Reactions to the death of David Lynch, the visionary filmmaker behind "Twin Peaks" and "Mulholland Drive," whose death at 78 was announced Thursday.

— "He's one of those filmmakers who was influential but impossible to imitate. People would try but he had one kind of algorithm that worked for him and you attempted to recreate it at your peril. As non-linear and illogical as they often seemed, they were clearly highly organized in his mind." — Director Steven Soderbergh, in an interview with The Associated Press.

— "I am astounded and heartbroken I can't express with any words the profound loss of the great David Lynch my friend." — Director Francis Ford Coppola, via Instagram.

— "Forty-two years ago, for reasons beyond my comprehension, David Lynch plucked me out of obscurity to star in his first and last big budget movie. He clearly saw something in me that even I didn't recognize. I owe my entire career, and life really, to his vision." — Actor Kyle MacLachlan, who starred in Lynch's "Blue Velvet" and "Twin Peaks," via Instagram.

— "The world will not be the same without him. His creative mentorship was truly powerful. He put me on the map. The world I'd been trying to break into for ten plus years, flunking auditions left and right. Finally, I sat in front of a curious man, beaming with light, speaking words from another era, making me laugh and feel at ease. How did he even 'see me' when I was so well hidden, and I'd even lost sight of myself?!" — Actor Naomi Watts, via Instagram.

— "Truly saddened to hear of the passing of David Lynch. Working with him was like a dream out of one of his movies, and I treasure the times I got to speak with him and hear first-hand his vision for a film. I truly encourage... Read More