The director himself came off as almost performatively normal. Masterpieces like “Eraserhead” and “Mulholland Drive” said otherwise.

Both films feature the director's signature style, with surreal premises and shades of horror, perfect for those eager to dive headfirst in his twisted filmography. Eraserhead was Lynch's first feature-length film,

Reactions from Hollywood were swift and heartfelt. Kyle MacLachlan, who became a star when Lynch cast him as Paul Atreides in 1984's Dune, Blue Velvet (1986), and the TV series Twin Peaks, described the director as "the most authentically alive person I'd ever met":

A visionary, his films included “Eraserhead,” “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive.” He also brought his skewed view to the small screen with “Twin Peaks.”

Like any great artist, Lynch meant different things to different people. In the comments, tell us what he meant to you.

Twin Peaks' Creator and Filmmaker David Lynch Dies at 76 LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - David Lynch, the American filmmaker, writer and artist who scored best director Oscar nominations for "Blue Velvet," "The Elephant Man" and "Mulholland Drive" and co-created the groundbreaking TV series "Twin Peaks,

A primer for David Lynch’s best movies and TV shows, from “Twin Peaks” to “Blue Velvet,” to be enjoyed in a dark room with a big cup of black coffee.

Much like dreams, merely hearing Lynch's work described does not compare to experiencing his movies and TV series firsthand. Unconventional to the end, the director's filmography (plus Twin Peaks, indispensable to his oeuvre) almost always elicits strong responses,

The man behind 'Blue Velvet,' 'Mulholland Drive' and 'Twin Peaks' helped usher in a new style of cinema that teetered between waking and dreaming