According to reports, two-time Academy Award-winning composer James Horner has died in a plane crash at the age of 61. Horner, who was also an experienced pilot, was flying one of his aircrafts when it crashed north of Santa Barbara.
This is truly a major loss, as Horner had composed over 150 films and brought audiences some of the most memorable tracks in Hollywood, including James Cameron’s TITANIC, which earned him an Oscar for score and co-writing the original song “My Heart Will Go On” for Celine Dion.
He also composed Cameron’s hugely successful AVATAR (was also attached to do the sequels), BRAVEHEART, APOLLO 13, FIELD OF DREAMS, A BEAUTIFUL MIND, ALIENS, STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KHAN, CASPER and AN AMERICAN TAIL.
Horner’s last films will be Antoine Fugua’s boxing drama SOUTHPAW (July 24), starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and the Chilean miner film THE 33 (November 13).
Rest in peace, maestro. You will be sorely missed.
