David Lynch is unable to leave the house due to illness.
He's smoked for years, now he's severely ill: Director David Lynch suffers from pulmonary emphysema. He's so short of breath that he can't leave the house. There's another reason for his self-isolation at home.
Iconic film director David Lynch, responsible for unforgettable classics like "Blue Velvet", "Mulholland Drive", or the TV series "Twin Peaks", has revealed that he has been diagnosed with pulmonary emphysema. Due to his illness, the filmmaker can no longer leave his own home. Lynch shared this in the current issue of the film magazine "Sight and Sound" (via "Independent").
"I have emphysema because I smoked for so long, and now I have to stay at home, whether I like it or not," Lynch said. "Getting a cold, or any illness, would be very bad for me," the 78-year-old further explained his self-isolation at home. He also mentioned that he can only walk a short distance before running out of oxygen.
Lynch's last major directing project was in 2017. For the US channel Showtime, he directed the third season of his original mystery series "Twin Peaks", starring "Blue Velvet" actor Kyle MacLachlan in the lead role.
Career likely over
Speaking about his possible future as a director, Lynch said it's unlikely he'll sit in the director's chair again. And if he ever did, he wouldn't be physically present on set. "I would direct from a distance, if it came to that," he explained, adding, "I wouldn't like that."
Pulmonary emphysema is a chronic lung disease that leads to shortness of breath, among other symptoms. It's usually caused by exposure to pollutants or smoking cigarettes. The director is said to have smoked for many years.
Despite his iconic status in Hollywood with films like "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive," Director David Lynch's mobility is limited due to his pulmonary emphysema, which forces him to stay at home in self-isolation. This condition, largely caused by his smoking history, has also led Lynch to believe that his directorial career may be drawing to a close.
