The End - the Classic Film Obituary thread 2017 [CLOSED]

Jonathan Demme has died at the age of 73. He was born on February 22nd, 1944 in Baldwin, New York. He shared a birthday with Luis Bunuel, Giulietta Masina & Miou-Miou. He's remembered in Variety :

Jonathan Demme (1944 - 2017)

"Jonathan Demme was a great artist, humanitarian, activist & a warm encouraging colleague. I've known very few like him."

- Ron Howard

“Whenever I ran into Jonathan, he was filled with enthusiasm and excitement about a new project. He took so much joy in moviemaking. His pictures have an inner lyricism that just lifts them off the ground – even a story like ‘The Silence of the Lambs.’ I have great admiration for Jonathan as a filmmaker – I love the freshness of his style and his excellent use of music, from Buddy Holly to Miklos Rozsa. There’s so much more to be said, and I hardly know where to begin. I also loved him as a friend, and to me he was always young. My young friend. The idea that he’s gone seems impossible to me.”

- Martin Scorsese

“My wife Julie and I were friends with Jonathan Demme for over 40 years. He started in Publicity at New World Pictures before writing and directing his early films for us, but really, he was a friend first and foremost. His Greatness as a filmmaker and as an artist is only exceeded by his Greatness as a human being. Our thoughts are with Jonathan’s family.”

- Roger Corman


"Deeply sad to hear my friend, neighbor, and colleague Jonathan Demme has passed on. He was one of the real good guys. I miss you, buddy."

- Stephen King

“A big-hearted, big tent, compassionate man in full embrace in his life of people in need and of the potential of art, music, poetry and film to fill that need. A big loss to the caring world.”

- Meryl Streep

“I am heart-broken to lose a friend, a mentor, a guy so singular and dynamic you’d have to design a hurricane to contain him. Jonathan was as quirky as his comedies and as deep as his dramas. He was pure energy, the unstoppable cheerleader for anyone creative. Just as passionate about music as he was about art, he was and will always be a champion of the soul. JD, most beloved, something wild, brother of love, director of the lambs. Love that guy. Love him so much.”

- Jodie Foster


I've been watching and enjoying Demme's work for as long as I can remember; I consider him to be one of America's greatest filmmakers. I'll miss him.

Thanks for the movies Jonathan, and thanks for the music.