New York: Oscar-winning movie director, documentary filmmaker and activist Jonathan Demme, best known for The Silence of the Lambs, has died at the age of 73.
Demme, who also directed the Oscar-winning film Philadelphia, was suffering from oesophageal cancer, publicist Annalee Paulo said in a statement. She said he died in New York on Wednesday morning surrounded by his family.
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Silence of the Lambs director dies
After succumbing to esophageal cancer, Jonathan Demme, director of Silence of the Lambs and Talking Heads movie Stop Making Sense has died.
"Jonathan passed away early this morning in his Manhattan apartment, surrounded by his wife, Joanne Howard, and three children. He died from complications from oesophageal cancer," Paulo said.
Demme's most recent film was the 2015 comedy Ricki and the Flash, starring Meryl Streep as an ageing rocker.
![Jonathan Demme , 73, has died of cancer and complications from heart disease.](/web/20170429201011im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/t/a/g/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvtafg.png/1493337006514.jpg)
New York-born Demme won the directing Oscar for the 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs, which also won Oscars for best picture and for its stars Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.
Demme's work was wide ranging, including comedy and thrillers to groundbreaking fare like 1993 film Philadelphia, which was one of the first mainstream Hollywood movies to tackle the AIDS crisis. The movie brought an Oscar for Tom Hanks.
He also directed concert and music documentaries for the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Chesney and Neil Young, the Talking Heads, and more recently, Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids.
Other notable films include the 2008 independent drama Rachel Getting Married, The Manchurian Candidate (2004) and 1988 comedy Married to the Mob.
![Demme, left, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins all won Oscars in 1992 for their work on 'Silence of the Lambs'.](/web/20170429201011im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/t/a/g/c/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvtafg.png/1493337006514.jpg)
Paulo said the funeral for Demme would be private and that in lieu of flowers the family had asked that donations be made to the group Americans For Immigrant Justice, in Miami, Florida.
Tom Hanks told EW magazine that Demme was the "grandest of men" and said: "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."
![Tom Hanks starred in Demme's groundbreaking movie 'Philadelphia'.](/web/20170429201011im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/t/a/g/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gvtafg.png/1493337006514.jpg)
Stevie Van Zandt, a member of Springsteen's E Street Band, was among those mourning his death on social media. "Oh no. Jonathan Demme. One of our great filmmakers one of the most beautiful souls on the planet. Another magical irreplaceable friend gone," he said on Twitter.
So sad to hear about #JonathanDemme. We lost a great filmmaker and a lovely man #RIP
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) April 26, 2017
Met tons through the Moonlight run but my man Demme was the kindest, most generous. A MASSIVE soul. He lived in love. And rests in peace.
— Barry Jenkins (@BandryBarry) April 26, 2017
Jonathan Demme was a great artist, humanitarian, activist & a warm encouraging colleague. I've known very few like him. He will be missed https://t.co/wQv5QRqHoN
— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) April 26, 2017
Just heard Jonathan Demme has passed. I can't process. He's a hero, an artist, an example, a goal, a visionary, a pinnacle & a master. RIP
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) April 26, 2017
Reuters