Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Oscar-nominated actor Sam Shepard died on Thursday at his home in Kentucky from complications from ALS. He was 73.
Shepard rose to fame when he won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play “Buried Child.” He was also up for an Academy Award in the supporting actor category for his portrayal of Chuck Yeager in the 1983 film “The Right Stuff.”
His friends and collogues from Hollywood and Broadway took to social media to share their admiration for the acclaimed playwright-actor-screenwriter-director and express their grief.
“Sam Shepard. Whenever he came on-screen, you knew you were in good hands. A frame from ‘Days of Heaven.’ May he rest in love,” Ava DuVernay tweeted.
Sam Shepard. Whenever he came on-screen, you knew you were in good hands. A frame from "Days of Heaven." May he rest in love. pic.twitter.com/DQc0fy7EqN
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 31, 2017
“Literally bumped into Sam Shepard many years ago, both of us on our way to see Pillow Man on Broadway. We had a great chat/walk. #hero RIP,” Don Cheadle wrote.
https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/892054138363629568
“A great man of the theater has passed. Thank you, Sam Shepard. RIP,” Jason Alexander wrote.
A great man of the theater has passed. Thank you, Sam Shepard. RIP.
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) July 31, 2017
“Jeanne Moreau, Sam Shepard thank you for enlighten us at 24 frames per second. RIP,” Antonio Banderas said.
Jeanne Moreau, Sam Shepard thank you for enlighten us at 24 frames per second. RIP pic.twitter.com/fPi6HTLnzp
— Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) July 31, 2017
“Everyone who ever met him or worked with him even for a minute is going to share their Sam Shepard story and it’s going to be fantastic,” James Morrison wrote.
https://twitter.com/JamesPMorrison/status/892039901994139648
“Sam Shepard is one of the greats. These eyes saw so much, and he wrote of what he saw with fearless, timeless honesty. RIP maestro,” Beau Willimon wrote.
Sam Shepard is one of the greats. These eyes saw so much, and he wrote of what he saw with fearless, timeless honesty. RIP maestro. pic.twitter.com/pIY4FWxXtZ
— Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) July 31, 2017
“Sam Shepard was a towering figure in American theater and film. He indeed had ‘the right stuff.’ His voice will truly be missed,” George Takei said.
Sam Shepard was a towering figure in American theater and film. He indeed had "the right stuff." His voice will truly be missed. https://t.co/gkkK8KHxum
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2017
“First became a Sam Shepard fan as a playwright when I was in Buried Child @BU_SOT Tremendously talented actor as well. Gone too soon. RIP,” Michael Chiklis said.
First became a Sam Shepard fan as a playwright when I was in Buried Child @BU_SOT Tremendously talented actor as well. Gone too soon. RIP
— Michael Chiklis (@MichaelChiklis) July 31, 2017
“R.I.P. Sam Shepard – cowboy poet dramatist of the American family shadow. A legend,” Rainn Wilson said.
R.I.P. Sam Shepard – cowboy poet dramatist of the American family shadow. A legend.
— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) July 31, 2017
See other reflections below:
Heartbroken…Sam Shepard has died. 2x @TheTonyAwards-nom'd playwright was an original voice and a theatre legend. https://t.co/D99L7zdXL4 pic.twitter.com/v1ykYi2Mzu
— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) July 31, 2017
I had the privilege of working with Sam Shepard when I was very young. I remember a very giving a generous man. Sad to see him go. pic.twitter.com/TNpgPnviBT
— Jesse Lee Soffer (@jesseleesoffer) July 31, 2017
Sam Shepard has long been a hero of mine. A versatile artist with an unflinching style entirely his own. A renegade renaissance man. RIP.
— John Gallagher, Jr. (@JohnGallagherJr) July 31, 2017
And now Sam Shepard pic.twitter.com/vF85U6hNWM
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) July 31, 2017
#SamShepard 's Lie of the Mind changed my life. An American hero of the arts, he is irreplaceable. #RIPSamShepard
— Jennifer Beals (@jenniferbeals) July 31, 2017
Paul just said "He left us a lot" about Sam Shepard. He's right. 🖤
— zoe kazan (@zoeinthecities) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/jehorowitz/status/892053214404632578
Rest n Peace Sam Shepard. A theatrical n literary giant who's artistic voice will be missed n this troubled world.
— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) July 31, 2017
God no!
https://t.co/dlxDMnprTF— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) July 31, 2017
Rest with the angels, Sam Shepard. My condolences to all that loved him. https://t.co/EmkNymyohG
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 31, 2017
Sam Shepard, Patti Smith, NYC, 1971 pic.twitter.com/2czI5o5sTE
— John DeVore (@JohnDeVore) July 31, 2017
RIP Sam Shepard. Ride on, genius.
— marc maron (@marcmaron) July 31, 2017
Such sad news. https://t.co/Qei4QmoPup
— Owen Teague (@RealOwenTeague) July 31, 2017
A hero of theatre. A hero of writing. A hero of acting. A hero of mine. Sam Shepard RIP.
— Nikolaj CosterWaldau (@nikolajcw) July 31, 2017
Oh MAN. #RIPSamShepard https://t.co/5RMcUMI4az
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/BillCorbett/status/892033807850909696
There's gonna be a general lack of toast in the neighborhood this morning. Goodbye Sam Shepard.
— Thomas Lennon (@thomaslennon) July 31, 2017
I had the honor of playing Sam Shepard's son in one of my first films. He was a class act whose work profoundly influenced me & the world.
— Paul Wesley (@paulwesley) July 31, 2017
