Director David Lynch, Emily Stofle, son Riley (right) and daughter Lula (left) attend Alliance Of Moms Giant Playdate on May 9, 2015 in Los Angeles. Photo:
Lily Lawrence/Getty
Although David Lynch will be remembered as an iconic filmmaker, he also carried the title of dad.
The four-time Oscar nominee, whose death at 78 years old was announced on Jan. 16, was a father of four. He welcomed his kids — Jennifer, Austin, Riley and Lula — with ex-wives Peggy Reavey, Mary Fisk and Mary Sweeney and estranged wife Emily Stofle, who filed for divorce in 2023.
On Jan. 16, his family shared the news of his death in a Facebook post, saying, “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.”
“There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us,” the post continued. “But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ “
During a June 2018 conversation with Vulture, the director, who was best known for creating the 1990 television series Twin Peaks, opened up about the “tricky business” of fatherhood.
“I love all my children and we get along great, but in the early years, before you can have a relationship of talking to them, it’s tough,” he said. “The work is the main thing, and I know I’ve caused suffering because of that. But at the same time I have huge love for the kids.”
Here’s everything to know about David Lynch’s four children, Jennifer, Austin, Riley and Lula.
Jennifer Lynch attends the ‘Despite The Gods’ premiere at AMC Loews on Oct. 17, 2013, in Chicago. Timothy Hiatt/Getty
David became a dad when he and his ex-wife Peggy — whom he was married to from 1967 to 1974 — welcomed daughter Jennifer in 1968. Now a grown adult, Jennifer went on to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a writer and director.
Though they share some creative talents, Jennifer opened up about their complex relationship to PEOPLE in 1990, saying, “He was not your normal dad, but he’s been the best dad he could be, and we’ve had a blast.”
That year, Jennifer published a Twin Peaks spin-off novel titled The Secret Diary of Laura Palmer, based on a character from her father’s show. She then dove into film, going on to direct 1993’s Boxing Helena, 2008’s Surveillance and 2012’s Chained.
As for her personal life, Jennifer shares a daughter Sydney with her ex-partner Andrew J. Peterson, per The Independent.
Austin Lynch attends a press conference to present his movie ‘Interview Project Germany’ on March 10, 2011, in Berlin. Anita Bugge/WireImage
David welcomed his first son, Austin, with his ex-wife Fisk, who he was married to from 1977 to 1987. Austin was born on Sept. 7, 1982, in Los Angeles.
Austin has been involved in a few of his father’s projects over the years, including portraying small roles in Twin Peaks and Inland Empire. Over the years, he has mirrored David’s passion for behind-the-scenes work, helping to create his dad’s docuseries Interview Project and directing 2017’s Gray House.
In June 2018, David told The Guardian that Gray House was one of the only films he watched that year and that he “really liked it.”
Actress Emily Stofle, director David Lynch and son Riley Lynch attend Alliance Of Moms Giant Playdate on May 9, 2015, in Los Angeles. Lily Lawrence/Getty
David welcomed son Riley in 1992 with ex-wife Sweeney, whom the director was married to from 2006 to 2007.
As a musician, Riley appeared alongside David’s longtime music supervisor Dean Hurley and Alex Zhang Hungtai as featured performers in an episode of Twin Peaks: The Return.
In a July 2017 conversation with Hero Magazine, Riley shared how the collaboration came to be, saying, “I told my dad that if he liked a song that Dean and Alex and I came up with then he had to put it in there, and if he didn’t like it then we were out.”
He also discussed how it was “fun” working with his dad, saying, “It’s a really good atmosphere on set and everyone’s just doing really hard work. He inspires people to do their best work.”
Riley also found a way to combine his intrigue with filmmaking and passion for music and has been working on his directorial debut, Black Earth, a heavy-metal romance movie, for many years.
However, with two parents in the industry, he told PAPER Magazine in May 2018 that he didn’t want it to come with the pressure of filling their shoes.
“Sure, there’s pressure, but my ideas are very much my own, and after I make a few things I think people will start to get that,” Riley said. “I just have to keep making.”
Antonio Monda, Emily Stofle, Lula Boginia Lynch and David Lynch walk the red carpet during the 12th Rome Film Fest at Auditorium Parco Della Musica on November 4, 2017 in Rome, Italy. Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty
After getting married in 2009, David and his wife Emily welcomed daughter Lula Boginia on Aug. 28, 2012. She shares the same name as the lead character in David’s 1990 film Wild at Heart, which starred Laura Dern as Lula Fortune.
Lula has lived a life mostly away from the spotlight but has appeared alongside her dad at high-profile events, including at the 12th Rome Film Festival in November 2017.
Additionally, when Emily filed for divorce in 2023, she asked for sole legal and physical custody of their daughter.
