Hollywood Pays Tribute to "Courageous" Director Lynn Shelton
1:10 PM PDT 5/16/2020 by Sharareh Drury , Trilby Beresford

Shelton's films were known for naturalistic acting, often-improvised dialogue and a focus on interpersonal relationships.
Lynn Shelton, a leading voice of the new American independent cinema movement who directed the intimate darlings Humpday, Your Sister's Sister and My Effortless Brilliance, died Friday at 54.
Following the news of her death, Hollywood filmmakers, showrunners and stars paid tribute to Shelton, who also was a prolific television director who worked on series including Mad Men, GLOW, Little Fires Everywhere and The Morning Show.
Reese Witherspoon, Kerry Washington, Liz Tigelaar and the rest of the Little Fires Everywhere cast and crew shared in a statement that their "hearts are broken today for the loss of our beloved director, friend, mentor and collaborator, Lynn Shelton."
"It doesn't seem possible that someone who was so vibrant, and who walked through this world with such immense passion, could suddenly be gone," the Little Fires collective continued. "Her undeniable talent and bold unique spirit were matched by her kind and genuine heart. Her light shone bright to anyone who was lucky enough to be in her orbit. We are sending love to her beautiful son, her family and all who are mourning the loss of our creative, thoughtful and beautifully artistic friend."
In a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Shelton's partner, comedian Marc Maron, indicated that the director collapsed after having been ill for a week. "I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well," he wrote. "It's devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don't really know how to move forward in this moment."
Maron called Shelton a "beautiful, kind, loving, charismatic artist," adding that "her spirit was pure joy." He went on to say, "She made me happy. I made her happy. We were happy. I made her laugh all the time. We laughed a lot. We were starting a life together. I really can't believe what is happening. This is a horrendous sad loss."
Ava DuVernay shared how Shelton changed the fellow filmmaker's life "when she handed me the Directing Award at Sundance in 2012."
"She announced my name with pride. Handed it to me with love. Rooted for me long after. I can’t believe I’m typing this. Rest In Peace, Beauty. Thank you for your films. And for your kindness," DuVernay wrote on Twitter.
Judd Apatow tweeted, "Lynn Shelton was such an inspiration as a filmmaker and as a person. I finally got to work with her when she directed a bunch of episodes of Love and she was as brilliant as we hoped and everyone adored her. This was so sad. My condolences to her family and her loved ones."
Josh Trank also paid tribute to Shelton, describing her as a "total genius" and "original and courageous artist on every conceivable level."
"Her work is so inspiring. Humpday I saw at Sundance in 2009, and it was just so brave and wild. Everyone was floored. Heart breaking. Emitting so much love to her family and friends," the filmmaker added in his post.
Mindy Kaling reflected on working with Shelton on The Mindy Project, saying she "loved actors and we loved her back." The actress continued, "She was a dream on set. Her lovely, sunny energy was infectious and actors always drifted to video village between takes to be around her. She had such a quiet power and I will miss her."
Minnie Driver acknowledged the deaths of both Shelton and actor Fred Willard, who died Friday, writing, "Geniuses. Kind, dear geniuses. How lucky we were to have them."
See more reactions to Shelton's death below.
We lost our dear friend Lynn Shelton. We made so many things together. I wish we had made more. Her boundless creative energy and infectious spirit were unrivaled. She made me better. We butted heads, made up, laughed, pushed each other. Like family. What a deep loss. pic.twitter.com/LcowmbGqum
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) May 16, 2020
Humpday made me realize I could make a funny, genuine heart-on-your-sleeve movie. This is such a loss. My heart goes out to everyone who loved her and worked with her. https://t.co/kSiJqgNn9Z
— Brea Grant (@breagrant) May 16, 2020
Rest in peace Writer/Director/Producer Lynn Shelton
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) May 16, 2020
On stage with @marcmaron and @lynnsheltonfilm in celebration of #SwordOfTrust. What a glorious memory. Like @jessiemaltin said—go and watch her movies. Celebrate this woman. Such a loss. #LynnShelton https://t.co/4ue7fD5wk9
— Leonard Maltin (@leonardmaltin) May 16, 2020
Devastating news. I was lucky enough to play a small role in a Lynn Shelton film & she treated her cast & crew like a family. I learned about directing from watching her. The kindness with which she treated people. The room she left for spontaneity. We've lost a great one. https://t.co/vzMwhL0yic
— Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs) May 16, 2020
Lynn Shelton was one of the wonderful advisors I had the Sundance Labs. I am so sad and in such shock to hear the news of her passing. Her work and her mentorship was deeply affecting to me. Love to her friends and family. RIP, Lynn.
— Nia DaCosta (@NiaDaCosta) May 16, 2020
So devastated and in disbelief reading the heartbreaking news of Lynn Shelton’s passing. Such a kind and noble soul and a wonderful filmmaker with many more stories to tell. She will be so missed.
— John Gallagher, Jr. (@JohnGallagherJr) May 16, 2020
Rest peacefully, Lynn Shelton. Damn. A singular talent and a really nice person. This is awful and so, so sad.
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) May 16, 2020
The loss of Lynn Shelton is unimaginable. Please light a candle. Send a prayer or a loving thought for her journey and for all who loved her. This is a devastating loss to the creativity community and the world at large. What a powerful talent and loving presence she was.
— Krista Vernoff (@KristaVernoff) May 16, 2020
Lynn Shelton, I am forever grateful for the little time we spent together. You lit up the set of Dickinson the second you arrived. Thank you for your unbelievable energy. You will be deeply missed.
— Hailee Steinfeld (@HaileeSteinfeld) May 16, 2020
I am truly shocked at the passing of Lynn Shelton. She was a friend, a kind heart, so talented & only just getting started, despite her stellar work so far. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. She's left us too soon. I can't believe I'll never hear her laugh again.
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) May 16, 2020
Lynn Shelton was a force. So good, so smart, and so brave. And really kind. Sending my heart to her family and friends.
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) May 16, 2020
Remembering Lynn Shelton and Marc Maron at a bar after a Q&A: their perfect opposites love made them one of the sweetest, most inspiring couples I've ever known, @marcmaron all complicated growlery, Lynn empathetic sunny light. This is fucked up. Dead?
— Ira Glass (@iraglass) May 16, 2020
I had the great pleasure of working with Lynn Shelton on Touchy Feely. She was an actors director extraordinaire. I loved being in her presence. She was warm and gracious and supremely talented. Rest In Peace my friend. pic.twitter.com/iP9HM4lwKx
— Allison Janney (@AllisonBJanney) May 16, 2020
What a loss for cinema. Lynn Shelton was a hero of mine. All my love to her family and friends. pic.twitter.com/HxoRJbmDev
— Lorene Scafaria (@LoreneScafaria) May 16, 2020
What a devastating loss. What an incredible person, nothing but absolute kindness. I feel deeply grateful that I got to work with her. Sending love to Lynn Shelton’s family. pic.twitter.com/QnOX4qXCmq
— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) May 16, 2020
I loved Lynn Shelton's work so much. All her characters are so real and nuanced, and funny, and I wanted to work with her so badly. What a talent. This is such sad news.
— Abbi Jacobson (@abbijacobson) May 16, 2020
Lynn Shelton's passing is deeply sad and terribly unfair. She was a great filmmaker and an incredibly kind person. She shared her homemade granola with me on set. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She was a lovely, lovely human. She will be so missed.
— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) May 16, 2020