The 16 Most Memorable David Lynch Characters Ever

David Lynch is, without a doubt, one of cinema's most important directors. Over the course of a career that spans more than forty years, Lynch has given us such classic films as "The Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," "Mulholland Drive," and the beloved television series "Twin Peaks." While most of his films have never been box office hits, he's nonetheless garnered considerable industry love in the form of numerous award distinctions, including four Oscar nominations (as well as receiving an honorary award), nine Emmy Award nominations, and more.

While Lynch is generally lauded for his contributions to film and TV, his merits are often the source of heated debates and have been dismissed by many critics. This is due in large part to his incredibly unique style, which consists of surrealist elements, use of ambiguity, graphic sex and violence, and more bizarre traits that render his films difficult to digest by mainstream viewers. Then again, it's these same aspects that make his work so attractive to so many fans, many of whom don't mind some mystery and uncertainty in their movie-watching diet. Something else that Lynch is known for is the hyper-stylized characters that populate his films. From the shockingly vicious to the infectiously charming to the downright unexplainable, Lynch is a master of crafting characters that stay with us long after the credits roll. Here are the 16 most memorable David Lynch characters ever, ranked.

"Inland Empire" is one of David Lynch's most challenging feature-length films. Clocking in at three hours, the film constantly blurs the lines between reality and dream, which means that its leading character (played by Laura Dern) is every bit as dense and layered as the film itself. Nikki Grace is an actress who just landed one of the leading roles in the upcoming film "On High in Blue Tomorrows," which is later revealed by the director to be a remake of a supposedly cursed German film called "47." During the production of "47," the two leading actors were killed, which has given it a bad reputation. Sounds pretty ominous, right? Because this is a David Lynch film, it's not simply that the production is cursed by ghosts, but is more likely plagued by rips in space, time, and identity.

As the movie's filming continues, Nikki begins to meld with the character she's playing named Sue Blue, as the events taking place in the film appear to be taking place in real life. Nikki then starts living out Sue's crazy life, which includes such depravity as prostitution, murder, and hanging out on Hollywood Boulevard, along with all sorts of other weird crap that's hard to describe in this article. Suffice to say, Nikki and Sue go on one hell of a journey into each other's lives.

Killer Bob is one of the primary antagonists in the "Twin Peaks" series, but like most of David Lynch's characters, he's not merely a bad guy. Bob is less of a person and more of a malevolent otherworldly force representing everything evil that humans are capable of. He was hinted at early on in the show's first season and gradually made more and more appearances in his long-haired, denim-jacketed form.

However, that wasn't his only form, as Bob has possessed multiple figures associated with the town of Twin Peaks. He's been in possession of Leland Palmer (Laura Palmer's father) since he first encountered him when he was a child. In a disturbing revelation, it turned out that a Bob-possessed Leland had been sexually abusing his daughter for years and was the one who killed her. When Leland dies, Bob is free to possess others, eventually taking over Dale Cooper's doppelgänger, wherein he causes further pain and suffering to others.

Released in 1980, "The Elephant Man" is one of David Lynch's most critically acclaimed and financially successful films, and even received eight Academy Award nominations. Inspired by a true story, the film follows John Merrick (real name Joseph), who was born with a disease that severely deformed his appearance and resulted in a tragic life of ridicule in Victorian London.

John Hurt portrayed the eponymous character, charged with the daunting task of playing a complex, nuanced, and gentle Merrick through extensive makeup, and boy does he knock it out of the park. From his time as a freak show attraction to learning how to conduct himself in high society, the audience is constantly in awe of Merrick's lifelong battle to simply be accepted by those around him. Because of his condition, speaking coherently is a massive task for him, making his recitation of Psalm 23 all the more glorious. However, it's his grand declaration of his humanity in the face of a mob near the end of the film that's the real high point of the character, the apotheosis of his fight to maintain his dignity even when the world told him he had none.

Few characters are as symbolic of the weirdness of "Twin Peaks" than the Man From Another Place. Characterized by his diminutive size, crimson suit, spectral speech pattern, and haunting jazz dance, the Man From Another Place is perfectly emblematic of the idiosyncratic clash of nostalgia and the supernatural that's made "Twin Peaks" so addictive.

Played by Michael J. Anderson, the Man From Another Place made numerous appearances throughout "Twin Peaks," showing up in Dale Cooper's dreams and visions to offer him helpful-yet-cryptic clues on Laura Palmer's murder. Not much is known about the Man From Another Place and his motives, other than he resides in the Black Lodge — a spiritual dimension of suffering and malice — and that he was born out of Mike-possessed Philip Gerard's arm, which he cut off to rid himself of a mystical evil that had taken hold of him (this explanation makes a little more sense in "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me," but only a little). While Anderson's performance was a thrilling part of the original series and film spinoff, the actor declined to reprise his role for "Twin Peaks: The Return," and was instead replaced by a glowing talking tree. The change is no less Lynchian, but Anderson was missed nonetheless.

David Lynch made quite the splash with "Eraserhead," his feature film debut. In many ways, it's his weirdest and most surreal film and continues to inspire debate and discussion decades after it first hit cinemas in 1977. Part of the reason for the film's enduring legacy is the meaning behind the Lady in the Radiator, played by Laurel Near. The Lady in the Radiator is marked by her unusual presentation, which consists of unnaturally swollen cheeks and a vintage outfit from the 1950s. She first appears to Henry Spencer in a dream that takes place inside of his radiator: There's a small stage with a checkered floor that the Lady in the Radiator is standing on. Nostalgic carnival music begins to play, and the Lady does a strange dance. Grotesque little creatures rain from the ceiling upon the stage, and the Lady's dance continues even as she stomps on the nightmarish critters.

Another appearance of the Lady in the Radiator features her putting on a different show, this time singing the song "In Heaven," that's every bit as enigmatic as her inclusion in the film. We'll probably never know whether the Lady in the Radiator is a benevolent or malevolent force in "Eraserhead." However, one thing we can all agree on is that she's one hell of a performer.

Laura Palmer is one of the more tragic and complex characters created by David Lynch. She's rarely seen during the television part of her story (although she was the central character in the film, "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me"), yet she has a strong presence throughout the series and was the focal point of everything strange and mysterious in the titular town.

Laura was a seemingly model citizen, beloved by all who knew her. She was the Homecoming Queen at her high school, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and came from a good family, which meant that her murder was a devastating blow to the community. However, as Agent Dale Cooper dug deeper into her background, it was revealed that Laura led a terrible secret life of drugs, prostitution, and sexual abuse. Her story is made all the more grim considering that there were otherworldly forces at work that had set out to corrupt someone so innocent, forces beyond her control.

Willem Dafoe has played some kooky characters over the years, and his Bobby Peru is no exception. With the charisma of a cobra, Bobby was the standout in a film already filled to the brim with absurd characters.

Bobby first meets the young couple on the run — Sailor and Lula — in Big Tuna, Texas. Strapped for cash, Sailor decides to come along with Bobby to rob a small store in town to make some money. However, while Sailor is out before the stickup, Bobby gleefully sexually assaults Lula in their motel room, revealing how much of a depraved monster he really is. Later on, during the robbery, Bobby needlessly shoots the store's two clerks and reveals to Sailor that he was contracted to murder him, and chases him outside only to be confronted by a police officer who opens fire on him. Bobby is shot several times, but his real demise is when he falls on his own gun, blowing his head off.

While it may seem like a cheat to put Dale Cooper (along with his alter ego, Dougie Jones), at the top of this list, considering he's the character to appear the most in David Lynch's body of work, Cooper's presence would still remain a fixture in popular culture even if he'd only appeared in a single scene.

Perfectly portrayed by Kyle MacLachlan, this Special Agent for the FBI guided viewers into the strange goings-on in the sleepy Washington town. However, ditching the stern demeanor and by-the-book personality of other fictional law enforcement figures, Cooper had a polite, enthusiastic, and quirky charm that has made him so beloved among fans. His considerable agency experience and willingness to jump into danger were belied by his fondness for cherry pie, black coffee, and the great outdoors. Lynch upped Cooper's adorability factor in "Twin Peaks: The Return," when he brought the character back in the form of Dougie Jones, who spent much of the show in a baby-like state and gets tangled up with the criminal element in Las Vegas.