Pulitzer Winning Playright and Actor, Sam Shepard dies at the age of 73

Oscar nominated actor and Pulitzer winning playwright Sam Shepard has pa s sed away at the age 73 at his home in Kentucky. According to a spokesperson for Shepard's family Chris Boneau, complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease was the cause of his death.

In his statement, Boneau said:

The family requests privacy at this difficult time.

Shepard is a Pulitzer prize winning playwright for his drama Buried Child in 1979 and was also nominated for Oscar award for his role of pilot Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff in 1984. Besides, he is the recipient of 13 Obie Awards.

Sam Shepard, playwright and actor, dies at 73 https://t.co/aTZVUCpcYO pic.twitter.com/f74YvypOww

— Dayton Daily News (@daytondailynews) July 31, 2017

The author of around 50 books, Shepard was also nominated for two more Pulitzer for True West and Fool for Love. He is one of the most famous playwrights and has been inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Moreover, he was enlisted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1986 and the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1994.

Some of the Hollywood movies played by him include Steel Magnolias, Crimes of the Heart, Days of Heaven and even made his appearance in Netflix's recent series Bloodline.

He is survived by three children- Jesse, Hannah and Walker Shepard and two sisters named Sandy and Roxanne Rogers. His son Jesse is from his wife O-Lan Jones with whom he was married from 1969-1984.

Shepard then married actress Jessica Lange in 1983 and remained together until 2009. Hannah and Walker are his two children with Lange.

Twitter Reactions by Celebrities:

Sam Shepard. Whenever he came on-screen, you knew you were in good hands. A frame from "Days of Heaven." May he rest in love. pic.twitter.com/DQc0fy7EqN

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) July 31, 2017

R.I.P. Sam Shepard - cowboy poet dramatist of the American family shadow. A legend.

— RainnWilson (@rainnwilson) July 31, 2017

RIP Sam Shepard, an indelible beauty and a brilliant playwright. https://t.co/snRMRK0wNe

— emily nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) July 31, 2017

#cruisingparadise #SamShepard pic.twitter.com/h2jfj7aHBt

— Sarah Michelle (@SarahMGellar) July 31, 2017