Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman and More Remember Joel Schumacher
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Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman and more celebrities are mourning the death of one of director Joel Schumacher, director of films including “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “The Lost Boys” and “Falling Down,” who died on Monday from a year-long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Schumacher, a costume designer-turned-director, famously took over the Batman franchise when director Tim Burton exited Warner Bros. He directed 1995’s “Batman Forever,” starring Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey and Nicole Kidman, and directed 1997’s “Batman and Robin,” with George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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Sutherland, who starred in the 1987’s “The Lost Boys,” took to Twitter to share his condolences to one of his “dearest friends and partners in filmmaking.” He added that Schumacher’s “joy, spirit and talent” would continue to live in the actor’s heart and memory.
— Kiefer Sutherland (@RealKiefer) June 22, 2020
Fellow “Lost Boys” star Corey Feldman shared a long explanation of how the sober Schumacher tried to keep him from doing drugs on the set of the film, firing him and rehiring him after he said he was given cocaine by an adult on the set. “It was because of him #The2Coreys ever met or became a thing!,” Feldman wrote, “He tried to prevent my descent.”
In a statement sent to Variety, actor Rob Lowe, who starred in Schumacher’s “St. Elmo’s Fire,” remembered how the director believed he could play the role of Billy, the fraternity bad boy, in the 1985 film: “Joel saw things others could not,” wrote Lowe. “When casting St Elmo’s Fire, everyone thought I should play the yuppie, but Joel knew I could play the Bad Boy. He was hilarious. He had extraordinary taste. The images from his films are timeless snapshots of their era. He was a larger than life original; I will never forget him.”
Actor Nicolas Cage, who worked with the filmmaker in the mystery thriller movie “8MM,” also shared kind words about the “great artist” to Variety writing, “I am very upset about Joel’s passing – he was a great artist and a true friend… I will miss him.”
“Batman Forever” star Jim Carrey wrote: “He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend.”
Joel Schumacher has passed away. He saw deeper things in me than most and he lived a wonderfully creative and heroic life. I am grateful to have had him as a friend. pic.twitter.com/7kOeJ96rL8
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) June 22, 2020
Comedian Kevin Smith shared he met the filmmaker on the set of “Batman and Robin.” “He couldn’t have been nicer or more hospitable,” wrote Smith.
RIP, Joel Schumacher. I met him on the set of the ill-fated Batman & Robin and he couldn’t have been nicer or more hospitable (and the man looooved to gossip). The Incredible Shrinking Woman was an early cable TV classic for me and I loved St Elmo’s Fire, The Client and Flawless. https://t.co/lqs14WPhTm
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) June 22, 2020
Patrick Wilson, who starred in Schumacher’s musical of “The Phantom of the Opera,” wrote, “This breaks my heart. I treasured my time with Joel. The laughter. The wisdom. The karaoke. Both he and Mike Nichols believed that about 80% of what they did was casting. He started the careers of many. Too many to name. Such a diverse and fearless resumé.”
This breaks my heart. I treasured my time with Joel. The laughter. The wisdom. The karaoke. Both he and Mike Nichols believed that about 80% of what they did was casting. He started the careers of many. Too many to name. Such a diverse and fearless resumé. Rest In Peace. ❤️ https://t.co/CkTBLve6Ie
— patrick wilson (@patrickwilson73) June 22, 2020
Emmy Rossum, who also starred in “The Phantom of The Opera,” said she was in tears learning about Schumacher’s passing. “He was a force. He was one of kind. Creative. Intense. Passionate. He played a huge part in the shaping of my life,” she wrote.
I am in tears learning of Joel Schumacher's passing. He was a force. He was one of kind. Creative. Intense. Passionate. He played a huge part in the shaping of my life. I don't have the right words right now.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) June 22, 2020
Comedian Billy Eichner praised the filmmaker for being an openly gay director before it was accepted in Hollywood. “He was a (very) outspoken gay director before that was cool and his movies are a throwback to a time when Hollywood made something other than bloated action films or Oscar bait homework assignments, Eichner wrote on Twitter. “RIP Joel. I’m glad you had fun.”
RIP Joel Schumacher. I love St Elmo’s Fire. He was a (very) outspoken gay director before that was cool and his movies are a throwback to a time when Hollywood made something other than bloated action films or Oscar bait homework assignments. RIP Joel. I’m glad you had fun.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) June 22, 2020
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