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Tom Hanks has led the tributes to Fountains Of Wayne star Adam Schlesinger, who has died at the age of 52 after contracting coronavirus.
The Emmy and Grammy Award-winning musician, also known for writing songs for the TV show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, died in New York on Wednesday.
A statement from his family on Tuesday said he was in hospital in New York fighting Covid-19, the illness caused by coronavirus.
They said that Adam – the bassist with rock band Fountains Of Wayne who are best known for the hit Stacy’s Mom – had been sedated and was on a ventilator.
Tom Hanks, who worked with Adam on musical comedy That Thing You Do!, was among the first to pay tribute after news of his death broke.
The Hollywood star, who has battled Covid-19 himself, said he would not have launched his Playtone record label and production company without Adam’s help.
He tweeted: “There would be no Playtone without Adam Schlesinger, without his That Thing You Do!
“He was a One-der. Lost him to Covid-19. Terribly sad today. Hanx.”
Adam earned an Oscar nomination in 1997 for writing the title track on That Thing You Do!, which was directed by Tom.
One of the stars of the film, Ethan Embry, recalled being seated in a room with Hanks and actress Liv Tyler listening to songs being considered for the film.
“When we heard Adam Schlesinger’s cassette it was instantly clear which track we would need to learn,” he said.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna had known Adam since the early 1990s and shared a moving tribute, calling him “the most brilliant, the most funny, the most clever, the most musical”.
She also shared a song he had sent to her, while her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator and star of the show Rachel Bloom paid tribute shortly after giving birth earlier this week.
She tweeted: “I have so much to say about Adam Schlesinger that I am at a complete loss for words. He is irreplaceable.”
In 2019, he won the Emmy for outstanding original music and lyrics for Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal from the TV musical drama.
Adam also won a Grammy in 2009 for Best Comedy Album for co-writing the songs on A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, with the songs performed by Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello.
US chat show host Colbert said on Twitter: “I’m so saddened to hear of the death of Adam Schlesinger due to Covid19.
“From the Dana Carvey show to A Colbert Christmas Special, he was a great (and patient) and talented artist with whom it was my good luck to work. Peace.”
Adam Schlesinger is survived by his two daughters.
