William Goldman, ‘Legendary Adventurer in Screenwriting,’ Remembered by Hollywood

By Maane Khatchatourian

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – As news broke that screenwriting legend William Goldman died on Friday in Manhattan, Hollywood figures, including prolific writers, took to social media to honor the Oscar winner. Fans also shared gifs with the writer’s most famous movie lines.

Goldman, whose career spanned decades, won Academy Awards for his screenplays for “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men.” He also transferred his own novels, such as “The Princess Bride” and “Marathon Man,” to the big screen, in addition to his adaptations of others’ work (including Stephen King’s book “Misery”).

“RIP #WilliamGoldman. One of the greatest most successful screenwriters ever,” Ron Howard wrote. “I was lucky as hell to count Bill as a mentor and a friend. Check his credits & see a movie or read a Goldman book over the holiday & give thanks that we had his voice in our world.”

“William Goldman was huge part of creating some of the seminal movies of the 70’s and beyond,” Ben Stiller said. “His book on screenwriting was a touchstone for me and I always felt star struck and intimidated seeing him at Knicks games. #RESPECT”

“We had a long earlier history and I’m sorry to hear of his passing,” Robert Redford, who starred in Goldman’s 1969 Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” told Variety in a statement.

“It’s no small feat to be a smart, witty writer and smart and witty about writing,” Edgar Wright tweeted. “RIP the legendary adventurer in screenwriting, William Goldman.”

“Bill was a consummate storyteller whose tales touched millions and will endure as pinnacles of the art form. Having worked with him for many years, I can attest that his brilliant and inventive work seemed to defy his own suggestion that ‘nobody knows anything’ in movies. He was a true original and a wonderful friend who will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his family,” Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn said in a statement to Variety.

“So sorry to hear of the passing of William Goldman,” tweeted. “He was both witty and talented. His screenplay of my book MISERY was a beautiful thing. Rest In Peace, Bill.”

“William Goldman. What can one do in the face of such a legacy but bow our heads in gratitude,” Lin-Manuel Miranda said.

“One less giant,” actor Ron Perlman tweeted.

Read other tributes below: