By Creative Media Times
John Stephen Dwyer
The great auteur who gave us ‘Silence of the Lambs’ and ‘Philadelphia’ died this morning in New York. He was 73. The Oscar-winning director died of cancer complications.
Demme rose to prominence with a wide range of genres such as the comedies Melvin and Howard (1980) and Married to the Mob (1988), the concert film featuring Talking Heads’ live performance Stop Making Sense (1984) which is hailed as one of the greatest rock movies ever, and the drama Philadelphia (1993) which won star Tom Hanks his first Best Actor Oscar.
But Demme is probably best known for directing “Silence of the Lambs,” the 1991 horror-thriller which swept the Academy Awards, winning the 5 major awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Anthony Hopkins, Best Actress for Jodie Foster and Best Adapted Screenplay for Ted Tally.
As such, this makes ‘Lambs’ only the third film in history to accomplish such a feat, and the first and only horror film to win Best Picture.
Demme is survived by his wife Joanne Howard, and their three children.
Hollywood pay tributeto Jonathan Demme:
Jodie Foster: “I am heart-broken to lose a friend, a mentor, a guy so singular and dynamic you’d have to design a hurricane to contain him. Jonathan was as quirky as his comedies and as deep as his dramas. He was pure energy, the unstoppable cheerleader for anyone creative. Just as passionate about music as he was about art, he was and will always be a champion of the soul. JD, most beloved, something wild, brother of love, director of the lambs. Love that guy. Love him so much.”
Tom Hanks: “Jonathan taught us how big a heart a person can have, and how it will guide how we live and what we do for a living. He was the grandest of men.”
Anthony Hopkins” “I am really shocked and very sad to hear about Jonathan’s passing. He was one of the best, and a really nice guy as well who had such a great spirit. Every day being with him was a high five. My condolences to his family.”
Devastated by the passing of Jonathan Demme. Enormously funny, talented, kind man & a warrior for social justice. Condolences to his family.
— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) April 26, 2017
So sad to hear about #JonathanDemme. We lost a great filmmaker and a lovely man #RIP
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) April 26, 2017
There are individuals whom we meet that forever alter & improve our lives. #jonathandemme was like an agnostic prophet.bless his loving soul pic.twitter.com/GSd6lGWFRf
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) April 26, 2017
Jonathan Demme was a great artist, humanitarian, activist & a warm encouraging colleague. I’ve known very few like him. He will be missed https://t.co/wQv5QRqHoN
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 26, 2017
Jonathan Demme had one of the most varied filmographies of a major filmmaker ever. He followed his own path. pic.twitter.com/xSU6x1GPS1
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) April 26, 2017
