Prolific film composer James Horner has died when his small plane, a two-seater S-312 Tucano MK1 turbo-prop, crashed in the Los Padres national forest near Santa Barbara.

His death was confirmed on Facebook by his assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, who posted the tragic news. “We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent,” Patrycja said. “He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support.”

Director Ron Howard, for whom Horner composed the scores to Willow, Apollo 13 and Cocoon, posted on Twitter, “Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones.”

Horner was a prodigious talent and his scores were a staple of film fans and soundtrack collectors alike. Particularly in the 1980s and early 90s when his music could be heard in such genre favourites as Battle Beyond the Stars, Wolfen, Star Trek II & III, Krull, Aliens, The Rocketeer and Batteries Not Included.

He became more well known to the wider mainstream audience and public when he won two Oscars in 1997, one for his score to James Cameron’s Titanic and the second for the song ‘My Heart Will Go On’, which he co-wrote with Will Jennings.

More recently Horner provided an excellent score to the less than excellent The Amazing Spider-Man and he was to score James Cameron’s Avatar 2 and Avatar 3.

Our condolences go out to Mr Horner’s family.

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW OR ON TWITTER @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local STARBURST stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. For our digital edition (available to read on your iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows 8, Samsung and/or Huawei device – all for just £1.99), visit MAGZTER DIGITAL NEWSSTAND.

CLICK TO BUY!

MORE FROM AROUND THE WEB: