Jonathan Demme, ‘Silence Of The Lambs’ Director, Dead At 73

Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme died Wednesday morning from complications from esophageal cancer. He was 73.

DIRECTOR JONATHAN DEMME DIES AT 73

“Sadly, I can confirm that Jonathan passed away early this morning in his Manhattan apartment, surrounded by his wife, Joanne Howard, and three children,” Demme’s publicist said.

Demme began his career working for producer Roger Corman, directing exploitation movies including 1974’s Caged Heat and 1975’s Cloris Leachman film Crazy Mama. He got critical acclaim for his 1980 dramedy Melvin and Howard, for which Mary Steenburgen won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Demme became one of the most admired directors in the country throughout the 1980s, making many dark comedy films like Something Wild and Married to the Mob. He hit critical and commercial success in 1992 with Silence of the Lambs starring Jodie Foster and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Hopkins took home the Academy Award for Best Actor that year, and Demme earned a Best Director Oscar.

“I am heartbroken to lose a friend, a mentor, a guy so singular and dynamic you’d have to design a hurricane to contain him,” Foster said. “Jonathan was as quirky as his comedies and as deep as his dramas. He was pure energy; the unstoppable cheerleader for anyone creative.”

Tom Hanks also won a Best Actor Oscar from a Demme’s film Philadelphia. Demme also directed such films as The Manchurian Candidate remake and Rachel Getting Married.

“Jonathan taught us how big a heart a person can have, and how it will guide how we live and what we do for a living,” said Hanks in a statement. “He was the grandest of men.”

In addition to Hollywood features, Demme also made many documentaries. He directed Stop Making Sense, about a 1984 Talking Heads concert, as well as docs on Neil Young and Justin Timberlake.

In lieu of flowers, Demme’s family is asking mourners to make donations in his honor to Americans For Immigrant Justice in Miami, Florida.