“Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator
on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved
ones,” wrote director and colleague Ron Howard on Twitter.
Horner won two Oscars for his work on “Titanic” – one
for its theme song “My Heart Will Go On”, performed by Celine Dion, and
another for the film’s score.
He also won Oscar nominations for the music of numerous
other box-office hits, including “Apollo 13,” “Braveheart” and “Field of
Dreams.” His first nomination came in 1986 for the sci-fi horror film “Aliens.”
Horner’s most recent Oscar nomination was for another sci-fi
epic, James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar”.
With expansive and emotive soundscapes, Horner’s scores
carried films to their climax and accompanied top actors as they delivered some
of their most moving performances.
Tender kisses in “The Amazing Spider-Man,” grand battles in
“Troy” and moments of stirring drama in “A Beautiful Mind” were all set up by
Horner’s hand.
American film touchstones of the 1990s such as “Patriot
Games”, “Searching for Bobby Fischer” and “Jumanji” were also composed by
Horner.
Top actors and directors in the film and television world paid tribute
to Horner online.
“Incredibly saddened to hear about the loss of James Horner.
I grew up loving his work. He leaves behind a spectacular musical legacy,”
television series creator Seth MacFarlane tweeted.
“There is nothing that shaped my movie-going experience more
than the musical genius of James Horner. He will live on through the ages,”
tweeted actor Rob Lowe.
Actor Ron Perlman, who starred in “Enemy at the Gates”, said
he was “lucky to be able to say I was in a movie that was scored by James
Horner.”
“Flights of angels dear sweet beautiful mind…,” he wrote on
Twitter.
Other composers also spoke of Horner’s lasting influence on their
careers.
“James Horner, thank you for inspiring a young me to pursue
a career in film music. Thank you for your music. Rest in peace.” wrote Steve
Jablonsky who composed music for the “Transformers” film series.
Horner also scored popular animated films “The Land Before
Time” (1988) and “An American Tail: Fievel Goes West” (1991).
He was nominated for an Oscar for the song “Somewhere Out
There” in “An American Tail.”
