Hollywood has been delivered another blow. Another tragic act that has left everyone in mourning. An act that has caused the celebrities and public to take to social media and express their sorrow.
The great actor, Bill Paxton, has passed away at the age of 61 due to complications from surgery.
Everyone from James Cameron, Helen Hunt, Conan O'Brien and even storm chasers have all expressed their immense sadness and respect for Paxton. They have all mentioned how Paxton was not only a wonderful actor, but also a fantastic guy.
He has been described as someone who was very loving, funny and just an overall warm individual -- someone you would be lucky to have gotten the chance to know. Storm chasers all over the world paid tribute to the Twister's star with the use of their GPS's. With their Spotter Network markers, they lined up their cars along "tornado alley" in Kansas and Oklahoma in the shape of Paxton's initials. Many people shared their ode to the late actor on Twitter.
Other celebrity tribute came from talk show host, Conan O'Brien. He started his show the Monday after Paxton's passing with an encounter he had with the actor.
"You hear that a lot when people die, but everybody was unanimously saying, 'He was one of the nicest people I ever worked with,' in addition to being incredibly talented. But I was thinking about this thing that I actually witnessed Bill Paxton do that made me realize they're absolutely right," he said.
He goes on to explain how he and staffer, Jason Chillemi, go out one night to see a play.
"We're taking our seats and someone taps me on the shoulder and it's Bill Paxton."
O'Brien then goes on to tell the actor how much Chillemi loved Tombstone and asked Paxton to talk to him.
"He goes over to Jason and starts whispering in his ear. Jason has a beard and it almost falls off. His eyes get big as quarters. I go over to Jason and I'm like, 'What the hell did he say?' and he responded with 'he just leaned over and recited to me, quietly, all of his lines from Tombstone'."
"Who does that?!?" O'Brien says. "That's one of those things that when you witness true kindness — true humanity — you feel like, 'let's just take a second.' What a great man."
Training Day, the show Paxton was currently starring in, dedicated the first episode to the actor and tweeted out "We will always remember you, Bill Paxton."
James Cameron paid his respects by issuing a statement to Variety.
"I’ve been reeling from this for the past half hour, trying to wrap my mind and heart around it. Bill leaves such a void. He and I were close friends for 36 years since we met on the set of a Roger Corman ultra-low budget movie. He came into work on set, and I slapped a paint brush in his hand and pointed to a wall, saying ‘Paint that!’ We quickly recognized the creative spark in each other and became fast friends,” he said. "What followed was 36 years of making films together, helping develop each others’ projects, going on scuba diving trips together, watching each others’ kids growing up, even diving the Titanic wreck together in Russian subs. It was a friendship of laughter, adventure, love of cinema, and mutual respect. Bill wrote beautiful, heartfelt and thoughtful letters, an anachronism in this age of digital shorthand. He took good care of his relationships with people, always caring and present for others. He was a good man, a great actor, and a creative dynamo. I hope that amid the gaudy din of Oscar night, people will take a moment to remember this wonderful man, not just for all the hours of joy he brought to us with his vivid screen presence, but for the great human that he was. The world is a lesser place."
Helen Hunt tweeted, "He made this movie (Twister) great -- he acted his heart out. What a talented man. My thoughts are with his family."
Friend and former costar Rob Lowe tweeted "Devastated by the sudden loss of my close friend and one of the finest actors in the business, Bill Paxton. Renaissance man, raconteur and uniquely American national treasure. His filmography speaks for itself. His friendship was a blessing. My love to Bunny, James and Lydia."
Paxton is survived by his two kids, James and Lydia, and his wife Louise Newbury.
