Isabella Rossellini, who had her breakout role in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet" and went on to date the man for five years, paid tribute to the late director following his death. "I loved him so much. Thanks for all your kind messages,

Isabella Rossellini has paid tribute to David Lynch — whose death was announced yesterday — with a post on Instagram. Rossellini shared an image of the pair embracing. The caption read: “I loved him so much. Thanks for all your kind messages.”

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.

With such hallucinogenic masterworks as 'Eraserhead,' 'Blue Velvet,' 'Mulholland Drive,' 'Twin Peaks' and 'The Elephant Man,' he often left more questions than answers.

David Lynch, the filmmaker celebrated for his uniquely dark and dreamlike vision in such movies as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive” and the TV series “Twin Peaks,” has died just days before his 79th birthday.

The renowned director mixed melodrama and horror in movies such as “Blue Velvet” and “Mulholland Drive.” He helped trigger a TV revolution with “Twin Peaks.”