David Lynch Clarifies Being ‘Homebound’ With Emphysema, Saying He ‘Will Never Retire’

Legendary director David Lynch recently discussed his thoughts on retirement after announcing he’d been diagnosed with emphysema.

The 78-year-old Hollywood mainstay caused a stir in the community after an interview was published in the September 2024 issue of “Sight and Sound” magazine. In it, Lynch said he was struggling with his health and couldn’t leave the house.

“I’ve gotten emphysema from smoking for so long, and so I’m homebound whether I like it or not,” he told the outlet. “I can only walk a short distance before I’m out of oxygen.”

He added, “Because of Covid, it would be very bad for me to get sick, even with a cold. So I would probably be directing from my home … I wouldn’t like that so much. I like to be amongst the thing and get ideas there. But I would try to do [a film] remotely, if it comes to it.”

Fans quickly started speculating about what this admission meant for his career, assuming he would step back — but then Lynch clarified his statements on social media.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them – but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is…

— David Lynch (@DAVID_LYNCH) August 5, 2024

The filmmaker wrote on X Monday night, “Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to say that I enjoyed smoking very much, and I do love tobacco – the smell of it, lighting cigarettes on fire, smoking them – but there is a price to pay for this enjoyment, and the price for me is emphysema.”

He added, “I have now quit smoking for over two years. Recently I had many tests and the good news is that I am in excellent shape except for emphysema. I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire. I want you all to know that I really appreciate your concern.”

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Lynch has dabbled in a variety of mediums including art, music, furniture design, and more. He began his Hollywood career with his first full-length film, “Eraserhead,” in 1977. The award-winning director followed up that effort with popular titles including “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Dune” (1984), “Blue Velvet” (1986), “The Lost Highway” (1997), and “Mulholland Drive” (2001).

Lynch also created the popular ABC series “Twin Peaks” (1990–1991) with Mark Frost and was involved with both sequels, “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me” and “Twin Peaks: The Return.”