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Tributes For Titanic Composer James Horner

Celebrities including directors James Cameron and Ron Howard have paid tribute to the Oscar-winning composer James Horner, who has died in a plane crash at the age of 61.

The Titanic composer's agent Michael Gorfaine confirmed that Mr Horner was killed when his single-engine aircraft crashed in a remote forest 100 miles north-west of Los Angeles.

Nobody else was on board the plane, which was one of several owned by Mr Horner.

Official confirmation of the death is expected to take several days as the Ventura County coroner works to identify the remains found at the crash site.

Cameron, Howard, singer Celine Dion and other celebrities have remembered the composer as a talented man and a good friend.

"We will always remember his kindness and great talent that changed my career," Dion said.

Cameron and Jon Landau, who directed and produced the film Avatar, said in a statement: "We have lost not only a great team-mate and collaborator, but a good friend.

"James' music affected the heart because his heart was so big."

Mr Horner was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning two for 1997's best picture, Titanic.

He composed the film's score and its enduring theme song, My Heart Will Go On, which was sung by Dion.

Mr Horner's scores for Aliens, Apollo 13, Field Of Dreams, Braveheart, A Beautiful Mind, House Of Sand And Fog and Avatar also earned Oscar nominations, as did his original song, Somewhere Out There from An American Tail.

His next film to be released is Southpaw which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams which is released on 24 July.

"Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones," wrote director Ron Howard on Twitter.

Russell Crowe, who was nominated for an Oscar for A Beautiful Mind, tweeted: "My sincere condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of James Horner #abeautifulmind."