Sam Shepards death Thursday spurred an outpouring of old Hollywood memories from some of the industrys biggest stars, including Alyssa Milano, Antonio Banderas and Jason Alexander.
Shepard died at his Kentucky home surrounded by loved ones, his family announced Monday. The celebrated playwright and actor had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, family spokesperson Chris Boneau told ABC News. He was 73.
Rest with the angels, Sam Shepard. My condolences to all that loved him. https://t.co/EmkNymyohG
Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) July 31, 2017
Oh MAN. #RIPSamShepard https://t.co/5RMcUMI4az
Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) July 31, 2017
God no!
https://t.co/dlxDMnprTFRon Perlman (@perlmutations) July 31, 2017
Literally bumped into Sam Shepard many years ago, both of us on our way to see Pillow Man on Broadway. We had a great chat/walk. #hero RIP
Don Cheadle (@DonCheadle) July 31, 2017
A great man of the theater has passed. Thank you, Sam Shepard. RIP.
jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) July 31, 2017
A hero of theatre. A hero of writing. A hero of acting. A hero of mine. Sam Shepard RIP.
Nikolaj CosterWaldau (@nikolajcw) July 31, 2017
Sam Shepard was a towering figure in American theater and film. He indeed had the right stuff. His voice will truly be missed. https://t.co/gkkK8KHxum
George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) July 31, 2017
Earlier this year I worked on Sam Shepards True West. His words and characters gave an actor countless gifts to play with.
He was a master.Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) July 31, 2017
Jeanne Moreau, Sam Shepard thank you for enlighten us at 24 frames per second. RIP pic.twitter.com/fPi6HTLnzp
Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) July 31, 2017
Over the course of his prolific career, Shepard wrote more than 40 plays and won the Pulitzer Prize for his drama, Buried Child, in 1979. He is one of the most influential early writers in the Off Broadway movement, and had a particular knack for capturing the darker side of American family life. (Common themes included combative spouses, siblings struggling to find their identities and the failed American Dream.)
Sam Shepard, Actor and Playwright, Dead at 73Charles Manson: How Cult Leader's Twisted Beatles Obsession Inspired Family MurdersWar of the Crowes
Shepard also displayed his talents on-screen as well, most notably in his Oscar-nominated role in 1983sThe Right Stuff, as well as 1986s Crimes of the Heart, 1989s Steel Magnolias and 1999s Dash and Lilly. He most recently starred in Netflixs 2015 Bloodline and had a role in this years Never Here, which hit theaters this past June.
He has worked with actors ranging from Julia Roberts, Diane Keaton and Sissy Spacek to John Malkovich, Meryl Streep and Richard Gere.
Shepard had a high-profile romance with Oscar-winning actress Jessica Lange from 1982 to 2009, and the pair welcomed two children. The actor also has a son from a previous relationship.
He is survived by his children Jesse, Hannah and Walker Shepard and his sisters, Sandy and Roxanne Rogers.