Filmmaker and director Jonathan Demme, whose creative work ranged from Oscar-winning films like The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia to New Order music video “The Perfect Kiss” and Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense, has died from esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease. He was 73.
From IndieWire: “Demme maintained a private personal life, but his career was marked by a remarkably versatile creative output that included acclaimed narratives and documentaries films stretching back to the early ’70s. He made his debut with the 1971 biker film Angels Hard as They Come, a Roger Corman production during the B-movie producer’s heyday, but his career reached another plane of critical and commercial success with a string of ’80s dramas, including Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, and Something Wild. Demme reached a new plane of success in the next decade, with the back-to-back releases of The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia. At the same time, he remained an active documentarian, creating the definitive Talking Heads film Stop Making Sense, in addition to three films with Neil Young.”
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 (@StephenKing) April 26, 2017
Those Neil Young films were 2006’s Neil Young: Heart of Gold, 2009’s Neil Young Trunk Show, and 2012’s Neil Young Journeys. His other music work included videos with Bruce Springsteen, The Feelies, Suburban Lawns, KRS-One’s H.E.A.L. project, and others.
But Demme will likely forever be best known for masterful 1991 classic crime thrilled The Silence of the Lambs.
RIP Johnathan Demme. Your contribution to the concert film and the crime thriller genre in general will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/POjjpZMUfU
— Alex????Gidley (@Alextr0magnetic) April 26, 2017
Recently, Demme worked on Fox police drama Shots Fired, with his episode scheduled to air tonight, coincidentally, and the 2016 concert film Justin Timberlake + The Tennessee Kids.