Lynch in 1984, the year his third feature, “Dune,” was released.

Lynch directing Dean Stockwell and Francesca Annis in “Dune,” based on the same novel as Denis Villeneuve’s recent movies.

Lynch and Isabella Rossellini, who starred in “Blue Velvet” (1986). The movie brought Lynch his second of three Oscar nominations for directing.

Lynch filming “Blue Velvet” with Kyle MacLachlan, the star of that film as well as “Dune” and television’s “Twin Peaks.”

Lynch in 1986.

Lynch during the filming of “Wild at Heart” (1990).

Lynch and Dennis Hopper, who memorably appeared in “Blue Velvet.”

Lynch on the set of “Twin Peaks.” He was co-creator and showrunner of the series, which ran for two seasons on ABC in 1990 and 1991. A revival, “Twin Peaks: The Return,” ran on Showtime in 2017.

Lynch, second from left, with his “Wild at Heart” cast at Cannes. From left: Rossellini, Laura Dern, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe and Nicolas Cage.

Lynch at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990, where “Wild at Heart” won the Palme d’Or.

A certain surrealistic quality that pervaded his films came to be known by the adjective “Lynchian.”

Rossellini and Lynch.

Lynch filming “The Straight Story” (1999).

Lynch directing Naomi Watts in “Mulholland Drive.” The 2001 film is considered by many to be his masterpiece.

Lynch and the stars of “Mulholland Drive,” Watts and Laura Harring, at Cannes in 2001.

Lynch with Mel Brooks in 2012. Brooks helped produce Lynch’s first Hollywood feature, “The Elephant Man” (1980).

A still from “Lynch/Oz” (2023), a documentary directed by Alexandre O. Philippe about the influence “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) exerted over Lynch.

Lynch and Laura Dern on the set of “Wild at Heart.” Dern appeared in three of Lynch’s feature films as well as “Twin Peaks: The Return.”

Lynch with the designer John Varvatos and Ringo Starr.

In 2019, flanked by MacLachlan, Dern and Rossellini, Lynch received an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar.

Lynch in 2007.

Lynch’s death at the age of 78 was announced Thursday.