Eddie Van Halen death: Jimmy Kimmel, Josh Gad, other stars react

Eddie Van Halen, the guitar virtuoso whose blinding speed, control and innovation propelled his band Van Halen into one of hard rock's biggest groups and became elevated to the status of rock god, has died after battling cancer. He was 65. "He was the best father I could ask for,'' Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, wrote in a social media post. "Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift." Stars in Hollywood reacted to the tragic loss.

“Two of the best hours of my life were spent chatting with Eddie Van Halen. A great musician, yes — also a funny and lovely guy who will be missed terribly. Sending love to Janie, Wolf, Alex & all those who loved him,” Jimmy Kimmel tweeted.

“Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family,” tweeted Sammy Hagar.

“Sad to hear Eddie Van Halen has passed away. A guitar innovator with a fierce spirit of musical and technical exploration. Prayers and thoughts with his family and friends,” Yusuf/Cat Stevens tweeted.

“Rest in peace guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. Broken heart We will miss you,” tweeted Billy Idol.

“My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie!,” Gene Simmons tweeted.

“I’m so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life,” Van Halen’s ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli wrote on Instagram.

“Crushed. So (expletive) crushed. RIP Eddie Van Halen. You changed our world. You were the Mozart of rock guitar. Travel safe rockstar,” tweeted Nikki Sixx.

“Oh NO! Speechless. A trailblazer and someone who always gave everything to his music. A good soul. I remember first seeing him playing at the Starwood in 1976 and he WAS Eddie Van Halen. So shocked and sad. My condolences to Wolfie and the family,” Paul Stanley tweeted.

“It wouldn’t be an hour of the day or a day of the week in the year 2020 if we didn’t at least get 22 simultaneous pieces of awful every few minutes. RIP #VanHalen,” actor Josh Gad tweeted.