Former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela died Thursday afternoon, and the outpouring of appreciation for his global contributions from Hollywood was swift.
Hollywood’s connection has never been closer – Mandela is the subject of the hotly anticipated “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” starring Idris Elba as the icon, and the love story between Mandela and wife Winnie was featured in September release “Winnie Mandela,” starring Terrence Howard and Jennifer Hudson.
Also Read: Idris Elba, Morgan Freeman React to Nelson Mandela Death
Here is what they’ve had to say:
https://twitter.com/WeinsteinFilms/status/408719607977877505
Never met a better person in my life than Nelson Mandela. My sympathy to his family & his country.
— Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) December 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/EmileHirsch/status/408718722229370880
https://twitter.com/SpikeLee/status/408720553290522624
R.I.P. Nelson Mandela. Humanity at its absolute best.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) December 5, 2013
Today is officially one of the saddest days! The world has lost the most inspirational person to ever walk the earth rip #NelsonMandela
— Kelly! (@KellyOsbourne) December 5, 2013
Nelson Mandela, rest in peace. What an unbelievable legacy…
— Neil Patrick Harris (@ActuallyNPH) December 5, 2013
The world has lost a great man in Nelson Mandela http://t.co/7H8hUrxaP0
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) December 5, 2013
I remember Soweto. Election day 1994. Standing in line with elderly South Africans voting for the first time in their lives. #Mandela
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) December 5, 2013
Today marks the passing of one of the world’s great leaders and visionaries, Nelson Mandela. Farewell, Madiba. http://t.co/HerYzsPbMJ
— Al Gore (@algore) December 5, 2013
Rest in peace Nelson Mandela
— Chelsea Peretti (@chelseaperetti) December 5, 2013
There were only 3 people that I wanted to meet in life, Nelson Mandela was one of them.
— Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) December 5, 2013
My statement on the passing of a hero, President Mandela: http://t.co/ce8FyjCzN1
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) December 5, 2013
https://twitter.com/lindsaylohan/status/408724310308564992
RIP Nelson Mandela. God Bless You. http://t.co/yRZh3RrP7K
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) December 5, 2013