Dylan Sprouse says meeting David Lynch inspired him to quit smoking

Dylan Sprouse has shared a memorable story about late filmmaker David Lynch, saying one encounter with the director convinced him to quit smoking.

Speaking on Amanda Hirsch's Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, Sprouse said he and his wife, Barbara Palvin, were having dinner in Los Angeles when they realized Lynch and actress Laura Dern were seated behind them.

A longtime fan of Lynch, Sprouse said he stepped outside for a cigarette rather than interrupt the director. Lynch soon joined him and politely asked if he could borrow a cigarette. Moments later, Dern came outside, and Lynch gave her a cigarette from a new pack he had in his pocket.

As they finished smoking, Lynch thanked Sprouse, saying, "I just want to tell you, you're very polite. Thank you," before leaving.

Sprouse said the brief exchange left a lasting impression. He decided to stop smoking because he felt he would "never have a better cigarette" than the one he shared with Lynch. He added that the encounter and Lynch's kindness meant more to him than a photo or autograph.

Lynch, the director of Mulholland Drive and co-creator of Twin Peaks, died in January 2025 at the age of 78. He had revealed in 2024 that he had emphysema after decades of smoking and had described cigarettes as an important part of his creative life.