Legendary Broadway Songwriter Stephen Sondheim Dies At 91

Legendary Broadway songwriter Stephen Sondheim died Friday at the age of 91.

Sondheim’s death came as a surprise to many as he died suddenly, and was not known to have any illnesses. No cause of death has been announced.

Sondheim had apparently been celebrating Thanksgiving with his family the night before, making his death very sudden.

Many within the Broadway community mourned his death and honored his life on social media, remembering everything that he had created.

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Sondheim is known as a legend within the Broadway community, having composed many plays. His breakout success West Side Story ran for 732 performances and was nominated for six Tony Awards. The film will receive its second film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg next month.

“Our entire home was festooned with classical musical albums, and I grew up surrounded by classical music. West Side Story was actually the first piece of popular music our family ever allowed into the home,” Spielberg told Vanity Fair. “I absconded with it – this was the cast album from the 1957 Broadway musical – and just fell completely in love with it as a kid. West Side Story has been that one haunting temptation that I have finally given in to.”