David Lynch, the groundbreaking director of films including "Twin Peaks" and "Blue Velvet," has died at the age of 78, his family announced Thursday.

He expanded the cinematic potential of television and inspired a generation of showrunners, including “Sopranos” creator David Chase.

“Twin Peaks” was his ultimate portrait of a land of terror and beauty.

David Lynch, the American filmmaker whose works include the surrealist cult classics Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks, has died aged 78. Lynch's death was announced on his official Facebook page by his family on Thursday. "There's a big hole in the world now that he's no longer with us," the post said.

Visionary filmmaker David Lynch died Thursday. Actor Kyle MacLachlan and other Washington filmmakers talk about what he and his work meant to them.

Legendary filmmaker David Lynch left his mark on television with ABC's 'Twin Peaks' and Showtime's 'Twin Peaks: The Return'.

Disney CEO Bob Iger, who greenlighted Twin Peaks as ABC Entertainment President from 1989–1992, pays tribute to series co-creator David Lynch who died.

Before Netflix, before sagas like “Game of Thrones” — before high-speed internet — there was “Twin Peaks.” David Lynch’s weird police procedural, which aired 35 years ago, brought gothic Americana into the mainstream.

Find out where to stream as many David Lynch movies as you can – including "Mulholland Drive" and "Twin Peaks."

Nine Inch Nails initially planned on doing another song for Twin Peaks: The Return, but according to frontman Trent Reznor, Lynch told them, “How about something less Twin Peaks -y sounding, and more aggressive and ugly.

One of cinema’s greatest geniuses has left us. David Lynch, Honorary Oscar winner, was always one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live, with his unique and unmistakable style, often described as “Lynchian.