Sun Dec 01 00:05:06 UTC 2024: **Hollywood Mourns Loss of Award-Nominated Assistant Director Adam Somner at 57**
LOS ANGELES, CA – Acclaimed assistant director and producer Adam Somner, a longtime collaborator with renowned filmmakers Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson, passed away Wednesday at age 57 after a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer, his family announced.
Somner, a UK native, built a remarkable career in Hollywood, working on numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films. His contributions spanned decades and included collaborations with directors such as Alejandro G. Iñárritu and Ridley Scott. His filmography boasts iconic titles including Spielberg’s *West Side Story*, *Lincoln*, and *Munich*; Scorsese’s *The Wolf of Wall Street* and *Killers of the Flower Moon*; and Anderson’s *Licorice Pizza*, *Phantom Thread*, and *There Will Be Blood*, among many others. His most recent project was Anderson’s upcoming untitled Warner Bros. film starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
Somner’s dedication and skill earned him an Oscar nomination for his work on *Licorice Pizza* (2021) and a Directors Guild of America (DGA) Award for outstanding directorial achievement in a feature film for *The Revenant* (2015).
Tributes poured in from leading figures in the film industry. Spielberg described Somner as more than just an assistant director, calling him an indispensable collaborator and a unifying force on set. Scorsese praised Somner’s organizational abilities, artistic sense, and collaborative spirit, stating he couldn’t have made *The Wolf of Wall Street* or *Killers of the Flower Moon* without him. Anderson hailed Somner as a legend, emphasizing his unparalleled passion for filmmaking, his exceptional talent, and his generous nature.
Somner is survived by his wife, Carmen Ruiz de Huidobro; his children, Olivia and Bosco; and his brother, Mark Somner. A DGA scholarship will be established in his name.
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