As fans learned of the death of filmmaker John Hughes on Thursday, celebrities -- those who worked with him as well as those who knew him only through his work -- mourned right alongside them, reacting to the news with a combination of sorrow and respect.The director and screenwriter was responsible for some of the most iconic movies of the '80s, among them teen classics 'The Breakfast Club,' 'Sixteen Candles,' 'Weird Science,' 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and 'Pretty in Pink.' He was godfather to the Brat Pack, the ensemble of young '80s stars that included Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy; in addition, he played a key role in the successes of actors such as Robert Downey Jr., Bill Paxton, John Cusack and many others who got early work in Hughes' films. (See the list of actors whose careers John Hughes launched.)
Fans and collaborators both, these stars and many more weighed in on what John Hughes meant to them.
Molly Ringwald: "I was stunned and incredibly sad to hear about the death of John Hughes. He was and will always be such an important part of my life. He will be missed – by me and by everyone that he has touched. My heart and all my thoughts are with his family now."
Jon Cryer: "This is a horrible tragedy. He was an amazing man to work for and with. He respected young actors in a way that made you realize you had to step up your game because you were playing in the big leagues now. That's why he got such great performances out of his actors. My heart goes out to his wife Nancy and their children."
Matthew Broderick: "I am truly shocked and saddened by the news about my old friend John Hughes. He was a wonderful, very talented guy and my heart goes out to his family."
Judd Nelson: "[Hughes had] a profoundly meaningful and lasting effect on my life as an actor, and as a young man. He encouraged a real and active collaboration; he was most generous with his insight. ... My heart breaks for his family. ... I know many people whose lives were touched by John will be saddened today. I know I am."
Ben Stein: "It's incredibly sad. He was a wonderful man, a genius, a poet. I don't think anyone has come close to him as being the poet of the youth of America in the postwar period. He was to them what Shakespeare was to the Elizabethan Age."
Macaulay Culkin: "I was a fan of both his work and a fan of him as a person. The world has lost not only a quintessential filmmaker whose influence will be felt for generations, but a great and decent man."
Bill Paxton: "He took a tremendous chance on me. Like Orson Welles, he was a boy wonder, a director's director, a writer's writer, a filmmaker's filmmaker. He was one of the giants."
Steve Martin: "I asked John how long it took to write 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' he said, 'I wrote it over the weekend.' The weekend. That shows you what he was able to do."
Kevin Smith: "The flag's at half-mast. John Hughes, the man who spoke for geeks way before anyone else did." (via Twitter)
Demi Moore: "John Hughes' iconic films gave a powerful voice to a generation. He will be missed but never forgotten!" (via Twitter)
Roger Ebert: "His films helped establish an international notion of ordinary American teenagers, and he was as popular abroad as at home. Once when I was visiting the largest movie theater in Calcutta, I asked if 'Star Wars' had been their most successful American film. No, I was told, it was 'Baby's Day Out,' a Hughes comedy about a baby wandering through a big city, which played for more than a year."Devin Ratray (Buzz in 'Home Alone'): "He changed my life forever. Nineteen years later, people from all over the world contact me telling me how much 'Home Alone' meant to them, their families, and their children."
Rainn Wilson: "R.I.P. John Hughes - The Breakfast Club was a revelation to my late teen-age years. You're my hero." (via Twitter)
Jimmy Fallon: "I love John Hughes. So many great quotes from so many great movies." (via Twitter)
Diablo Cody: "Truly saddened by passing of John Hughes. Was an idol to this magna-zoom-dweebie." (via Twitter)
Shonda Rhimes: "'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stick around once in a while you could miss it' -- my teen years were Ferris and The Breakfast Club." (via Twitter)
Denise Richards: "So sad about John Hughes...grew up watching his movies, my heart goes out to his family." (via Twitter)
Reader Comments (52)
xmasbaby at 6:10PM on Aug 9th 2009
where is he in helping the african american culture. He may have done something in the white community but he did not make a superstar from the other minority genre. "oh he was so nice, I'll miss him" crap. John Hughes was a racist and did nothing for minority. The white community is trying to hold up someone that matched another star that passed on June 25, 2009. John can't compete against that person that literlly closed down the city of Los Angeles. You all can stop brown nosing this person, he is dead. like some of the actors careers that he helped.
Julz at 7:11PM on Aug 9th 2009
It seems to me the only racist one on this board is you, xmasbaby. Seriously, what is wrong with you? The "white community" isn't trying to match him up to Michael Jackson. In fact, I don't know what Michael has to do with any of this? Michael was an incredible musician and entertainer, and John Hughs made classic movies. No one is brown nosing him, either. They are paying tribute to a man who had a great gift, and gave thousands of people many great memories. So shut up with your racist bs, and get off this board if you can't be respectful.
Sarah at 2:48PM on Aug 9th 2009
Ok ppl do you have any respect this amn dies and these are some of his tributes and you are commenting about stupid dating sites i mean really what is this world coming to ,such disrespectful ppl i know if you died you probly wouldnt want ppl to be talking about dating sites on your page.
Mike W. at 3:49PM on Aug 9th 2009
I just found this GREAT SITE for COMMENT SPAMMERS... it's called.....ShutTheEffUp.com....
Seriously though, I hope that whenever all these spammers die & pass away, someone's overheard at the funeral promoting a dating site or something. Maybe even better yet, just advertise it on their damned tombstone(s).
RIP John Hughes..... you talent & fil-making genius will miss sorely missed. My condolences to his family, and to all the friends he knew in Tinseltown.
Suzanne at 3:01PM on Aug 9th 2009
It is hard to believe that he is gone and we'll never see another movie he made. His movies all touched my family and in fact, we still use lines from them when talking to each other. He had a way of making you laugh and touching your heart at the same time.
My thoughts are with his family, friends and fans all over the world....we have just lost a great man.
badlands12 at 3:06PM on Aug 9th 2009
This guy was awesome and so talented. He was the best filmmaker of the 80's.
kay curtin at 9:01AM on Aug 10th 2009
please see the movie the stepfather it will be out on oct 16 or so....braeden la masters is so good what a guy...he has been on hallmark and law and order and house and many others...he is great...i am in the villages florida.....and watch for him on tv etc....god is he good........iam his ## one fan.....kay curtin...lady lake fl. 32162 villages fl......
jack at 3:27PM on Aug 9th 2009
yeah another overpaid hollywooder dies whoopie do
sprayman at 8:05PM on Aug 9th 2009
overpaid hollywooder? he was from northern illinois and was currently(till his death) living in williams bay wisconsin, far from the overpaid lifestyle of hollywood
d at 3:36PM on Aug 9th 2009
who cares about some dead guy tell me more about the dating werbsite sarah
d at 3:41PM on Aug 9th 2009
sarah, i dont really care about this guy who died who i dot even know, tell me more about the website you found
booby at 3:59PM on Aug 9th 2009
I know exactly what you mean peolpe die every day why all the fuss about this guy big deal. anyone have any good how to make grat chocolate chip cookies or maybe banana cream pie would like to learn how to make some just in case I ever need to bing something to a funeral HA!
d-28 at 4:46PM on Aug 9th 2009
Regardless of how u feel about the man if your not on here to say something good about the man don't say nothing all.Save it for another site RIP Hughes
John L. at 3:57PM on Aug 9th 2009
You can't expect most people to really care if a celeb loses his or her life. I have to admit that some of the movies they make or star in are very entertaining, but so many of their films deface religion, promote "no holds barred" sex and violence, which might make for good entertainment but certainly cause problems in the lives of many common folk who think that anything goes because they are to stupid to separate reality from entertainment until it's too late.
What results from not actually thinking things through is drug abuse, AIDS, suicide, divorce, child abuse, teen motherhood, spousal abuse, (including murder), and the continued degradation of beliefs that help to guide people through the turmoil of everyday life.
So many of the big screen people use their celebrity to promote their own political agenda of anything goes, no matter what the consequences and, (unfortunately), many of them die from stupid accidents, overdoses and/or suicide.
Personally, I enjoy many of their films, but the sick movies, (that seem to win all the awards), I simply turn off or walk out on.
When a Hollywood celeb is gone, I really lose no sleep over it. If I lived a fantasy life, maybe these things would be a tragedy for me.
But real life is not what is on the big screen nor do I really take to heart what many of these people, (who seem to have no control over their own lives), feel is right for the general public.
I would love to tell them exactly how I feel about some of the stupid things they say and do but I am not allowed to stand on their idiot box podium.
So when they display their dirty laundry in public or use their popularity to offend or verbally attack the ideals I believe in, I take money out of their paycheck by not viewing their work.
dan at 5:03PM on Aug 9th 2009
WOW! That reallty says it all-you should be a movie writer that was awesome what you wrote I am just awed by it -what more can be saud? You said it all-wonderful comment
Amanda at 4:41PM on Aug 9th 2009
It's obvious that you've never seen any of John's films becuase they were not all those things that were listed above. They were films that let the American teenager (even this generation of teens) know that they are not alone in the akwardness that is adolescense. I am proud to own every single one of his movies. Movies are not responsible for some of these kids that are running wild, that's called BAD PARENTING! As far as all the "who cares" comments....just remember those statements when you're on your own deathbed. Don't you think it matters that you leave behind people who care about what you did with your time in this life! Coming on these boards reminds me that the world is full of very ignorant people!
cynthia at 4:24PM on Aug 9th 2009
As a child growing up in the 80s the only movies i seemed to have watched and enjoyed with my older sisters were John Hughes films. They were a big part of my childhood and now as an adult i take great pleasure in sharing them with my teenage daughter. They are timeless classics. I didn't realize until just now that i actually have all his movies in collection. RIP Mr. Hughes, and thank u for giving me great memories that will last a lifetime.
Frank Henderson at 4:35PM on Aug 9th 2009
I used to own a movie rental store, and when a customer asked for a suggestion for a good family movie, I suggested "a John Hughes film, any John Hughes Film", and then I would mention a few titles. "They are all equally good, and you don't have to worry about viewing them in a family setting." I don't know of any other filmaker I could honestly say that about his/her entire body of work.
jessica at 4:55PM on Aug 9th 2009
I grew up in the 80's and loved his movies! My son now loves the Home Alone movies (I didn't realize he was associated with these until his death). It is too bad he died so young.
Jerry at 5:14PM on Aug 9th 2009
Personally, didn't care for the trite films Mr. Hughes, though I am sure it made no impact at the box office. It is sad to lose any artist. Whether a fan or not. That being said, My sympathies go out to friends and family.....and of course fans. At such a young age at that.