Stephen Sondheim, the brilliant Broadway composer and lyricist, has died at 91. 

Following the announcement of his passing, Hollywood stars took to social media to pen tributes to the icon who is credited for writing the lyrics in musicals like Gypsy, West Side Story,  Sweeney Todd, and more.

Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics! May he Rest In Peace?? ?? pic.twitter.com/vshNSdkvpQ

— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) November 26, 2021

Future historians: Stephen Sondheim was real. Yes, he wrote Tony & Maria AND Sweeney Todd AND Bobby AND George & Dot AND Fosca AND countless more. Some may theorize Shakespeare’s works were by committee but Steve was real & he was here & he laughed SO loud at shows & we loved him

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 27, 2021

Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Stephen Sondheim. I was fortunate to meet him and chat about songwriting. He was a witty intelligent man. ‘Send in the Clowns’ is one of my favourite songs. So well crafted and beautiful with it. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/V21XAI9zcq

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 27, 2021

Stephen passed away unexpectedly at his home in Roxbury, Conn. His lawyer and close friend F.Richard Pappas said during this time, he was unaware of the cause of death and that Stephen was ill in the weeks leading up to his death, but it was still so sudden. Sondheim had just celebrated Thanksgiving with friends at his home and was in good spirits.

The intellectual broadway titan is arguably one of the theater’s most influential composers and lyricists of the 20th century. Stephen had a passion for creating new paths when it came to music. After becoming successful in the late 1950s for writing the lyrics for the “West Side Story,” Stephen shot to composer fame.

Stephen Sondheim wrote lyrics and composed music so beautifully that most people walked out of the theater afterward, experiencing life differently. He made you feel and wonder in a way that you never did before. Sondheim was innovative, and his legacy will live on forever in and out of the theater.

Stephen took his passion and career so seriously that most of his work was completed in solitude without outside distractions. Millions of people around the world think his passing is an end to an era. He set the bar extremely high for American musicals, and we may never see another person of the same caliber in this lifetime.

Early on in Stephen’s career, he decided to no longer work as a writer for hire but instead shifted focus to collaborating on projects where he wrote lyrics and composed the music. He worked with James Lapine, playwright-director, to produce Sunday in the Park with George, debuting in 1984. Just three years later, the duo would collaborate again for the Broadway play Into the Woods. The production would get nominated for several Tony awards in 1988, with Stephen winning for Best Original Score. Lapine and Sondheim kept their creative success going with passion in 1994 which again won a Tony for Best Original Score.

Sondheim had 19 major works under his belt and was honored with a special Tony award for lifetime achievement in theater. Surprisingly, Sondheim also has three published works, including a crossword puzzle book, because he just loved puzzles.

If you find yourself reading this and have never seen or heard any production from Stephen Sondheim, please take the time to watch one of his masterpieces. Whether in person or in the comfort of your own home, it will be a moving experience for you to enjoy for years to come.