Justin Timberlake paid tribute to Jonathan Demme following the Oscar-winning director’s death on Wednesday.
The singer shared a black and white photo of himself and Demme, with a lengthy caption honoring the director. Demme directed last year’s concert documentary “Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids,” which chronicled the final days of Timberlake’s most recent tour.
“Where do I begin..? Words just aren’t enough with heartache like this,” Timberlake wrote. “You, master of humanity. You, genius of storytelling. You, generous and warm man. You, special soul.”
“You taught me so much about life and art and about standing up for what you believe,” the post continued. “You made me better at my craft. And, the time I spent with you away from a camera and a stage made a better human out of me. You are truly irreplaceable. I will miss you so dearly, my sweet friend. I hope we meet again someday.”
Demme, best known for winning an Oscar for directing “The Silence of the Lambs,” died Wednesday in New York of esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease. He was originally treated for the disease in 2010, but suffered from a recurrence in 2015. His condition deteriorated in recent weeks leading to his passing.
Demme’s other credits include “Philadelphia,” “Rachel Getting Married,” “Melvin and Howard,” “Swing Shift” and “Something Wild.”