Oscar-winning film composer James Horner has died in a plane crash at the age of 61.
Hollywood stars and directors paid tribute to the prolific musician after it emerged that his single-engine plane had gone down in California on Monday morning.
Horner, who won an Academy Award for Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, has been confirmed dead by an employee.
Horner's assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, wrote on Facebook: "We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent.
"He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road."
According to reports, the composer's two seat plane went down in the Los Padres National Forest at 9.30 am,with the debris spread across an acre of land.
Director Ron Howard lead the Twitter tributes, writing: "Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones."
Horner's famous scores include Aliens, Apollo 13, The Land Before Time, Braveheart and Avatar.
