While Hollywood mourns the death of two-time Oscar-winning composer James Horner, who was killed in a small plane crash Monday, his representatives at the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency released a touching statement in honor of their prolific client.
“It is with the deepest regret and sorrow that we mourn the tragic passing of our dear colleague, long-time client and great friend, composer James Horner,” Michael Gorfaine, Sam Schwartz and the staff at the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, said in a statement to TheWrap.
“A shining light has been extinguished, which can never be replaced. It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with James since the inception of our agency. For more than three decades, his unique creative genius made an indelible imprint on each of our lives and on those of the entire Hollywood community.”
A plane registered to the 61-year-old “Titanic” composer crashed near Ventucopa, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, at approximately 9.30 a.m. There were no survivors at the scene.
The flight originated from Camarillo Airport and the pilot had planned to return there later in the day, a spokesperson for the NTSB told TheWrap. Investigators will likely be onsite for two days, and the aircraft will likely be moved to a hangar facility in Sacramento Thursday or Friday.
Horner, whose credits include the scores for “Braveheart,” “Glory” and “Legends of the Fall,” has won two Oscars, in the Best Music, Original Song category and Best Music, Original Dramatic Score categories, both for “Titanic.”
Read the full statement from the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency below.
It is with the deepest regret and sorrow that we mourn the tragic passing of our dear colleague, long-time client and great friend, composer James Horner. An avid and experienced pilot, James was flying a single-engine aircraft that crashed in a remote area of northern Ventura County, California, shortly before 9:30am PDT on Monday morning. He was 61 years old.
Our thoughts and prayers are with James’ family at this difficult time, and also with the millions of people around the world who loved his music. A shining light has been extinguished, which can never be replaced. It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with James since the inception of our agency. For more than three decades, his unique creative genius made an indelible imprint on each of our lives and on those of the entire Hollywood community. There is not a person in our GSA family who wasn’t touched by the power and reach of his music, and who isn’t diminished by his loss.
We express our love and sincere condolences to James’ wife Sara and his two daughters, Emily and Becky. And we take comfort in the belief that in his last moments, James was doing something from which he derived such great joy. His spirit will continue to soar, and he will be with us always.
Michael Gorfaine, Sam Schwartz,
and everyone at the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency