Director-writer David Lynch, whose work featured a mixture of a dreamlike, dark surrealism, and horror elements has died. He was 78.

His family announced his death in a Facebook post:

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch.  We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ … It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

Lynch began his career as a painter a maker of short animated and live action films. He made his feature directorial debut with the 1977 film, Eraserhead.

He also directed the film, The Elephant Man, which earned eight Academy Award nominations, including Lynch’s first for best director.

He found less success with his 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel “Dune.” The production, made on a budget of $40 million during an arduous three-year shoot, was a failure at the box office.

Blue Velvet (1986) earned Lynch his second Academy Award nomination, and Wild at Heart (1990) was honored with the Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or.

In 1990 he created “Twin Peaks,” with writer Mark Frost. The series earned Lynch two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Lynch co-wrote and directed its film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), and the limited series Twin Peaks: The Return (2017).

In 1997 he directed and co-wrote Lost Highway. In 1999 he directed the biographical film The Straight Story. In 2001, Mulholland Drive earned Lynch the Best Director award at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival. His last feature film was in 2006 with Inland Empire.