The stars, director and producer of “A Beautiful Mind” expressed sadness Sunday over the death of mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr., whose life inspired their 2001 Best Picture Oscar winner.
Nash was killed Saturday with his wife Alicia when the taxicab they were riding in lost control and crashed on the New Jersey Turnpike.
As news of their deaths emerged, Brian Grazer, who produced “A Beautiful Mind” remembered Nash and his wife.
“John Nash offered humanity one of the most incredible triumphs. While he was coping with schizophrenia, he earned the Nobel Prize,” Grazer said in a statement to TheWrap Sunday.
“Most importantly, by agreeing to do ‘A Beautiful Mind,’ his story offered a different perspective into mental disability and helped to destigmatize it for the world,” he continued. “On a personal note, John was kind, gentle, collaborative and always focused on the bigger picture message. His wife was a generous and tireless partner in making his life complete, and helping him to bring all of his achievements to fruition.”
Jennifer Connelly, who won an Oscar for playing Alicia, also remembered the two.
“This is a great loss. John and Alicia Nash were an inspiration and I have deep admiration for all that they accomplished in their lives,” she said in a statement to TheWrap. “My thoughts are with their family.”
Nash, a Princeton University mathematics professor, won the Nobel Prize for economics in 1994.
His battle with paranoid schizophrenia was at the center of Sylvia Nasar’s bestselling 1998 biography of Nash titled “A Beautiful Mind,” and it was the basis of the hit movie starring Russell Crowe. Alicia Nash helped care for her husband, and the two later became prominent mental health advocates.
Crowe and director Ron Howard expressed their condolences on Twitter Sunday. Below are their quotes.
Stunned…my heart goes out to John & Alicia & family.
An amazing partnership. Beautiful minds, beautiful hearts. https://t.co/XF4V9MBwU4— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) May 24, 2015
RIP Brilliant #NobelPrize winning John Nash & and his remarkable wife Alicia. It was an honor telling part of their story #ABeautifulMind
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) May 24, 2015