It’s really hitting me that the older we get, the more of these cinematic icons are going to be taken away from us. Bill Paxton passed away today at the age of 61 and I’m still awestruck by it. I know that as we get older, we will inevitably be taken from this world; but lately it just seems that everyone I grew up with and loved on screen is passing away and it’s really starting to set in just how small we are all in this world.

Paxton was one of those actors who elevated whatever movie he was a part of. Even if the movie wasn’t that great, he was going to be the past damn part of it. From Twister, to Weird Science, to Aliens and countless others; the man was a cinematic dynamo. He’s been a part of some of my favorite franchises with his roles in Aliens and Predator 2 and his passing has left me deeply saddened for his friends and family.

One such friend is director James Cameron. The two of them knew each other for many years and Cameron has released the following statement concerning Paxton’s death, via Vanity Fair:

“I’ve been reeling from this for the past half hour, trying to wrap my mind and heart around it. Bill leaves such a void. He and I were close friends for 36 years, since we met on the set of a Roger Corman ultra-low budget movie. He came in to work on set, and I slapped a paint brush in his hand and pointed to a wall, saying “Paint that!” We quickly recognized the creative spark in each other and became fast friends. What followed was 36 years of making films together, helping develop each others projects, going on scuba diving trips together, watching each others kids growing up, even diving the Titanic wreck together in Russian subs. It was a friendship of laughter, adventure, love of cinema, and mutual respect. Bill wrote beautiful heartfelt and thoughtful letters, an anachronism in this age of digital shorthand. He took good care of his relationships with people, always caring and present for others. He was a good man, a great actor, and a creative dynamo. I hope that amid the gaudy din of Oscar night, people will take a moment to remember this wonderful man, not just for all the hours of joy he brought to us with his vivid screen presence, but for the great human that he was.

The world is a lesser place for his passing, and I will profoundly miss him.”