Acclaimed film director and Twin Peaks creator David Lynch has died.

Lynch’s family announced the news on his Facebook page. He was 78.

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” reads the Facebook post. “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’s decades-long career in entertainment started in the late 70s with his first feature film, Eraserhead. In 1980, he directed Elephant Man, which fully put his name on the map; Lynch received two Academy Award nominations for the film, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In 1986, Lynch debuted Blue Velvet, snagging another Best Director nomination. The feature also further solidified his unique directing style and love for dark, surreal storytelling – sparking the term “Lynchian”, still used to describe media today.

L: Lynch in ‘Twin Peaks’; R: Lynch in the ‘Twin Peaks’ revival (2017)

In the 90s, Lynch co-created the TV series Twin Peaks. The series, which embraced Lynch’s signature strangeness and aesthetic, was lauded by critics and became a cult classic among fans. Many television shows created after Twin Peaks cite the series as a defining influence. The success of the original Twin Peaks also led to the release of a feature film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and later, a limited series revival in 2017. In addition to co-creating the series and directing several episodes, Lynch also appeared in the show as FBI Agent Gordon Cole.

In 2001, Lynch directed Mulholland Drive, earning a third Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

His other credits include the 1984 feature adaptation of Dune, the mini series Hotel Room, Inland Empire, and Wild at Heart.