Report: “Titanic” Composer James Horner Killed in California Plane Crash

John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — James Horner, the Oscar-winning film composer whose work includes the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, died in a plane crash near Santa Barbara, California on Monday, according to reports. He was 61. 

According to Variety, Horner was piloting the small aircraft when it crashed into a remote area about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara at around 9:30 Monday morning.  The crash sparked a small brush fire to which county fire crews responded.  Horner’s aircraft was reportedly completely destroyed.

Horner won an Oscar for original dramatic score for his work on Titanic. He also shared original song honors with lyricist Will Jennings for “My Heart Will Go On,” performed by Celine Dion.  The singer posted a message on her website on her and husband René Angélil’s behalf that reads, “Rene and I are deeply saddened by the tragic death of James Horner. He will always remain a great composer in our hearts. James played an important part in my career. We will miss him. We offer his family and friends our deepest sympathy.”

“My job…is to make sure at every turn of the film it’s something the audience can feel with their heart,” Horner told the Los Angeles Times in 2009. “When we lose a character, when somebody wins, when somebody loses, when someone disappears — at all times I’m keeping track, constantly, of what the heart is supposed to be feeling. That is my primary role.”

Horner’s many other film credits include, BraveheartA Beautiful MindField of DreamsApollo 13, and Avatar.

Additionally, Horner has three films coming out later this year: Southpaw, a boxing drama starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams due out in July; Jean-Jacques Annaud’s Wolf Totem, opening in September; and The 33, a drama based on the 2010 mining disaster in Chile, set for November release.

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