'Silence of the Lambs' director Jonathan Demme dead at 73

April 26 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning filmmaker Jonathan Demme has died at the age of 73, the Film Society of Lincoln Center said Wednesday.

"We're mourning the loss of the great Jonathan Demme, who has passed away at the age of 73. Rest in peace," the society tweeted.

IndieWire said the cause of his death was esophageal cancer and complications from heart disease.

His film credits included Ricki and the Flash, Rachel Getting Married, Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, Something Wild and Married to the Mob. He also helmed episodes of the TV shows Shots Fired and The Killing.

Writer-director Kevin Smith was one of the first celebrities to react to Demme's death.

"Dear God, no! I loved #JonathanDemme! He was my bridge to the Talking Heads, Harris & Hannibal, New Order and honest cinematic storytelling," Smith tweeted.

"So sad to learn of the death of one of my all-time favorite directors, the brilliant, humane Jonathan Demme. Silence of the Lambs & others.

"When I was 14, my vision of what film could be was exploded open by David Lynch's Blue Velvet & Jonathan Demme's undersung Something Wild," actor Anthony Rapp said in his own post.

"I'm guided by my enthusiasm." - Jonathan Demme #RIP pic.twitter.com/Eh1yCNR7qK

— The Film Society (@FilmLinc) April 26, 2017