Hollywood stars took to social media to express their appreciation sadness and appreciation for Wes Craven, the horrormeister behind “A Nightmare on Elm Street” who died Sunday at age 76 after a battle with brain cancer.
David Arquette, who starred in Craven’s original “Scream” movie series, opened a Twitter account on Sunday just so he could pay tribute to the director Craven: “Wes was a great man and I love him very much.”
Arquette’s ex-wife Courteney Cox, whom he met while shooting the first “Scream,” also shared her appreciation for the director: “Today the world lost a great man, my friend and mentor, Wes Craven.”
“Wasn’t it yesterday we were in the swamps 2gether?” tweeted Adrienne Barbeau, the star of Craven’s 1982 film “Swamp Thing. “O Wes, what a loss.”
“You were one of a kind,” Paul Feig, who’s directing the upcoming female-led reboot of “Ghostbusters,” wrote on Twitter. “Thanks for all the years of scares and fun.”
Meanwhile, Comedy Central host Chris Hardwick wrote about his intention to skip tonight’s VMAs on MTV, the network that just rebooted Craven’s “Scream” movies as a TV series. “@LydiaHearst & I are going to watch Wes Craven‘s New Nightmare instead,” he tweeted.
Here are some of the other celebrity tributes that have poured in:
Created this account to say how deeply saddened I am. Wes was a great man and I love him very much… #RIPWesCraven pic.twitter.com/TNpyiFTyS7
— David Arquette (@david_arquette) August 31, 2015
Today the world lost a great man, my friend and mentor, Wes Craven. My heart goes out to his family. x — Courteney Cox (@CourteneyCox) August 31, 2015
Screw the VMAs. @LydiaHearst & I are going to watch Wes Craven‘s New Nightmare instead. #RIPWes – Chris Hardwick (@nerdist) August 31, 2015
Stunned 2 learn of Wes Craven‘s passing. Just doesn’t seem possible. Wasn’t it yesterday we were in the swamps 2gether? O Wes, what a loss. – Adrienne Barbeau (@abarbeau) August 31, 2015
RIP Wes Craven. You were one of a kind. Thanks for all the years of scares and fun. – Paul Feig (@paulfeig) August 31, 2015
Weren’t we lucky to have that first Nightmare on Elm Street? Weren’t we lucky to have Wes Craven? – Joe Hill (@joe_hill) August 31, 2015
I wud have no career if it were not for WES CRAVEN. Thank you for believing in me and giving me a chance. #nowords pic.twitter.com/dNseHweJcF — Jamie Kennedy (@JamieKennedy) August 31, 2015
He directed me in Scream3 and I directed him in J&SB. Fare thee well horror-Gretzky WES CRAVEN. Talented, good guy. http://t.co/LZB0EGzxfV
– KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) August 31, 2015
Thank you for being the kindest man, the gentlest man, and one of the smartest men I’ve known. Please say there’s a plot twist. #wescraven
– rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) August 31, 2015
Shedding tears now. A giant has left us. #wescraven #always #liveon pic.twitter.com/t3ituQLgV1
– rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) August 31, 2015
I had the great privilege of working with #WesCraven one of the kindest most gentle souls, who made great scary films. #RIPWesCraven
– Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) August 31, 2015
My friend Wes has left us too soon. He was truly an Old School director. I had a great time directing him. I’m… http://t.co/NCeEflbdhO
– John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) August 31, 2015
Devastated to hear the news. Wes was a great friend, fine director and good man. Giant loss. Much too soon. http://t.co/3XnIn8UNIF
– John Carpenter (@TheHorrorMaster) August 31, 2015
So sad to hear the news about Wes. An amazing man on set and off and I owe so much to his talents. He will be sorely missed by many…
– Skeet Ulrich (@SkeetMe1) August 31, 2015
Can’t believe the news. Heartfelt sadness and deepest condolences with the passing of Wes Craven. Truly one of my biggest inspirations. #rip
– James Wan (@creepypuppet) August 31, 2015
1st met Wes Craven at AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL when he was fighting the MPAA on first SCREAM film, wish we could see his cut on that! — Harry Knowles (@headgeek666) August 31, 2015
So we have lost the movie maker, Wes Craven. Sorry to hear it. Thanks to Jason G. and others who brought the… http://t.co/BMkVBvfxVE — Anne Rice (@AnneRiceAuthor) August 31, 2015
If there’s a silver lining to Wes Craven‘s passing, it’s that he didn’t have to sit through these fucking #VMAs — Seth Grahame-Smith (@sethgs) August 31, 2015