Hollywood Mourns Harper Lee
Celebrity fans took to social media on Friday to remember the author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird.'
Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman "died peacefully" on Friday. She was 89.
Hollywood stars and directors, authors and publishing houses quickly took to social media to mourn the writer and celebrate one of the most important novels of the 20th century. Mockingbird, a landmark novel bringing to life Southern lawyer Atticus Finch and his daughter Scout, was published in July of 1960 and Watchman was released last July.
Robert Duvall, who portrayed Boo Radley in the 1962 film, told The Hollywood Reporter: "Harper Lee was a fine person and a wonderful writer. To Kill a Mockingbird was a masterpiece. I was privileged to be in the film version adapted to the screen by her good friend Horton Foote. I only hope that the film did justice to the book. She will be fondly remember by many. I remember when I started production Harper Lee sent me a telegram that simply said 'Hey, Boo.' I was so proud to be a part of that film."
Actress Mary Badham, who played Scout on-screen, stated: "Very sorry to hear this news. Obviously TKAM has been a big part of my life. Even though Miss Nelle is no longer with us, her insight into the human conditions so eloquently expressed in her writing will live on and continue to educate and inspire future generations as much as it has for over half a century. I will continue to be a champion for TKAM and its themes as I travel to to schools, colleges, Big Read events and other celebrations of one of our great works of American literature."
"Harper Lee my 1st favorite author!" tweeted Oprah Winfrey. "I always wanted to interview her. She said" honey I already said everything I had to say". #RIPHarperLee"
Read more of the heartfelt social media posts below.
Harper Lee my 1st favorite author! I always wanted to interview her. She said" honey I already said everything I had to say". #RIPHarperLee
— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) February 19, 2016
When my son Henry was born, Ms. Lee signed a copy of Looking for Alaska for him with the inscription, "Welcome to the world Henry Atticus."
— John Green (@johngreen) February 19, 2016
That book is my most prized possession. Ms. Lee lived a private life, but she was quietly and extraordinarily generous.
— John Green (@johngreen) February 19, 2016
She revealed it all...the glory and the fear and the hate and the beauty.
— Reese Witherspoon (@RWitherspoon) February 19, 2016
May she rest in peace. #HarperLee pic.twitter.com/3tfSEfSejx
Rest in peace, Harper Lee. "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 19, 2016
You know what... #TKAMB is a book that changed my life. Maybe i should write one. Harper Lee inspired me & hopefully I can pay it forward
— erin brockovich (@ErinBrockovich) February 19, 2016
To Kill A Mockingbird was the first book I remember reading over start to finish. It propelled me toward my love for lit. #HarperLee = icon
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 19, 2016
So sorry to hear about Harper Lee’s passing. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was a gift to us all. https://t.co/oqDU2lOcLM pic.twitter.com/TSFPLSwPgs
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) February 19, 2016
It is hard to overstate the impact of Harper Lee. I thank you as a reader, as a Southerner, and as an American.
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) February 19, 2016
Let's celebrate the life of Harper Lee, who wrote an American classic and helped her friend Truman Capote write another.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) February 19, 2016
“You never really understand a person… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Thank you, #HarperLee. pic.twitter.com/8OuUiet7IL
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) February 19, 2016
RIP Harper Lee
— E L James (@E_L_James) February 19, 2016
RIP #HarperLee, whose "To Kill a Mockingbird" was one of our Books That Shaped America https://t.co/WXhxgdVYDz pic.twitter.com/0uLSfuVzsK
— Library of Congress (@librarycongress) February 19, 2016
Harper Lee did the extraordinary with her writing: she changed the world. We'll forever be thankful for her and her work.
— HarperCollinsUK (@HarperCollinsUK) February 19, 2016
Today we lost a beautiful writer. RIP Harper Lee. pic.twitter.com/aA0SgyV0j1
— Random House (@randomhouse) February 19, 2016
I used to teach 7th grade English.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) February 19, 2016
Helped my kids grapple w Mockingbird, & the courage it takes to fight injustice.
Thanks, Harper Lee.
RIP Harper Lee. Thank you, thank you, thank you. #HarperLee #ToKillAMockingbird https://t.co/v7GDqKdL7W
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) February 19, 2016
The world lost an incredible woman. Harper Lee, you'll be missed! #RIP #HarperLee #truewomen pic.twitter.com/LafpHde5Ne
— Marie Osmond (@marieosmond) February 19, 2016
Former President George W. Bush's statement on the passing of #HarperLee. pic.twitter.com/GWJpd8QMVq
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 19, 2016
