Jodie Foster pays tribute to Silence of The Lambs director Jonathan Demme

Silence of The Lambs star Jodie Foster has paid tribute to director Jonathan Demme, who has passed away at the age of 73.

Demme, who won the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on the Hannibal Lecter film, died as a result of cancer complications, his agent said in a statement.

“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,” Jodie Foster said in a statement following her friend’s death.

“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.”

Foster is one of a number of Hollywood stars with fond memories of Demme.

Her Silence of The Lambs co-star Sir Anthony Hopkins expressed his sadness at his friend’s passing by sharing a picture of the trio together on Twitter.

RIP my friend. #JonathanDemme pic.twitter.com/LlRTDipEUm

— Anthony Hopkins (@AnthonyHopkins) April 27, 2017

Bryan Cranston, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Edgar Wright, Ron Howard and Bridesmaids director Paul Feig were also among those who paid tribute to the director via social media.

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

Mourning the loss of Jonathan Demme. Masterful director and a lovely man. I just re-listened to a vm he left me, made me smile & cry. RIP JD

— Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) April 27, 2017

Devastated by the passing of Jonathan Demme. Enormously funny, talented, kind man & a warrior for social justice. Condolences to his family.

— Susan Sarandon (@SusanSarandon) April 26, 2017

Terribly sad at the passing of Jonathan Demme. A lovely man, a great director and a kind soul. My love and prayers to his family.

— Tim Robbins (@TimRobbins1) 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

Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Jonathan Demme. Admired his movies, his documentaries, his concert films. He could do anything.

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) April 26, 2017

Tom Hanks, the star of Demme’s Philadelphia, 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. He was the grandest of men.”