Robert Jonathan Demme, born on Long Island, New York, is best known for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Philadelphia (1993) and The Manchurian Candidate (2004). He struggled with esophageal cancer and heart disease which ended his life at the age of 73.

Demme's 1980 film 'Melvin and Howard' put him on the map and in 1991 he won the Academy Award for Best Director.

His concert film of the Talking Heads’ Live Album ‘Stop Making Sense,' three Neil Young films, Justin Timberlake film, and the New Order video for 'The Perfect Kiss' shook audiences.

In 1993, Philadelphia won Oscar trophies for Tom Hanks and Bruce Springsteen, who contributed the film’s title track.

Jonathan Demme feeding Anthony Hopkins a french fry on the set of The Silence of the Lambs pic.twitter.com/96FmRZlX0j

— priscilla page (@BBW_BFF) April 26, 2017

Succeeded by his wife Joanne Howard and three children, Jos, Brooklyn, and Ramona, Demme lived a long and fruitful life with a creative career that produced canonical works recognised by millions.

RIP the director of one of my all-time favorite movies, #silenceofthelambs. #johnathandemme pic.twitter.com/SOjQrYpJ5X

— Robert Setlock III (@OrgChaosForever) April 27, 2017