The famously weird filmmaker set his 1986 movie in Lumberton, with many modifications, and filmed in Wilmington during its film infancy.

Lynch spent time in Wilmington in the mid 1980s, when the director made one of his best-known and most notorious films.

(NEXSTAR) – David Lynch, the filmmaker and director behind such movies as “Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet” and the TV series “Twin Peaks,” has died, his family announced in a message posted to his official Facebook page. Lynch was 78.

He was also an abstract painter, photographer and sculptor whose prints and constructions echoed the underlying discomfort that was constant in “Mulholland Drive” and “Blue Velvet.” Lynch’s enthusiasm for art seemingly knew no bounds.

Lynch, who was born in Montana in 1946, was a writer, director and painter who studied at the American Film Institute. He first broke into the movie scene in 1977 when he turned his thesis project into his first feature film "Eraserhead," a black-and-white surrealist indie film that quickly gained notoriety as a midnight movie.

David Lynch, the four-time Oscar-nominee behind ‘Blue Velvet,’ ‘Mulholland Drive’ and ‘The Elephant Man’ who also created TV's ‘Twin Peaks,’ has died at 78.

Following his death, revisit David Lynch's most iconic movies at home with this Blu-ray box set, featuring "Mulholland Drive, "Blue Velvet" and more.

David Lynch, the visionary director of surrealist films like "The Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," and "Mulholland Drive," as well as the hit TV series "Twin Peaks," has died, his family announced on Thursday. He was 78. "There's a big hole in the world now ...

David Lynch, the creator of the television series "Twin Peaks" and the director of "Dune," passed away at the age of 78.

David Lynch, the legendary director of "Twin Peaks" and "Mulholland Drive," is dead at 78, his family announced Jan. 16 on Facebook.

David Lynch, the Oscar-nominated director of surrealistic films including "Eraserhead," "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive," and the co-creator of the cult drama series "Twin Peaks," has died, his family announced.

Though the officially presentation will happen in February, the 'Mulholland Drive' and 'Blue Velvet' writer-director was able to accept the prize in late 2024, before his death on Jan. 16.