Academy Award-winning composer James Horner, who worked on Titanic, Braveheart, Field of Dreams, Avatar, Apollo 13, and scores of other Hollywood films, died Monday in a plane crash near Santa Barbara, California. He was 61.
His death was confirmed by his assistant Sylvia Patrycja, The Hollywood Reporter says. Officials said he was piloting the aircraft when it went down in a remote area 60 miles north of Santa Barbara. "We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent," Patrycja wrote on Facebook. "He died doing what he loved."
Horner received two Oscars for his work on Titanic: One for original dramatic score and another for original song, shared with lyricist Will Jennings, for "My Heart Will Go On." He has three more films coming out this year: Southpaw, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams scheduled for a July release; Wolf Totem, due in September; and The 33, out in November.
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