Following the news of Stephen Sondheim’s death on Friday, there was an outpouring of tributes and condolences on social media dedicated to the musical theater icon.
Sondheim, the legendary Broadway composer and lyricist, died at the age of 91 at his Connecticut home, according to The New York Times. He penned lyrics for musicals like West Side Story and Gypsy and wrote the words and music to Follies, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, and more.
Just a few weeks ago, a revival of his musical Company returned to Broadway after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while Steven Spielberg’s new take on West Side Story is due next month.
“Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics!” wrote icon Barbra Streisand on Twitter. “May he Rest In Peace.”
Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics! May he Rest In Peace🥲🎵 🎶🎵 pic.twitter.com/vshNSdkvpQ
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) November 26, 2021
Broadway veteran Bernadette Peters tweeted that she was “so so sad to lose my friend Steve Sondheim,” adding “thank you for all the gifts you gave the world Steve.”
I am so so sad to lose my friend Steve Sondheim He gave me so much to sing about ♥️♥️I loved him dearly and will miss him so much Thank you for all the gifts you gave the world Steve♥️
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) November 26, 2021
Jake Gyllenhaal, who starred in Sondheim’s musical Sunday in the Park with George, wrote on Instagram that he was “grateful to have shared time with the master and maestro of American musical theater.”
“Some may theorize Shakespeare’s works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him,” wrote playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Future historians: Stephen Sondheim was real. Yes, he wrote Tony & Maria AND Sweeney Todd AND Bobby AND George & Dot AND Fosca AND countless more. Some may theorize Shakespeare’s works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 27, 2021
Orange Is The New Black star Uzo Aduba called Sondheim “the best there ever was.” “I don’t know when we will ever have another of his caliber, of his breadth and scope,” she added.
Stephen Sondheim was the best there ever was. I don’t know when we will ever have another of his caliber, of his breadth and scope. Just the greatest, a legend, a true titan. Rest In Peace. ❤️
— Uzo Aduba (@UzoAduba) November 26, 2021
“Every so often someone comes along that fundamentally shifts an entire art form. Stephen Sondheim was one of those,” actor Hugh Jackman tweeted. As millions mourn his passing I also want to express my gratitude for all he has given to me and so many more. Sending my love to his nearest and dearest.
Every so often someone comes along that fundamentally shifts an entire art form. Stephen Sondheim was one of those. As millions mourn his passing I also want to express my gratitude for all he has given to me and so many more. Sending my love to his nearest and dearest. pic.twitter.com/4KlnJJJipq
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) November 26, 2021
Actress Anna Kendrick called Sondheim’s death “a devastating loss.”
I was just talking to someone a few nights ago about how much fun (and fucking difficult) it is to sing Stephen Sondheim. Performing his work has been among the greatest privileges of my career. A devastating loss.
— Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) November 26, 2021
Author Neil Gaiman revealed that Sondheim wrote him “a wonderful permission letter to use ‘Old Friends’ in American Gods.”
He wrote me a wonderful permission letter to use “Old Friends” in American Gods. I avoided meeting him (failed only once) and refused dinner because I didn’t have many heroes. Now I’ve got one less. Thank you Stephen Sondheim so much. pic.twitter.com/soRo4G2ZFU
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) November 26, 2021
See more remembrances of the late Broadway legend below:
Mama said, “Darling, don’t make such a drama.
A little less thinking, a little more feeling”
I’m just quoting Mama.
The child is so sweet
And the girls are so rapturous
Isn’t it lovely how artists can capture us?Thank you #stephensondheim
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) November 27, 2021
We’ve lost the great #StephenSondheim. The rest is silence.
— John Lithgow (@JohnLithgow) November 26, 2021
I am at a loss. Feels like the end of an era. He did indeed set the standard for the American musical.
Rest well, sir. #StephenSondheim
— Ariana DeBose (@ArianaDeBose) November 26, 2021
Perhaps not since April 23rd of 1616 has theater lost such a revolutionary voice. Thank you Mr. Sondheim for your Demon Barber, some Night Music, a Sunday in the Park, Company, fun at a Forum, a trip Into the Woods and telling us a West Side Story. RIP. 🙏 https://t.co/jHX7ob9JWv
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 26, 2021
I met him once for 30 seconds backstage after a production of Merrily We Roll Along. I have never been more tongue tied or star struck. His writing is the singular reason I wanted to be a musical theater actor. No one will ever come close to his genius. RIP Stephen Sondheim.
— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (he/him/his) (@jessetyler) November 26, 2021