Hollywood took to Twitter to pay respects to actor and playwright Sam Shepard, who passed away on July 27 due to complications of ALS.
Shepard had a long and illustrious career in theater, television and film. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1979 for his play, “Buried Child,” and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1983’s “The Right Stuff.” Overall he wrote more than 40 plays, appeared in more than 50 films, in addition to numerous TV roles and published fiction.
Actor James Morrison tweeted out what to expect from Twitter on Monday as news spreads about Shepard’s passing. “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,” he wrote.
Morrison was correct. People took to Twitter to pay their respects even if they hadn’t gotten the chance to work with him. Teen Vogue writer Lauren Duca said that “we understand this ugly world a little bit better because of you” while actor Bill Corbett said that his energy too theater into another direction. “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon said Shepard was “one of the greats.” And actress Azita Ghanizada, who worked with Shepard on the television pilot “Tough Trade,” said the “real cowboy” “waxed poetic about everything.”
Check out some of the other reactions below.
https://twitter.com/JamesPMorrison/status/892039901994139648
Sam Shepard was a real cowboy. Waxed poetic about everything from farming to plays, music &❤️. Honored I got to work w/ him. Rest well sir. pic.twitter.com/kLkd1LrFNd
— Azita Ghanizada (@AzitaGhanizada) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/luckyyates/status/892042459810758656
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
RIP Sam Shepard. We understand this ugly world a little bit better because of you. pic.twitter.com/3QnTw5ZK63
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/BillCorbett/status/892036959987802113
God no!
https://t.co/dlxDMnprTF— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) July 31, 2017
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
https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/892036864017694720
Rest in paradise, Sam Shepard. Your work will live on forever! https://t.co/lZfXfwdY0J
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) July 31, 2017
Such sadness ! RIP #samshepard. 💔😩 pic.twitter.com/agzAMvmCbq
— Tatiana de Rosnay (@tatianaderosnay) July 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/alissamarie/status/892034545880408064
https://twitter.com/henderstu/status/892039980582940672