Werner Herzog's Stroszek (1977).
1977: Married Mary Fisk
In 1977, David Lynch married Jack Fisk's sister Mary Fisk.
1982: Birth of Son Austin Jack Lynch
In 1982, David Lynch and his then-wife Mary Fisk welcomed their son, Austin Jack Lynch.
1984: Vote for Ronald Reagan
In 1984, David Lynch voted for Ronald Reagan in the presidential election.
1985: Separation from Mary Fisk
In 1985, David Lynch separated from his wife, Mary Fisk.
1986: Relationship with Isabella Rossellini began
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.
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.
1991: End of Relationship with Isabella Rossellini
In 1991, David Lynch ended his relationship with actress Isabella Rossellini.
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: 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 for Transcendental Meditation.
2003: "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course"
In 2003, David Lynch became close with the Maharishi during a month-long "Millionaire's Enlightenment Course" with a fee of $1 million.
2004: Edwina "Sunny" Lynch Dies
In 2004, Edwina "Sunny" Lynch, David Lynch's mother, passed away.
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.
May 2006: Marriage to Mary Sweeney
In May 2006, David Lynch married Mary Sweeney, his editor, producer, and co-writer.
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: Political Philosophy
In 2006, David Lynch described his political philosophy, mentioning his past leanings towards libertarianism and current affiliation with the Democratic party, despite his reservations about smoking regulations.
2007: Donald Walton Lynch Dies
In 2007, Donald Walton Lynch, David Lynch's father, passed away.
2008: Attendance at Maharishi's Funeral
In 2008, David Lynch attended the Maharishi's funeral in India, acknowledging his revolutionary impact on millions of lives.
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: Marriage to Emily Stofle
In 2009, David Lynch married actress Emily Stofle.
2009: Filming Documentary Interviews in India
In 2009, David Lynch traveled to India to film interviews for a biographical documentary about the Maharishi.
2010: Release of "David Wants to Fly" Documentary
In 2010, the documentary "David Wants to Fly" by David Sieveking, following Sieveking's journey into Transcendental Meditation inspired by 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 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: Birth of Daughter Lula Boginia Lynch
In 2012, David Lynch and his wife Emily Stofle welcomed their daughter, Lula Boginia Lynch.
2012: Support for Barack Obama
In the 2012 presidential election, David Lynch stated he would vote for the Democratic incumbent, Barack Obama.
2016: Endorsement of Bernie Sanders and Vote for Gary Johnson
In 2016, David Lynch endorsed Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries and voted for Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson in the general election.
June 2018: Comments on Donald Trump's Presidency
In a June 2018 interview with The Guardian, David Lynch commented that Donald Trump could be one of the greatest presidents for disrupting the country, later clarifying his statements on Facebook after Trump cited the interview, advising Trump to avoid "causing suffering and division".
2019: Interview on the Benefits of Transcendental Meditation
In a 2019 interview by British artist Alexander de Cadenet, David Lynch discussed the benefits of Transcendental Meditation, saying it utilizes the full brain.
2020: Support for Black Lives Matter
In 2020, David Lynch expressed support for Black Lives Matter protests following the murder of George Floyd, through his daily weather report videos.
2020: Emphysema Diagnosis
In August 2024, David Lynch said in an interview that he had been diagnosed with emphysema in 2020 after a lifetime of smoking.
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: Quitting Smoking
David Lynch revealed he quit smoking in 2022, after starting at the age of eight, and was reliant on supplemental oxygen for daily activities.
2022: Condemnation of Russian Invasion of Ukraine
In 2022, David Lynch condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in a weather report, directly addressing Vladimir Putin.
2023: Emily Stofle Files for Divorce
In 2023, Emily Stofle, David Lynch's wife, filed for divorce.
August 2024: Emphysema Diagnosis and Health Concerns
In August 2024, David Lynch revealed he had been diagnosed with emphysema in 2020 and was housebound due to health risks, potentially preventing him from directing new projects.
September 2024: Last Published 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 performing 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; however, the court had not issued a final decree at the time of his death.
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).
2024: Real Estate Value
In the Fairmount neighborhood, a 12-room house was bought for the relatively low price of $3,500 in the year David Lynch and his family moved in, equivalent to $33,000 in 2024 due to the area's high crime and poverty rates.
January 2025: Evacuation and Decline in Health
In January 2025, David Lynch was evacuated from his Los Angeles home due to wildfires, which was followed by a terminal decline in his health.
January 2025: Death from Emphysema
In January 2025, David Lynch, a lifelong smoker, died from complications of emphysema after being evacuated from his home due to the Southern California wildfires.
January 16, 2025: David Keith Lynch Dies
David Keith Lynch died on January 16, 2025. He was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor.
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