American filmmaker and painter, David Lynch, who often received critical acclaim for his films and disturbing visual works, died on Thursday at 78.

His death was announced by his family on Facebook.

“It is with deep regret that we, the family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the statement read.

The cause of his death was not disclosed. However, the family asked for privacy during their time of loss.

Born on January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana, Mr Lynch was also a painter and musician.

Initially pursuing a career in fine arts, Mr Lynch studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

He later began exploring short films, which eventually led to his first feature-length film, Eraserhead (1977), a horror movie.

The film was a success and earned him eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Director.

He went on to release other acclaimed films exploring human nature, such as Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).

Beyond filmmaking, Mr Lynch was an advocate of Transcendental Meditation, which led him to establish the David Lynch Foundation to promote its practice among at-risk populations.