On January 16th, after David Lynch passed away at the age of 78, many heartfelt tributes and memories were shared to honor his legacy. Here are four memorable stories highlighting Lynch’s unique personality and creative spirit.
4. He Saved Five Woody Woodpecker Toys
Photo Credit: Ez-blitz
In a 2017 interview with The UK Telegraph, David Lynch shared a story about rescuing five Woody Woodpecker dolls from a gas station in 1981. He recounted: “I screech on the brakes, I do a U-turn, go back and I buy them and I save their lives. I named them Chucko, Buster, Pete, Bob and Dan and they were my boys and they were in my office.” The toys remained ‘dear friends’ of his for a while, but eventually “certain traits started coming out and they became not so nice.”
3. His Headless Cow Art Was Rejected
Photo Credit: Reddit
Following his death, one user on X recalled Lynch’s attempt to contribute to a ceramic cow art project for New York City. Despite being told he could design anything as long as it wasn’t sexually explicit or X-rated, his submission was rejected. Reflecting on the experience, the director once shared: “They told me that I could do anything I liked so long as it wasn’t sexually explicit or X-rated. So, I built my cow. I had a great time doing it.”
2. A Bag Of Cheetos Was Enough To Convince Him For A Role
Photo Credit: Merie Weismiller/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment
Speaking to Empire magazine, Lynch last year revealed the unusual condition for agreeing to appear in ‘The Fabelmans:’ Cheetos. He explained why it was so by sharing his love for the snack, “I love them, and any chance I can, I get them. But I know that they’re not exactly health food. So when I do leave the house and I get a chance to… But I don’t get them that often, honestly.”
He continued, “If I do get them, I want a big bag. Because once you start… you need to have a lot before you could slow down and actually stop. Otherwise, with a small bag, then you’d be prowling for days to find more […] It’s incredible flavour.”
1. He Promoted Laura Denn… With A Cow
Photo Credit: Reuters
Lynch’s efforts to promote Laura Dern for an Academy Award nomination were as unconventional as his films. He famously campaigned by sitting on a lawn chair at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard, wearing a suit and smoking a cigarette. On one side, he held a large canvas of Dern with the words ‘For Your Consideration’ written across it. On the other side, a cow accompanied him. When asked why another poster at the event read “Without cheese there wouldn’t be an Inland Empire,” Lynch replied: “Cheese is made from milk, get it?”
In an interview with Wired, Lynch elaborated on his unorthodox strategy: “You know, there are a bunch of Academy members and all sorts of other awards activity going on out there. And people solve problems with money normally; well, I don’t have any money. And I also feel that the Academy members must be sick of seeing ad after ad after ad costing a fortune with no one really paying attention.”
Lynch was diagnosed with emphysema in 2024. His family announced his passing in a Facebook post.
