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Hollywood Reacts to Anton Yelchin’s Death

The 'Star Trek' actor died early Sunday morning in a car accident.

Anton Yelchin Dead: Hollywood Reacts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Taylor Hill/Getty

Hollywood was quick to mourn Anton Yelchin after news of the young actor’s unexpected death broke on Sunday. Yelchin, who was 27, died early Sunday in a car accident. Known for his role in the recent Star Trek series of films, Yelchin was remembered by Paramount and J.J. Abrams, who directed the last two Star Trek films before handing over directing duties on the third film, Star Trek Beyond, to Justin Lin. That movie, which will be distributed by Paramount, hits theaters July 22.

“All of us at Paramount join the world in morning the untimely passing of Anton Yelchin. As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family,” Paramount said in a statement.

Drake Doremus, who wrote and directed Like Crazy, the 2011 film that won Sundance’s grand jury prize and features Yelchin’s most acclaimed performance, was reached by The Hollywood Reporter shortly after the news broke. “I’m still in shock,” he said. “I’m having a hard time processing it. I just woke up and saw it online and thought it was a hoax, you know, like some of these things are. Then I talked to some people who confirmed it and it’s just devastating.” He continued, “Everyone’s devastated. I spoke to Felicity [Jones, Yelchin’s costar in Like Crazy], who is very devastated and very upset. And Jon Schwartz [Like Crazy‘s producer]. You just try to touch base with all the people you love and who changed your life, and he certainly changed all our lives.”

In her own statement, Jones said: “I’m devastated. A world without Anton is a lesser place. He touched everyone he met with his honesty and humanity. We have lost a unique and profound soul.”

Jodie Foster, who directed Yelchin in 2011’s The Beaver, mourned the young actor. “What a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life. He was equal parts serious thinker and the most fun little brother you could ever dream of,” Foster said in a statement. “I am so honored to have been able to direct such a deep actor, so committed and genuine. I will forever be grateful for all of those little exchanges we shared, his contagious enthusiasm, his questions, his company. My heart breaks for his mom and dad who were a part of every anecdote. He carried their love into everything he touched.”

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More Hollywood figures took to social media to remember Yelchin, including Abrams, who posted a handwritten note to the Twitter account for his production company Bad Robot. “You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren’t here nearly long enough. Missing you …,” Abrams wrote in his note.

Justin Timberlake, who co-starred with Yelchin in the 2006 film Alpha Dog, said of the late actor, “Genius actor. Amazing human being. Gone WAY too soon.”

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See what else Hollywood is saying about Yelchin below.

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