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Smoking was once seen as trendy from the 1940s through the 1970s, but back then, people didn’t really know how harmful it could be long-term. Over time, more people started catching on, and smoking rates began to drop. However, some groups in society held onto the habit — Hollywood being a prime example.
David Lynch was one of those affected. The filmmaker recently opened up about his long relationship with tobacco after being diagnosed with emphysema, a condition that has significantly changed his life. Now, he’s speaking out to warn other smokers not to end up in the same situation.
David Lynch Is Diagnosed With Emphysema
Director of iconic productions likeTwin Peaks,Eraserhead,Mulholland Drive, and the first film adaptation of theDunesaga,David Lynchmade his mark on the film industry back in the ’80s. Over time, people began to notice that in most of his public appearances, he almost always had a cigarette in hand.
In an interview withPeople, he opened up about this habit that has been with him since, incredibly, the age of eight. For Lynch, smoking was part of his persona, as well as something he genuinely enjoyed, though he admitted he had always known it was harmful:
A big important part of my life was smoking. I loved the smell of tobacco, the taste of tobacco. I loved lighting cigarettes. It was part of being a painter and a filmmaker for me.In the back of every smoker’s mind is the fact that it’s healthy, so you’re literally playing with fire. It can bite you. I took a chance, and I got bit.
Smoking was so meaningful to the filmmaker that he even directed a cigarettecommercialand often included cigarettes in his stories. His characters were often connected to smoking, as there was an aesthetic and a sense of coolness attached to it — almost as if everyone who smoked was inherently cool.
What Is Emphysema? David Lynch’s Smoking Habit Left Him With a Serious Lung Disease
Lynch admitted that he had tried to quit several times throughout his life, but it always seemed difficult, with smoking acting as a kind of escape. He revealed, “When it got tough, I’d have that first cigarette, and it was a one-way trip to heaven. Then you’re back smoking again.“
After being diagnosed with emphysema in 2020, he now relies on supplementary oxygen for any activity, including being on a film set. The director also admitted he only quit smoking two years after learning about his condition:
I saw the writing on the wall, and it said, ‘You’re going to die in a week if you don’t stop.’ I could hardly move without gasping for air. Quitting was my only choice.
What helped him in the process were his transcendental meditation practices, which also help keep him optimistic.
David Lynch Says He Won’t Retire Despite Emphysema
Although Lynch will no longer be able to attend film shoots for any of his projects, he had already made it clear that he wouldn’t let his health issues force him into retirement. When he was diagnosed, he publicly shared the news onsocial mediabut emphasized that he would continue doing what he loves.
Passionate about his profession and career, the filmmaker revealed that he would attempt to work remotely. In an interview with Sight & Sound magazine in August, he said: (viaThe Hollywood Reporter)
I would do it remotely if it comes to it. I wouldn’t like that so much.
“I never was a movie…”: ’Dune’ Director David Lynch’s One Jaw-dropping Confession About His Hollywood Career Will Make Tom Cruise Sick to His Stomach
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the director couldn’t even consider leaving the house for fear of infection. According to him, even a common cold could make his condition worse. However, despite the consequences, Lynch says he has no regrets, as it was an important part of his life. Speaking to People, he shared, “I wish what every addict wishes for: that what we love is good for us.“
However, he hopes that his experience can serve as a warning to other smokers, showing that it is indeed a habit that kills. Lynch is eager to spread this message because he believes he owes it not only to other people but also to himself.
Catherine Delgado
Articles Published :141
A geek enthusiast of fantasy and sci-fi, Catherine is also a screenwriter, completely obsessed with pop culture. Graduated in Audiovisual Production, she creates characters and writes about fictional universes when not writing articles, binge-watching shows, or reading sagas.
