David Lynch

Born: 1946-01-20

David Keith Lynch (born January 20, 1946) is an American filmmaker, painter, visual artist, musician, actor, and writer. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound design. Indeed, the surreal and in many cases violent elements to his films have earned them the reputation that they "disturb, offend or mystify" their audiences. Moving around various parts of the United States as a child within his middle class family, Lynch went on to study painting in Philadelphia, where he first made the transition to producing short films. Deciding to devote himself more fully to this medium, he moved to Los Angeles, where he produced his first motion picture, the surrealist horror Eraserhead (1977). After Eraserhead became a cult classic on the midnight movie circuit, Lynch was employed to direct The Elephant Man (1980), from which he gained mainstream success. Then being employed by the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, he proceeded to make two films. First, the science-fiction epic Dune (1984), which proved to be a critical and commercial failure, and then a neo-noir crime film, Blue Velvet (1986), which was highly critically acclaimed. Proceeding to create his own television series with Mark Frost, the highly popular murder mystery Twin Peaks (1990–1992), he also created a cinematic prequel, Fire Walk With Me (1992), a road movie, Wild at Heart (1990), and a family film, The Straight Story (1999) in the same period. Turning further towards surrealist filmmaking, three of his following films worked on "dream logic" non-linear narrative structures, Lost Highway (1997), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Inland Empire (2006). Lynch has received three Academy Award nominations for Best Director, for his films The Elephant Man, Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive, and also received a screenplay Academy Award nomination for The Elephant Man. Lynch has twice won France's César Award for Best Foreign Film, as well as the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement at the Venice Film Festival. The French government awarded him the Legion of Honor, the country's top civilian honor, as a Chevalier in 2002 and then an Officier in 2007, while that same year, The Guardian described Lynch as "the most important director of this era". Allmovie called him "the Renaissance man of modern American filmmaking", whilst the success of his films have led to him being labelled "the first popular Surrealist".


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as Man in the Bowler Hat in the Mob Chasing Merrick (uncredited)
Released: 1980-10-09

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man being mistreated by his "owner" as a...

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See!
as Spice Miner (uncredited)
Released: 1984-12-14

In the year 10,191, the most precious substance in the universe is the spice Melange. The spice...

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See!

Beatles '64

as Self
Released: 2024-11-28

Featuring never-before-seen footage of the band and the legions of young fans who helped fuel...

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The Fabelmans

as John Ford
Released: 2022-11-11

Growing up in post-World War II era Arizona, young Sammy Fabelman aspires to become a filmmaker...

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Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

as Chief Gordon Cole
Released: 1992-06-03

In the questionable town of Deer Meadow, Washington, FBI Agent Desmond inexplicably disappears...

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Inland Empire

as Bucky J
Released: 2006-12-06

An actress’s perception of reality becomes increasingly distorted as she finds herself falling...

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David Lynch: The Art Life

as Self
Released: 2017-02-15

An intimate journey through the formative years of David Lynch's life. From his idyllic...

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Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces

as Gordon Cole
Released: 2014-07-16

Ninety minutes of deleted and alternate takes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, assembled by...

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Side by Side

as Self
Released: 2012-08-19

Since the invention of cinema, the standard format for recording moving images has been film....

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WHAT DID JACK DO?

as Detective
Released: 2017-11-08

In a locked down train station, a homicide detective conducts an interview with a tormented...

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Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound

as Self
Released: 2019-10-25

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

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Lucky

as Howard
Released: 2017-09-29

Follows the journey of a 90-year-old atheist and the quirky characters that inhabit his...

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Girlfriend's Day

as Narrator (voice)
Released: 2017-01-24

When he's caught up in a deadly conspiracy, an unemployed greeting card writer must create the...

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Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream

as Himself
Released: 2006-06-20

From 1970-1977, six low budget films shown at midnight transformed the way we make and watch films.

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Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch

as Self
Released: 1997-10-14

An in-depth look at artist/filmmaker David Lynch's movies, paintings, drawings, photographs, and...

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In Dreams: The Roy Orbison Story

as Self
Released: 1999-10-07

Roy Orbison - In Dreams is the ultimate exclusive music documentary of the life of Roy Orbison....

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Rammstein in Amerika

as Self
Released: 2015-09-25

The concert film celebrates the band’s legendary show in New York’s Madison Square Garden –...

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The Fine Art of Separating People from Their Money

as Self
Released: 1996-11-17

An examination of the evolution of commercials as an artistic medium, featuring interviews with...

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Nadja

as Morgue Receptionist
Released: 1994-09-13

In a contemporary New York City, members of a dysfunctional family of vampires are trying to...

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My Beautiful Broken Brain

as Self
Released: 2014-11-21

A profoundly personal voyage into the complexity, fragility and wonder of the human brain, after...

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Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

as Self
Released: 2013-09-11

An impressionistic portrait of the iconic actor Harry Dean Stanton comprised of intimate...

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The Amputee

as Nurse
Released: 1974-01-01

A double leg amputated woman sits and writes a long meandering letter while her ineffective...

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Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night

as Self - Audience Member
Released: 1988-01-03

Recorded live at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles, Roy is joined by an eclectic ensemble of rock...

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Lynch/Oz

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2023-05-15

Victor Fleming’s 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is one of David Lynch’s most enduring obsessions....

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The Short Films of David Lynch

as Self
Released: 2002-06-01

The Short Films of David Lynch (2002) is a DVD collection of the early student and commissioned...

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What Is Cinema?

as Self
Released: 2013-09-06

Using the words and ideas of great filmmakers, from archival interviews with Alfred Hitchcock...

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Edge of Outside

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2006-06-11

An hour-long documentary designed to celebrate the spirit of the independent filmmaker from D.W....

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Boat

as uncredited
Released: 2007-01-30

A journey into night.

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Lynch (one)

as Self
Released: 2007-10-26

Rare glimpse into the fascinating mind of one of cinema's greatest directors. Footage was...

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Along for the Ride

as Self
Released: 2016-11-03

A documentary chronicling the filmmaking career of Dennis Hopper.

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Great Directors

as Self
Released: 2009-05-19

Features conversations with ten of the world's greatest living directors: Bernardo Bertolucci,...

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Crítico

as Self (voice)
Released: 2008-01-22

Seventy critics and filmmakers discuss cinema around the conflict between the artist and the...

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2012: Time for Change

as Self
Released: 2010-10-08

2012: Time For Change is a documentary feature that presents ways to transform our unsustainable...

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Moby Doc

as Self
Released: 2021-05-28

A surrealist biographical documentary about trailblazing electronic musician and animal rights...

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The Making of ‘Mulholland Drive’

as Self
Released: 2004-04-05

A short documentary about the making of David Lynch's film Mulholland Drive.

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On Meditation

as Self
Released: 2016-07-27

Peter Matthiessen, David Lynch, and Russell Simmons see among the many celebrity devotees...

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Plankton Salesmen

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2017-10-29

A nostalgic look at the birth and death of arthouse film distribution in the early 2000s in...

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David Wants to Fly

as uncredited
Released: 2010-05-06

A documentary. David Sieveking takes the advice of his idol, David Lynch and tries out Maharishi...

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I Don't Know Jack

as Self
Released: 2002-04-05

Feature documentary about actor Jack Nance, who rose to prominence after starring in the cult...

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No Frank in Lumberton

as Self
Released: 1988-01-19

A very surreal video shot behind the scenes during the production of Blue Velvet in Wilmington,...

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Brand: A Second Coming

as Self
Released: 2015-03-13

Comic Russell Brand uses drugs, sex and fame in a quest for happiness, only to find it remains...

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Jonathan Ross Presents for One Week Only: David Lynch

as Self
Released: 1990-10-19

A 1990 documentary presented by Jonathan Ross, in which he interviewed filmmaker David Lynch.

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Meeting the Beatles in India

as Self
Released: 2020-09-09

Filmmaker Paul Saltzman retraces his journey of 50 years ago when he spent a life-changing time...

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The Black Ghiandola

as Man In Black
Released: 2017-04-22

The Black Ghiandola is a story about a young man risking his life to save a young girl he has...

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Destination Dune

as Self
Released: 1984-01-01

A short documentary that was originally produced to promote the film at conventions and...

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The Number of Completion

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about Twin Peaks: The Return.

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I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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La Traversée du désir

as Self
Released: 2009-03-16

What was your first desire? What did you long for most? Arielle Dombasle put these questions to...

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Sailing with Bushnell Keeler

as uncredited
Released: 1967-01-01

In 1967, a young David Lynch grabbed his new Bolex 16mm camera, to film his friend and mentor...

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Zelly & Me

as Willie
Released: 1988-04-15

A young orphan who lives with her grandmother in a large Virginian home infatuates herself with...

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A Slice of Lynch

as Self
Released: 2007-10-30

David Lynch, Mädchen Amick, Kyle MacLachlan and John Wentworth reminisce about "Twin Peaks"...

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Heart Beat

as Painter
Released: 1980-04-25

An exploration of the relationship between Beat Generation writers Jack Kerouac and Neal...

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Blue Velvet Revisited

as Self
Released: 2016-10-07

When David Lynch was making his film Blue Velvet, German filmmaker Peter Braatz was also on set,...

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The Disc of Sorrow Is Installed

as uncredited
Released: 2002-01-01

The Disc of Sorrow gets installed.

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Welcome Home: Mary Reber and the Twin Peaks Palmer House

as uncredited
Released: 2021-03-10

An extensive interview with Palmer house owner and one-time Twin Peaks performer Mary Reber,...

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The Man with the Gray Elevated Hair

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Behind the scenes of TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN, with a focus on the work of David Lynch directing...

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A Fall from Grace

as William Tabb
Released: 2020-01-17

Detective Michael Tabb knows the city he protects inside and out. He has felt its true heart, as...

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Bad Binoculars

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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Hollywood Mavericks

as Self
Released: 1990-09-07

A documentary focusing on seventeen maverick directors who were not afraid to break the rules of...

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Le son de Lynch

as uncredited
Released: 2007-01-01

This documentary explores every facet of this job of complex and exciting sound which David...

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Dennis Hopper: The Decisive Moments

as Self
Released: 2004-05-01

The inevitable fat cigar between his fingers, the American actor, director and fine artist...

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Eraserhead Stories

as Self
Released: 2001-09-06

David Lynch discusses the making of the film "Eraserhead."

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Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

as Self
Released: 2013-05-20

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise journeys through Brooks’ early years in the creative beginnings of live...

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Mysteries of Love

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-06-04

Isabella Rossellini, Kyle MacLachlan, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, and producer Fred Caruso are...

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The Reality of Truth

as Self
Released: 2016-07-19

In this documentary, "Zappy" Zapolin interviews spiritual gurus, celebrities, and people of...

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Behind the Red Curtain

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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David Lynch: Don't Look at Me

as Self
Released: 1989-01-01

A documentary about American director David Lynch from the Cinéma, de notre temps series.

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Don Van Vliet: Some YoYo Stuff

as Himself
Released: 1994-09-09

Don van Vliet, alias "Captain Beefheart", is one of the most influential, misunderstood, talked...

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A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

A short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return. This time focused in the planing...

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Elvis | Viva Las Vegas

as Self
Released: 2008-09-16

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Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Documentary about Twin Peaks: The Return.

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Two Blue Balls

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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Dennis Hopper: Create (or Die)

as Self
Released: 2003-02-10

We are taken though the principal milestones of Hopper's biography, including his debut start in...

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Made in the USA

as Self
Released: 1993-09-25

A Paul Joyce documentary on the American independent film scene.

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Rocksteppy

as Himself
Released: 2017-01-01

Phil and Colin Beverly are two inept small-town brothers with big dreams, and a song-and-dance...

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Ångesthunden och Malmö under vatten

as Himself
Released: 2011-01-01

If South Park met Stig "Slas" Claesson directed by Staffan Westerberg.

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Shadows of Paradise

as uncredited
Released: 2016-10-11

Since the death of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in February 2008, long-time practitioner of...

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I Know Catherine, The Log Lady

as Self
Released:

An authorized feature documentary about Catherine E. Coulson, best known as the Log Lady in...

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The 8th Floor

as Self
Released: 2014-05-10

On the 8th floor of the Fondation Cartier in Paris, Raymond Depardon's film features a minute of...

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Out Yonder — Chicken

as uncredited
Released: 2007-01-01

A short film by David Lynch featuring his son Austin, originally filmed for davidlynch.com

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Professor Goudet's Lessons

as Self
Released: 2013-04-06

Stéphane Goudet is all over the Tati box-set as the preeminent Tati scholar, so it is only...

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Lynch 2

as Self
Released: 2007-08-14

Follow up of the Lynch documentary on the making of Inland Empire. Released as an extra on the...

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Out Yonder — Neighbor Boy

as uncredited
Released: 2007-09-10

A short film by David Lynch featuring his son Austin, originally filmed for davidlynch.com

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Lamp

as Self
Released: 2003-09-09

Short documentary of David Lynch building a lamp.

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Between Two Worlds

as Self
Released: 2014-07-29

"Between Two Worlds" is a featurette included in the Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery and Twin...

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Meditation Creativity Peace

as Self
Released: 2012-11-15

This documentary shot by film students follows David Lynch on a 16-country tour of Europe, the...

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BlueBob Egg

as Billy Groper
Released: 2004-06-08

Before our very eyes, BlueBob gets arrested in broad daylight.

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A Pot of Boiling Oil

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

A short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return. David Lynch interacts with his...

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Twin Peaks Festival Greeting 2008

as Self
Released: 2008-11-25

A surreal short film that Lynch made for the 2008 Twin Peaks Festival. It only screened once and...

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The Polish Accountant

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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The A-Z of Separating People from their Money

as Self
Released: 1998-10-18

Pointing to the increasingly blurred distinction between reality and fiction in the world today,...

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Memory Film

as uncredited
Released: 2012-12-11

Short film made for the 7th annual Memory Marathon at the Serpentine Gallery in London

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See You on the Other Side Dear Friend

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about Twin Peaks: The Return.

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Early Experiments

as uncredited
Released: 2008-11-25

A 16mm film experiment conducted in 1967 and 1968 in Philadelphia which feature small parts of...

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This Is Sparklehorse

as Self
Released: 2016-04-02

An comprehensive look at the life and music of Mark Linkous, a influential figure in the...

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Brunes et Blondes

as Self
Released: 2010-10-06

Actresses' hairstyle in movies always carries a strong aesthetic statement associated with...

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Out Yonder — Teeth

as uncredited
Released: 2007-01-01

A short film by David Lynch featuring his son Austin, originally filmed for davidlynch.com

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Ruth, Roses, and Revolver

as Himself
Released: 1987-02-20

Television documentary from BBCs Arena program in which David Lynch, fresh off the release of...

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Peixe Vermelho

as O Sábio
Released: 2009-06-16

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Night Flight: Born Again

as Self
Released: 2016-04-10

Documentary tribute to what VH1 called “the single greatest rock omnibus program ever aired” and...

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Tell It Martin

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

Short documentary about the making of Twin Peaks: The Return.

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A Very Lovely Dream: One Week in Twin Peaks

as Self
Released: 2017-12-05

One week in the making of David Lynch's 2017 continuation of his groundbreaking television...

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Hollyshorts Greeting

as Himself
Released: 2008-11-25

A fun short piece that Lynch presented as his acceptance for the Hollyshorts 2008 Visionary Award.

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L'Image Originelle - David Lynch

as uncredited
Released: 2019-05-01

The original image or the first image. That of the first film, that of all the promises. The...

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Does That Hurt You?

as Self
Released: 2003-10-18

A camera-eye is aimed at David Lynch's back while in Hanover a second one records the...

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Curtains Up

as uncredited
Released: 2018-10-05

American auteur David Lynch opens up about the magic of the cinema in this new profile from...

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Dynamic:01: The Best of DavidLynch.com

as himself
Released: 2007-01-30

Two hours of original content previously only available to paid up members of DavidLynch.com....

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The Way of Samodelkin

as Stranger in a dream
Released: 2009-06-05

A mystical detective story set in the realm of Moscow art scene. Psychedelic trip through...

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The Polish Accountant

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

The Polish Accountant is the ninth short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes of...

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A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth is the eight short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the...

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The Number of Completion

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

The Number of Completion is the fourth short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes of...

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Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers is the seventh short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes...

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Two Blue Balls

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

Two Blue Balls is the third short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin...

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Tell It Martin

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

Tell It Martin is the second short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin...

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A Pot of Boiling Oil

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

A Pot of Boiling Oil is the tenth and last short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the...

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Bad Binoculars

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

Bad Binoculars is the fifth short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin...

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See You on the Other Side Dear Friend

as Himself
Released: 2017-12-05

See You on the Other Side Dear Friend is the sixth short film of Impressions: A Journey Behind...

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Family Guy

as Gus (voice)
First aired: 1999-01-31

Sick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures...

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Family Guy

as David Lynch (voice)
First aired: 1999-01-31

Sick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures...

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Twin Peaks

as Gordon Cole
First aired: 1990-04-08

The body of Laura Palmer is washed up on a beach near the small Washington state town of Twin...

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Robot Chicken

as Mad scientist
First aired: 2005-02-20

A series of pop-culture parodies using stop-motion animation of toys, action figures and dolls....

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The Cleveland Show

as uncredited
First aired: 2009-09-27

The bizarre adventures of Cleveland Brown and his family.

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The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

as Self
First aired: 1992-05-25

Jay Leno hosts some of the biggest celebrities in the world.

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The Oscars

as Self
First aired: 1953-03-19

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...

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Louie

as Jack Dall
First aired: 2010-06-29

Louis C.K. stars as a fictionalized version of himself; a comedian and newly divorced father...

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The Nineties

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2017-07-09

Hit rewind and explore the most iconic moments and influential people of The Nineties, the...

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Un film et son époque

as Self
First aired: 2003-05-17

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Leçon de Cinéma

as Self
First aired: 2004-03-20

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Scene by Scene

as Self
First aired: 1997-05-10

Mark Cousins invites film actors and directors to watch major scenes in their career to date,...

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This Is Pop

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 2021-03-06

Unknown histories take center stage as the hitmakers themselves - from ABBA to T-Pain - explore...

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DumbLand

as Randy / Wife / Sparky (voice)
First aired: 2002-01-01

A series of eight crudely animated shorts written, directed, and voiced by director David Lynch...

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