Aliens and Titanic star Bill Paxton, 61, dies unexpectedly due to complications from heart surgery
The Titanic and Aliens star passed away on Saturday after suffering a stroke because of issues stemming from the operation, according to TMZ.
The beloved actor was in a host of Hollywood hits, including Twister, Apollo 13 and Edge of Tomorrow.
He had an Emmy for the History miniseries Hatfields and McCoys, and he was in the Golden Globe-nominated HBO series Big Love.
Celebrities such as Tom Hanks, William Shatner, Rob Lowe, Zach Braff and several more have taken to social media to mourn the loss of their friend and colleague.
Paxton was set to appear alongside Hanks later this year in The Circle.
The veteran Hollywood star wrote in a tweet: 'Bill Paxton was, simply, a wonderful man. A wonderful man.'
Liman said Paxton wrote him an email that said: 'Thanks for the good wishes. It will help me face this ordeal. Don't worry "Sgt Farell" will be ready to report for duty.'
The actor was expected to work with the director again in a sequel of the original 2014 action film as character Master Sergeant Farell.
Liman added to the NY Daily News: 'Even facing major surgery, his optimism for the future was infectious.
'He was talking about the future, things we hoped to do together.'
His family said in a statement: 'It is with heavy hearts we share the news that Bill Paxton has passed away due to complications from surgery.'
They added that he had an 'illustrious career spanning four decades as a beloved and prolific actor and filmmaker.'
Paxton played the role of Brock Lovett in Titanic, the treasure hunter that discovered the famed Heart of the Ocean necklace in the film. In Aliens Paxton played Private Hudson in 1986.
Other notable work by Paxton includes the ABC drama Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and two Spy Kids films. He was also credited as a director, producer and writer in several other productions.
His family's statement added: 'Bill's passion for the arts was felt by all who knew him, and his warmth and tireless energy were undeniable.
The Texas native has close to 100 acting credits to his name, including film and television work.
The news of his death comes before Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony, who have not noted if they will honor the late actor during the awards.
He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1955 and his father John Paxton was also an actor, having worked on several Spiderman films.
On the day of John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Paxton was photographed at eight years old, hoisted above the crowd outside of the president's hotel.
When he was 18 years old, he moved to Los Angeles in hopes to make his big break and got his start as a set dresser for Roger Corman.
He married Canadian actress Kelly Rowan, 51, in 1979 but they divorced shortly after in July of 1980. She is best known for her role as Kristen Cohen in the hit television series The O.C.
Paxton later met his second wife Louise Newbury on a bus in London when she was a just a teenager, he told Los Angeles Magazine in 2010.
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