born Jan. 20, 1946, Missoula, Mont., U.S.
U.S. director.
Trained as an artist, he studied in Europe and began experimenting with film in the late 1960s. In 1977 he made his first feature, Eraserhead , a grotesque and nightmarish film that became a cult favourite. He directed the critically acclaimed The Elephant Man (1980), the science-fiction Dune (1984), and the bizarre mystery Blue Velvet (1986). He was noted for his disturbing and dark view of life. His later films include Wild at Heart (1990, Golden Palm), Lost Highway (1997), The Straight Story (1999), and Mulholland Drive (2001). He also created the offbeat television series Twin Peaks (1990–91).