Reese Witherspoon & More Stars Mourn Jean-Marc Vallée’s Sudden Death: ‘My Heart Is Broken’
Matthew Elliott
Hollywood is reeling from the sudden loss of director Jean-Marc Vallée. Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and more are devastated over their colleague's unexpected death at the age of 58.
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One of Hollywood’s most prolific directors has sadly died at the age of 58. Jean-Marc Vallée passed away at his cabin outside Quebec City, Deadline reported on December 26. The cause of Jean-Marc’s death has not been revealed. HollywoodLife has reached out to Jean-Marc’s team for further comment.
In the wake of this tragic news, the Oscar-nominated director’s famous colleagues are mourning this devastating loss. Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and more have shared tributes to the talented director of Big Little Lies, Wild, Sharp Objects, Dallas Buyers Club, and more. Read their statements below:
Reese Witherspoon
My heart is broken. My friend. I love you.
— Reese Witherspoon (@ReeseW) December 27, 2021
Reese posted on her Instagram Story and Twitter and wrote, “My heart is broken. My friend. I love you.” She also shared a photo of herself with Jean-Marc on her Instagram Story and put a broken heart emoji underneath it.
The actress later shared a series of photos on Instagram and wrote, “I will always remember you as the sun goes down. Chasing the light. On a mountain in Oregon. On a beach in Monterey. Making sure we all caught a little magic in this lifetime. I love you, Jean Marc. Until we meet again.”
Reese first worked with Jean-Marc on the movie Wild. Jean-Marc directed the 2014 film that Reese starred in. Reese earned an Academy Award nomination for her performance. Reese and Jean-Marc later teamed up for Big Little Lies. Jean-Marc directed the entire first season and also executive produced the series that Reese, Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley starred in.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew released a statement about Jean-Marc on his Twitter and Instagram pages. “With a gentle hand and heart Jean-Marc was a true receiver — he didn’t romanticize life so much as he saw life romantic — from the struggle to the pain to the wink and the whisper, love stories were everywhere in his eye,” Matthew wrote.
The actor played Ron Woodroof in Jean-Marc’s 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club. Matthew won his first Academy Award for Best Actor after the film’s release.
Shailene Woodley
Shailene posted several Instagram Stories after Jean-Marc’s death. “I am in shock. Complete and utter shock. My f**king god death is the worst,” she wrote alongside a photo of Jean-Marc. “But I guess somehow I know you will turn it into a grand adventure — one for the books. One I can’t wait to read and to watch when my time comes. It doesn’t make sense though dude. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe when we wake up tomorrow you’ll be there laughing saying it was just a satirical short film you made. That it’s not real.”
The final Instagram Story featured Michael Kiwanuka’s “Cold Little Heart” playing, the Big Little Lies theme song. Shailene played Jane Chapman in the HBO series that Jean-Marc directed and produced.
Laura Dern
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Laura posted a heartfelt tribute to her colleague on Instagram. “Beautiful Jean-Marc Vallee. The world has lost one of our great and purest artists and dreamers. And we lost our beloved friend. Our hearts are broken,” Laura captioned a photo of herself with the director.
Like Reese, Laura worked with Jean-Marc on Wild and Big Little Lies. Laura received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Wild.
Cameron Bailey
Cameron Bailey, the CEO of the Toronto International Film Festival, tweeted, “Can’t believe it. Jean-Marc Vallée was a prodigious talent, and the only filmmaker to both open (DEMOLITION) and close (THE YOUNG VICTORIA) the Toronto International Film Festival. I’ll miss his fire.”
Can’t believe it. Jean-Marc Vallée was a prodigious talent, and the only filmmaker to both open (DEMOLITION) and close (THE YOUNG VICTORIA) the Toronto International Film Festival. I’ll miss his fire.
— Cameron Bailey (@cameron_tiff) December 27, 2021
Cameron also retweeted several tributes honoring Jean-Marc. The director won Best Canadian Feature Film for C.R.A.Z.Y. at TIFF in 2005.
