Three weeks after watching Julianne Moore claim the award for Best Actress at the 2015 Oscars for her role in "Still Alice," the film's writer and director Richard Glatzer has passed away at age 63 from the complications of ALS.
Glatzer directed and penned the script alongside his husband Wash Westmoreland. Though he wasn't able to attend the Oscars because he was rushed to the hospital two days before the event due to respiratory problems, he and Westmoreland watched the awards ceremony from his hospital room, Us Weekly reported.
Moore, 54, plays a woman with early onset Alzheimer's disease in "Still Alice."
The two filmmakers took on the project of transforming Lisa Genova's novel into a film back in 2011, right around the time that Glatzer learned of his disease.
Though he suffered from the debilitating effects of ALS while on set, Glatzer was always present.
"Rich was my soul mate, my collaborator, my best friend and my life. Seeing him battle ALS for four years with such grace and courage inspired me and all who knew him," Westmoreland said.
The two met back in 1995 and married in 2013. Westmoreland said in statement that he is "devastated" by his partner's passing.
"Thank you to everyone for this huge outpouring of love. Richard was a unique guy - opinionated, funny, caring, gregarious, generous and so, so smart. A true artist and a brilliant man. I treasure every day of the short 20 years we had together.
"I cannot believe he has gone. But in my heart and the hearts of those who loved him, he will always be alive," he said.
Shortly before his death, Glatzer was unable to speak and used a specialized iPad to tap his foot in order to communicate, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
During her acceptance speech on Feb. 22, Moore spoke highly of the directors.
"And finally, to our filmmakers, Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, who had hoped to be here tonight but they can't because of Richard's health," she said. "When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, Wash asked him what he wanted to do. Did he want to travel? Did he want to see the world? And he said that he wanted to make movies, and that's what he did."
"I love you richard," the star posted on her Twitter account Wednesday along with an article about Glatzer's passing.
Glatzer leaves behind his sister, Joan, her husband, David, his nieces and nephews and his daughter Ruby.
