Cast & creator
David Lynch
Best known for Family Guy, Family Guy, Twin Peaks
David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Lynch received critical acclaim for his films, which are often distinguished by their surrealist, dreamlike qualities. In his 58-year career, he was awarded numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in 2006 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2019. In 2007, a panel of critics convened by The Guardian announced that "after all the discussion, no one could fault the conclusion that David Lynch is the most important filmmaker of the current era." Lynch studied painting before he began making short films in the late 1960s. His first feature-length film was the independent surrealist film Eraserhead (1977), which saw success as a midnight movie. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director for the biographical drama The Elephant Man (1980) and the mystery films Blue Velvet (1986) and Mulholland Drive (2001). His romantic crime drama Wild at Heart (1990) won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He also directed the space opera adaptation Dune (1984), the surrealist neo-noir Lost Highway (1997), the biographical drama The Straight Story (1999), and the experimental film Inland Empire (2006). Lynch and Mark Frost created the ABC series Twin Peaks (1990–91), for which Lynch was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Lynch co-wrote and directed its film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), and its limited series revival (2017). He has also worked as an actor, including his portrayals of FBI agent Gordon Cole in Twin Peaks and director John Ford in Steven Spielberg's The Fabelmans (2022), as well as guest roles in TV series such as The Cleveland Show (2010–13), Louie (2012), and Robot Chicken (2020, 2022). Lynch's other artistic endeavours included his work as a musician, encompassing the studio albums BlueBOB (2001), Crazy Clown Time (2011), and The Big Dream (2013), as well as painting and photography. He has written the books Images (1994), Catching the Big Fish (2006), and Room to Dream (2018). He has directed several music videos for artists such as Chris Isaak, X Japan, Moby, Interpol, Nine Inch Nails, and Donovan, and commercials for Calvin Klein, Dior, L'Oreal, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, and the New York City Department of Sanitation. A practitioner of Transcendental Meditation (TM), he founded the David Lynch Foundation, which seeks to fund the teaching of TM in schools and has since widened its scope to other at-risk populations, including the homeless, veterans, and refugees.
Also known as: David Keith Lynch, DKL
357
film credits
50
television credits
148
1953–2026 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (407)
Showing 407 of 407 credits
Family Guy
Gus (voice)
1999Family Guy
David Lynch (voice)
1999
Twin Peaks
Gordon Cole
1990Twin Peaks
Writer
1990Twin Peaks
Director
1990Twin Peaks
Executive Producer
1990Twin Peaks
Story
1990Twin Peaks
Sound Designer
1990Twin Peaks
Additional Editor
1990Twin Peaks
Creator
1990
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self
1992
Robot Chicken
Mad Scientist (voice)
2005Film '72
Self
1971
The Cleveland Show
2009The Cleveland Show
Gus (voice)
2009
The Oscars
Self
1953
Louie
Jack Dall
2010
Mulholland Drive
Director
2001Mulholland Drive
Writer
2001Mulholland Drive
Sound Designer
2001Mulholland Drive
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
2001
Dune
Spice Miner (uncredited)
1984Dune
Director
1984Dune
Screenplay
1984
The Fabelmans
John Ford
2022
Blue Velvet
Director
1986Blue Velvet
Writer
1986
Legends
Self
2006
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Gordon Cole
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Director
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Writer
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Original Series Creator
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Executive Producer
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Sound Designer
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
1992Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Characters
1992
Lost Highway
Sound Designer
1997Lost Highway
Director
1997Lost Highway
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
1997Lost Highway
Writer
1997
The Elephant Man
Man in the Bowler Hat in the Mob Chasing Merrick (uncredited)
1980The Elephant Man
Director
1980The Elephant Man
Screenplay
1980The Elephant Man
Sound Designer
1980
Leçon de Cinéma
Self
2004
Wild at Heart
Screenplay
1990Wild at Heart
Director
1990
Eraserhead
Production Design
1977Eraserhead
Art Direction
1977Eraserhead
Screenplay
1977Eraserhead
Producer
1977Eraserhead
Original Music Composer
1977Eraserhead
Special Effects
1977Eraserhead
Editor
1977Eraserhead
Sound Effects
1977Eraserhead
Director
1977
Inland Empire
Bucky J, the gaffer (voice)
2006Inland Empire
Director of Photography
2006Inland Empire
Producer
2006Inland Empire
Editor
2006Inland Empire
Director
2006Inland Empire
Sound Designer
2006Inland Empire
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
2006Inland Empire
Camera Operator
2006Inland Empire
Writer
2006
The Straight Story
Director
1999The Straight Story
Sound Designer
1999
The Nineties
Self (archive footage)
2017
On the Air
Director
1992On the Air
Writer
1992On the Air
Executive Producer
1992On the Air
Creator
1992
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!
Self - Filmmaker
2026
Scene by Scene
Self
1997
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
2021
Cabin Fever
Thanks
2003
Un film et son époque
Self
2003
Twin Peaks
Director
1989Twin Peaks
Writer
1989Twin Peaks
Executive Producer
1989American Chronicles
Producer
1990
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
Self
2019
Hotel Room
Executive Producer
1993Hotel Room
Sound Designer
1993Hotel Room
Director
1993Hotel Room
Creator
1993
Beatles '64
Self
2024
To Each His Own Cinema
Director
2007
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Gordon Cole
2014Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Director
2014Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Writer
2014Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Editor
2014Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Characters
2014Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Sound Mixer
2014
Why Are We Creative?
Self
2018
Faraway Eyes
Thanks
2021Independent Focus
Self
1998
Side by Side
Self
2012
Michael Jackson: Dangerous - The Short Films
Director
1993
My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done
Executive Producer
2010
The King of Ads
Director
1991
Surveillance
Executive Producer
2008
Plankton Salesmen
Self (archive footage)
2017
Girlfriend's Day
Narrator (voice)
2017
Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night
Self - Audience Member
1988
Lucky
Howard
2017
Rabbits
Director
2002Rabbits
Writer
2002Rabbits
Creator
2002
Darkened Room
Writer
2002Darkened Room
Director
2002Darkened Room
Producer
2002Darkened Room
Cinematography
2002Darkened Room
Editor
2002
I Don't Know Jack
Self
2002I Don't Know Jack
Presenter
2002
The French as Seen by…
Director
1988
DumbLand
Randy / Wife / Sparky (voice)
2001DumbLand
Writer
2001DumbLand
Producer
2001DumbLand
Editor
2001DumbLand
Director of Photography
2001DumbLand
Animation
2001DumbLand
Director
2001DumbLand
Creator
2001
David Lynch: The Art Life
Self
2017
2012: Time for Change
Self
2010
The Hanging of Stuart Cornfeld
2025
WHAT DID JACK DO?
Detective
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Director
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Music
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Sound Designer
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Set Designer
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Set Decoration
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Sound Mixer
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Writer
2017WHAT DID JACK DO?
Editor
2017
Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments
Self
2004
The Other Me
Executive Producer
2022
More Things That Happened
Director
2007More Things That Happened
Writer
2007More Things That Happened
Director of Photography
2007More Things That Happened
Editor
2007
The Grandmother
Director
1970The Grandmother
Script
1970The Grandmother
Screenplay
1970The Grandmother
Camera Operator
1970The Grandmother
Animation
1970The Grandmother
Writer
1970The Grandmother
Producer
1970
Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction
Self
2013
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self
2013
Hollywood Mavericks
Self
1990
Nadja
Morgue Receptionist
1995Nadja
Executive Producer
1995
Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
Writer
2011Blue Velvet: The Lost Footage
Director
2011
The Short Films of David Lynch
Self
2002The Short Films of David Lynch
Director
2002The Short Films of David Lynch
Writer
2002The Short Films of David Lynch
Producer
2002The Short Films of David Lynch
Sound Director
2002
The Black Ghiandola
Man In Black
2017
Along for the Ride
Self
2016
42 One Dream Rush
Director
2010
In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story
Self
1999
Elvis | Viva Las Vegas
Self
2008
A Slice of Lynch
Self
2007
Lynch 2
Self
2007
Morceaux de Cannes
2021
Lumière & Company
Self
1995Lumière & Company
Director
1995
The Cowboy and the Frenchman
Director
1988The Cowboy and the Frenchman
Writer
1988
Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch
Self
1990Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul
Self
2001
The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune
Self (voice) (archive footage)
2021
Meeting the Beatles in India
Self
2020
The Reality of Truth
Self
2016
Heart Beat
Painter (uncredited)
1980
Cinéma, de notre temps
David Lynch
1989
Rabbits
Director
2002Rabbits
Screenplay
2002
Heart of the Festival
Self (archive footage)
2002
I Know Catherine, the Log Lady
Self
2026
The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money
Self
1996
Love, Death, Elvis & Oz: The Making of Wild at Heart
2004
Bad Binoculars
Self
2017
The Legend of the Happy Worker
Executive Producer
2025
Brunes et Blondes
Self
2010
Dynamic:01: The Best of DavidLynch.com
himself
2007Dynamic:01: The Best of DavidLynch.com
Director
2007Dynamic:01: The Best of DavidLynch.com
Executive Producer
2007
A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth
Self
2017
Lynch/Oz
Self (archival footage)
2023
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream
Self
2006
The Number of Completion
Self
2017
I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun
Self
2017
A Very Lovely Dream: One Week in Twin Peaks
Self
2017
The Making of ‘Mulholland Drive’
Self
2004
20 Little Films
Director
2012
Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted
Director
1990Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted
Producer
1990Industrial Symphony No. 1: The Dream of the Brokenhearted
Music
1990
The Man with the Gray Elevated Hair
Self
2017
Lynch (one)
Self
2007
The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez
Executive Producer
1991
Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
Self
1997Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
Music
1997Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch
Still Photographer
1997
The Music of David Lynch
Self
2016
Mysteries of Love
Self (archive footage)
2002
Night Flight: Born Again
Self
2016
Blue Velvet Revisited
Self
2016
Behind the Red Curtain
Self
2017
Brand: A Second Coming
Self
2015
The Amputee
The Nurse
1974The Amputee
Director
1974The Amputee
Producer
1974The Amputee
Writer
1974
A Fall from Grace
Executive Producer
Destination Dune
Self
1983
No Frank in Lumberton
Self
1988No Frank in Lumberton
Music
1988
La Traversée du désir
Self
2009
Professor Goudet's Lessons
Self
2013
In Pursuit of Treasure
Set Painter
1972
What Is Cinema?
Self
2013
Great Directors
Self
2009
Pierre and Sonny Jim
Director
2002
Ringo Starr: A Lifetime of Peace and Love
Self
2014
Dennis Hopper: Create (or Die)
Self
2003
Interview Project
Creator
2009
A Pot of Boiling Oil
Self
2017
David Wants to Fly
Self
2010
Eraserhead Stories
Self
2001Eraserhead Stories
Director
2001Crazy About the Movies: Dennis Hopper
Self
1991
Psychogenic Fugue
Creative Consultant
2016
Made in the USA
Self
1993
The Alphabet
Director
1969The Alphabet
Writer
1969The Alphabet
Sound
1969The Alphabet
Animation
1969The Alphabet
Director of Photography
1969The Alphabet
Editor
1969
Tell It Martin
Self
2017
Between Two Worlds
Self
2014
Critic
Self (voice)
2008
What Is It?
Thanks
2005
See You on the Other Side Dear Friend
Self
2017
Welcome Home: Mary Reber and the Twin Peaks Palmer House
Self
2021
Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers
Self
2017
My Beautiful Broken Brain
Self
2014My Beautiful Broken Brain
Executive Producer
2014
Premonitions Following an Evil Deed
Director
1995
On Meditation
Self
2016
Duran Duran: Unstaged
Director
2014
Out Yonder — Chicken
2007Out Yonder — Chicken
Director
2007
A Talk with Kyle MacLachlan and Sheryl Lee
Executive Producer
2019
Boat
The Man
2003Boat
Director
2003Boat
Writer
2003
Rammstein in Amerika
Self
2015
The Sound of Lynch
2007
Out Yonder — Neighbor Boy
2002Out Yonder — Neighbor Boy
Director
2002David Lynch in Oslo
Self
2010
Moby Doc
Self
2021
Zelly & Me
Willie
1988
Out Yonder — Teeth
2003Out Yonder — Teeth
Director
2003
The 8th Floor
Self
2014
Six Men Getting Sick
Director
1967Six Men Getting Sick
Producer
1967Six Men Getting Sick
Editor
1967Six Men Getting Sick
Cinematography
1967Six Men Getting Sick
Animation
1967
Absurd Encounter with Fear
Director
1967
Does That Hurt You?
Self
2003Does That Hurt You?
Sound
2003Does That Hurt You?
Writer
2003
Twin Peaks: Visual Soundtrack
Music Producer
1992Twin Peaks: Visual Soundtrack
Creator
1992Twin Peaks: Visual Soundtrack
Lyricist
1992
Ruth, Roses, and Revolver
Himself
1987David Lynch: Insight
Self
2017
Early Experiments
2008Early Experiments
Director of Photography
2008Early Experiments
Director
2008Early Experiments
Writer
2008Early Experiments
Producer
2008Early Experiments
Editor
2008
Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008
Self
2008Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008
Producer
2008Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008
Writer
2008Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008
Director
2008
Return to Mulholland Drive
Self
2003
Sailing with Bushnell Keeler
1967Sailing with Bushnell Keeler
Camera Operator
1967Sailing with Bushnell Keeler
Director
1967
The Soul Detective
Himself
2009It's a Beautiful World
Self
2014
Ant Head
Music
2018Ant Head
Writer
2018Ant Head
Cinematography
2018Ant Head
Editor
2018Ant Head
Producer
2018Ant Head
Sound
2018Ant Head
Director
2018
Waiting for Mr. Lynch
Director
2018Waiting for Mr. Lynch
Writer
2018Waiting for Mr. Lynch
Producer
2018
Two Blue Balls
Self
2017Donovan: The Donovan Concert - Live in L.A.
Himself
2007
David Lynch: Don't Look at Me
Self
1989
This Is Sparklehorse
Self
2022
Curtains Up
2018
Jack Paints It Red
Music
2025
The Original Image - David Lynch
2019
The Pig Walks
Writer
2002The Pig Walks
Editor
2002The Pig Walks
Cinematography
2002The Pig Walks
Producer
2002The Pig Walks
Director
2002
Aprender a Caer
In Memory Of
2026
Red Fish
O Sábio
2009
Idem Paris
Director
2013
Memory Film
2012Memory Film
Director
2012Interior Dining Room Window
Director
Interior Dining Room Window
Sound
Interior Dining Room Window
Producer
The Sea Behind Her Head
In Memory Of
The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed
2002The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed
Writer
2002The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed
Producer
2002The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed
Director
2002
Meditation, Creativity, Peace
Self
2012Meditation, Creativity, Peace
Writer
2012
David Lynch: A Remembrance Both Wonderful and Strange
Self (archive footage)
2025
Mulholland Dr.
Director
Mulholland Dr.
Writer
Mulholland Dr.
Creator
Readymade, Emile Reynaud et la peinture s'anima
Set Designer
2010
Sunset #1
Director
2001
Head with Hammer
Writer
2001Head with Hammer
Editor
2001Head with Hammer
Producer
2001Head with Hammer
Director
2001
David Lynch: 1985
Self
2005
BlueBob Egg
Billy Groper
2002BlueBob Egg
Director
2002BlueBob Egg
Writer
2002BlueBob Egg
Producer
2002BlueBob Egg
Cinematography
2002Hyena
Executive Producer
Industrial Soundscape
Director
2002
Dead Mouse with Ants
Producer
2002Dead Mouse with Ants
Cinematography
2002Dead Mouse with Ants
Writer
2002Dead Mouse with Ants
Director
2002
Don Van Vliet: Some YoYo Stuff
Himself
1994When Lynch Met Lucas
2010
Intervalometer Experiments
Director
2004
The Polish Accountant
Self
2017
Factory Mask
Producer
2001Factory Mask
Cinematography
2001Factory Mask
Writer
2001Factory Mask
Director
2001
David Lynch: The Virtual Life
himself
2020
Coyote #1
Cinematography
2002Coyote #1
Producer
2002Coyote #1
Editor
2002Coyote #1
Director
2002Coyote #1
Writer
2002Snootworld
Writer
Ångesthunden och Malmö under vatten
Himself
2011
David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film
Himself
2019
Tríptico
Thanks
2025Land of Nothing
Executive Producer
2015
Bug Crawls
Director
2004
Rocksteppy
Himself
2017
Steps
Director
2002
Kitsune
Thanks
2016
Ballerina
Director
2007Ballerina
Cinematography
2007Ballerina
Producer
2007Ballerina
Writer
2007
Hollyshorts Greeting
Himself
2008Hollyshorts Greeting
Director
2008
The Way of Samodelkin
Stranger in a dream
2009
Shadows of Paradise
2016
Night Ride
Music
2017
What Would David Lynch Do?
Self (Archived Footage)
2026
Fire (Pożar)
Director
2015Fire (Pożar)
Writer
2015Interview Project
Director
Lamp
Self
2003Lamp
Director of Photography
2003Lamp
Producer
2003Lamp
Director
2003
Interpol: I Touch a Red Button
Director
2011The Peaceline Project
Executive Producer
2009
Twin Peaks: Log Lady Introductions
Director
1993Twin Peaks: Log Lady Introductions
Writer
1993