RIP: Twin Peaks Log Lady Catherine Coulson passes away at 71

September 29th 2015, 5:46pm

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

"One day my log will have something to say about this."

But today is not that day. Somber news has arrived that the legendary "Log Lady" from Twin Peaks, Catherine Coulson, has passed away of cancer at the age of 71.

Born October 22, 1943 in Ashland, Oregon, USA, Catherine E. Coulson had a long partnership with legendary director David Lynch, beginning as an assistant director on his first film ERASERHEAD. She also starred in the title role of his 1974 short film "The Amputee" before taking on the role of Log Lady in both seasons of Twin Peaks as well as the film TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME.

Says Lynch in a heartfelt statement:

Today I lost one of my dearest friends, Catherine Coulson. Catherine was solid gold. She was always there for her friends — she was filled with love for all people — for her family — for her work. She was a tireless worker. She had a great sense of humor — she loved to laugh and make people laugh. She was a spiritual person — a longtime TM meditator. She was the Log Lady.

Unbeknownst to many, Coulson also worked assistant camera on films as widely varied as STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN, MODERN ROMANCE, YOUNGBLOOD, and NIGHT ON EARTH. She also had an appearance in the cult slasher flick TRICK OR TREATS in 1982.

When asked about her place in the upcoming Twin Peaks reboot, she said that Lynch "suggested I talk about sustainable forestry." It is unfortunate news that she won't be able to take him up on that suggestion, but even sadder news that she has been lost to her friends and family. Our hearts go out to everyone Catherine Coulson knew and everybody she touched with her wide body of work.

She is survived by her husband Marc Sirinsky and their daughter.