Earlier this evening I saw a report stating film composer James Horner (Titanic, Avatar) was unaccounted for after a plane believed to belong to Horner crashed in Santa Barbara. Variety has now confirmed Horner, a trained pilot, died in the crash. He was 61.
The Santa Barbara County Fire responded to a call of a plane crash around 9:30 AM this morning in the community of Venucopa, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, where the crash started a one-acre brushfire.
On top of his Oscar-winning work on James Cameron‘s Titanic including the score and the hit Celine Dion song, “My Heart Will Go On,” Horner also composed scores for Braveheart, Apollo 13, Aliens, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and A Beautiful Mind as well as the upcoming releases Southpaw and The 33.
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
https://twitter.com/XDolan/status/613203164335095808
You were one of my childhood heroes, James. Thank you for the inspiration, you will be greatly missed.
— Michael Giacchino (@m_giacchino) June 23, 2015
So saddened by the loss of James Horner, an incredible inspiration and a brilliant composer. I just can't believe it.
— Brian Tyler (@BrianTylerMusic) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/creepypuppet/status/613195453304324096
https://twitter.com/creepypuppet/status/613193844138594304
Last time I spoke to JH he was scoring for a kid at AFI. 2 Oscars and he agreed to score a student film! What generosity. #RIPJamesHorner
— Marc Webb (@MarcW) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/SethMacFarlane/status/613206906677645313
Devastated about James Horner.
— Jamie Bell (@1jamiebell) June 23, 2015
Listening to the #Braveheart score on the radio right now in honor of #JamesHorner. Reminded of what a huge loss his passing is. RIP
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 23, 2015
I am lucky to be able to say I was in a movie that was scored by #JamesHorner. Flights of angels dear sweet beautiful mind…
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 23, 2015
A tragic loss to our industry. Grew up to his film scores. Prayers to his family & loved ones. RIP James Horner. https://t.co/Nozoo0dd46
— Ming-Na Wen (@MingNa) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/evanrachelwood/status/613229524478595072
My sincere condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of James Horner. #abeautifulmind
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) June 23, 2015
I"m so sad to hear about James Horner..He scored the first movie I did..Star Trek 2…great composer..great person…huge loss
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) June 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/DebraMessing/status/613188185057849344
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
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
James Horner scored so many dreams, nightmares and memories of mine. This is tragic…a Maestro has been unfairly silenced. #RIP
— Joe Lynch (@TheJoeLynch) June 23, 2015
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