Twin Peaks’ Catherine Coulson, aka the Log Lady, dies

US actress Catherine Coulson, best known for playing the Log Lady in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, has died at the age of 71.

Coulson is best known for her role as the "Log Lady" in the David Lynch series "Twin Peaks." Picture: Getty

Mary Dangerfield, Coulson’s agent and friend, said today that the family had not yet made the cause of death public.

“We are all deeply sad – she meant so much to so many,” Ms Dangerfield said.

Lynch said in a statement: “Today, I lost one of my dearest friends, Catherine Coulson.”

He added: “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.”

The director praised her “great sense of humour”, and said she was “a spiritual person – a long-time meditator. She was the Log Lady”.

Coulson appeared in Lynch’s 1974 short film The Amputee and was assistant director on his 1977 debut feature film Eraserhead, before playing the Log Lady on both series of Twin Peaks and in the prequel film, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.

It was on the set of Eraserhead that Coulson and Lynch began to discuss the idea of a woman who carried around a log.

Her other credits include Blue Velvet and Mulholland Drive.