Sondheim’s death came as a shock to many in the film and theater communities, as he was known for his dynamic persona (and even very recently gave an interview to The New York Times and visited “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”). Collaborators and friends took to social media to remember the icon, including Steven Spielberg, who offered this statement to Deadline:
“Stephen Sondheim was a gigantic figure in American culture — one of our country’s greatest songwriters, a lyricist and composer of real genius, and a creator of some of the most glorious musical dramas ever written. Steve and I became friends only recently, but we became good friends, and I was surprised to discover he knew more about movies than almost anyone I’d ever met. When we spoke, I couldn’t wait to listen, awestruck by the originality of his perceptions of art, politics and people — all delivered brilliantly by his mischievous wit and dazzling words. I will miss him very much, but he left a body of work that has taught us, and will keep teaching us, how hard and how absolutely necessary it is to love.”
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See more reactions from the stage and screen communities below.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 27, 2021
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 27, 2021
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) November 26, 2021
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) November 26, 2021
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) November 26, 2021
— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) November 26, 2021
— Kristin Chenoweth (@KChenoweth) November 26, 2021
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 26, 2021
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) November 26, 2021
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) November 26, 2021
— Elaine Paige (@elaine_paige) November 26, 2021
— Sondheim Society (@SondheimSociety) November 26, 2021 Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
