The death of two-time Oscar-winning “Titanic” composer James Horner prompted heartfelt reactions across Hollywood via social media.
While it was initially unknown whether Horner was piloting the plane that is registered to him that crashed Monday in the Santa Barbara, California, area leaving one dead, the entertainment industry rapidly responded with condolences when the tragedy was confirmed.
Ron Howard, who worked with Horner on a number of films including “A Beautiful Mind,” was one of the first to mourn his death via Twitter.
“Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones,” Howard wrote.
“There is nothing that shaped my movie-going experience more than the musical genius of James Horner. He will live on through the ages,” Rob Lowe wrote on Twitter.
“Ted 2” creator Seth MacFarlane said he was a fan from a young age: “I grew up loving his work. He leaves behind a spectacular musical legacy.”
“RIP James Horner. One of my biggest influences and one of the main reasons I decided to become a composer. My thoughts are with his family,” Neal Acree, a composer for video games such as “World of Warcraft,” “Starcraft” and “Diablo” tweeted.
In addition to his love of music, Horner had a lifelong passion for flying since his boyhood days growing up around air shows. He reportedly owned five airplanes.
The Santa Barbara County Fire department arrived at the scene of the crash near Ventucopa, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, at approximately 9.30 a.m. and discovered debris. There were no survivors at the scene. According to CBS2, the FAA issued an alert for a single-engine S-312 Tucano MK-1.
Horner, 61, whose other 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.”
He recently completed work on the score for Antoine Fuqua‘s boxing drama “Southpaw,” which The Weinstein Company is set to release on July 24.
Read the tweets below:
Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones.
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) June 23, 2015
My condolences, love and respect to James Horner's family and to all of you who loved his music and his truly… http://t.co/oubz4S9PWk
— Richard Hatch (@thumbfighter) June 23, 2015
There is nothing that shaped my movie-going experience more than the musical genius of James Horner. He will live on through the ages.
— Rob Lowe (@RobLowe) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/SethMacFarlane/status/613206906677645313
https://twitter.com/SethMacFarlane/status/613206906677645313
RIP JAMES Horner
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) June 23, 2015
I am hoping with all my heart that James Horner was not in his plane this morning. RIP to the pilot that died. Just awful.
— josh groban (@joshgroban) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/kyle_newman/status/613178348424945664
RIP James Horner. One of my biggest influences and one of the main reasons I decided to become a composer. My thoughts are with his family.
— Neal Acree (@neal_acree) June 23, 2015
James Horner helped define my love of cinema as a child. One of the greatest film composers of all time. So tragic if he is gone.
— Richard Kelly (@JRichardKelly) June 23, 2015
James Horner's scores made good films as good as they could be and bad films better than they actually were. Rest In Peace.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) June 23, 2015