Reaction to the announcement on Monday that actor-playwright Sam Shepard died last week at age 73:
- “He moved on today? We lost one of the great ones. Great writer... Well, all right [points up] see you in the next one Sam.” — Matthew McConaughey, visibly shaken after learning about Shepard’s death on a red carpet on Monday evening.
- “A great man of the theatre has passed. Thank you, Sam Shepard. RIP.” — Actor Jason Alexander on Twitter.
- “Sam Shepard. Whenever he came on-screen, you knew you were in good hands. A frame from Days of Heaven. May he rest in love.” — Filmmaker Ava DuVernay on Twitter.
- “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 on Twitter.
- “I’m coping with Sam Shepard’s death by listening to Prince which is just bumming me out more” — Comedian Whitney Cummings on Twitter.
- “So sad to hear about Sam Shepard passing. A truly original actor and an incredible writer. Sending love to his family. #RIP” — Reese Witherspoon, who included a broken-heart emoji, on Twitter.
- “A hero of theatre. A hero of writing. A hero of acting. A hero of mine. Sam Shepard RIP.” — Actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on Twitter.
- “He was to playwrighting what Brando was to acting. Made it look at itself in a new light, redefined it. Gave us new eyes to see ourselves.” — Actor James Morrison on Twitter.
- “The consummate artist has passed, the one who spanned genre and discipline w/leonine grace + titanic sex appeal and talent. RIP Sam Shepard [sic]” — Screenwriter Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith on Twitter.
- “So sad about the news of Sam Shepard... We still have his theatre and his characters, which will live forever.” — Actor-director Diego Luna on Twitter, translated from Spanish.
“RIP Sam Shepard, a true American legend. My first play at CMU was Cowboy Mouth. Your plays and roles will live on forever.” — Actor Joe Manganiello on Twitter.
- “Sam Shepard is one of the greats. These eyes saw so much, and he wrote of what he saw with fearless, timeless honesty. RIP maestro.” — Writer-producer Beau Willimon on Twitter.
- “Sam Shepard was a towering figure in American theatre and film. He indeed had ‘the right stuff.’ His voice will truly be missed.” — Actor George Takei on Twitter.
- “A true poet cowboy who wrote from the scariest most beautiful parts of the soul. Thank you Sam” — Actress Betty Gilpin on Twitter.
- “Cowboy Slim forever and a day. R.I.P., Sam Shepard. #CowBoyMouth and so much more.” — Actor David Boreanaz on Twitter.
