Tom Hanks, Rachel Bloom, and more celebs react to Grammy winner Adam Schlesinger's COVID-19 death

When Grammy winner Adam Schlesinger passed away, age 52, on Wednesday as a result of coronavirus complications at a Poughkeepsie hospital – it saddened countless prominent figures in the entertainment industry.

The New York-born, New Jersey-raised pop savant penned the catchy theme song to Tom Hanks’ 1996 directorial debut That Thing You Do, and the 63-year-old Oscar winner remembered him on Twitter.

‘There would be no Playtone [Productions] without Adam Schlesinger,’ wrote Tom, who’s also recovering from the virus.

RIP: When Grammy winner Adam Schlesinger passed away, age 52, on Wednesday as a result of coronavirus complications at a Poughkeepsie hospital – it saddened countless prominent figures in the entertainment industry (pictured September 14)

‘There would be no Playtone [Productions] without Adam’: The New York-born, New Jersey-raised pop savant penned the catchy theme song to Tom Hanks’ 1996 directorial debut That Thing You Do, and the 63-year-old Oscar winner remembered him on Twitter

‘Without his That Thing You Do! He was a One-der. Lost him to Covid-19. Terribly sad today.’

Hanks’ second wife Rita Wilson wrote that she was saddened by the news and tweeted: ‘He had extraordinary musical talent. His loss is deeply felt.’

That Thing You Do star Johnathon Schaech shared an on-set snap and called Adam ‘talented’ and tweeted that ‘our hearts are broken in a million pieces Broken heartBroken heartBroken heart.’

That Thing You Do star Ethan Embry fondly recalled the day the cast and crew chose his song from six submitted tracks from different bands.

Tom and his wife Rita Wilson have been recovering from the virus, and she was saddened by the news and tweeted: ‘He had extraordinary musical talent. His loss is deeply felt’

‘Broken heart’: That Thing You Do star Johnathon Schaech (2-R) shared an on-set snap and called Adam (M) ‘talented’ and tweeted that ‘our hearts are broken in a million pieces’

Tragedy: That Thing You Do star Ethan Embry fondly recalled the day the cast and crew chose his song from six submitted tracks from different bands

Schlesinger’s famous cousin Jon Bernthal hasn’t reacted to his death but he wrote of him on Tuesday: ‘As a little boy I would be mesmerized by his talent. He showed me how cool it was to be an artist. We love you Cuz’

Schlesinger’s famous cousin Jon Bernthal hasn’t reacted to his death but he wrote of him on Tuesday: ‘As a little boy I would be mesmerized by his talent. He showed me how cool it was to be an artist. We love you Cuz.’

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Rachel Bloom – who welcomed her daughter on the same day of his passing – called the Stacey’s Mom hitmaker an ‘irreplaceable genius’ and shared several photos of them together.

‘One example of how Adam might have affected your life?’ the 32-year-old new mother wrote.

‘Over the past few years, many people have told me that they have used “Gettin’ Bi” to come out. Well, that song was all Adam.’

Collaborator: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Rachel Bloom – who welcomed her daughter on the same day of his passing – called the Stacey’s Mom hitmaker an ‘irreplaceable genius’ and shared several photos of them together (pictured Wednesday)

The 32-year-old new mother wrote, ‘One example of how Adam might have affected your life: over the past few years, many people have told me that they have used “Gettin’ Bi” to come out. Well, that song was all Adam’

Memories: Last year, Schlesinger (R) won his third Emmy Award alongside Bloom (M) and Jack Dolgen (L) for the show’s song, Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal

Adam scored his Grammy Award for co-writing A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! and Stephen Colbert called him a ‘great (and patient) and talented artist with whom it was my good luck to work. Peace’

Last year, Schlesinger won his third Emmy Award alongside Bloom and Jack Dolgen for the show’s song, Antidepressants Are So Not A Big Deal.

Adam scored his Grammy Award for co-writing A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! and Stephen Colbert called him a ‘great (and patient) and talented artist with whom it was my good luck to work. Peace.’

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel remembered how Schlesinger penned the theme song to Crank Yankers, calling him ‘a kind and super-talented man who will be missed. Sending love to his family, friends and fans.’

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Adam’s death was ‘a sad, sad loss for Jersey’s music scene’ in his Twitter tribute.

‘Sending love to his family, friends and fans’: Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel remembered how Schlesinger penned the theme song to Crank Yankers, calling him ‘a kind and super-talented man who will be missed’

‘Millions of fans caught that radiation vibe’: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said Adam’s death was ‘a sad, sad loss for Jersey’s music scene’ in his Twitter tribute

Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren tweeted: ‘S*** so sorry to hear this. F*** U Covid, RIP Adam Schlesinger. Love and prayers to his family. Thank U for the songs’

Australian singer Ben Lee – who knew him for over 20 years – shared an old snap of the pair ‘laughing backstage somewhere. Probably talking about songwriting. Thanks for everything you gave to your musical community’

Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren tweeted: ‘S*** so sorry to hear this. F*** U Covid, RIP Adam Schlesinger. Love and prayers to his family. Thank U for the songs.’

Australian singer Ben Lee – who knew him for over 20 years – shared an old snap of the pair ‘laughing backstage somewhere. Probably talking about songwriting. Thanks for everything you gave to your musical community.’

‘I knew him best as a mentor, and a friend,’ Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carrabba tweeted.

‘We must take [COVID-19] seriously. People are sick and dying. It is hard to stay locked indoors but lives will be saved. Take care of each other. Rest In Peace, my dear friend.’

Dashboard Confessional frontman Chris Carrabba tweeted: ‘I knew him best as a mentor, and a friend. We must take [COVID-19] seriously. People are sick and dying. It is hard to stay locked indoors but lives will be saved. Take care of each other. Rest In Peace, my dear friend’

Recovering from coronavirus: ‘Heartbroken’ comedian Kathy Griffin recalled how Adam ‘graciously wrote the theme song to my Kathy talk show’ as a ‘favor in a little home studio’

The Lord of the Rings alum and occasional DJ Elijah Wood tweeted: ‘Ugh. Heartbreaking to hear about Adam Schlesinger having passed. Such a brilliant songwriter’

‘Gold and silver’: Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant called Adam’s death ‘bleak, bleak news’ and said he was a ‘bona fide genius and lovely person’

‘Heartbroken’ comedian Kathy Griffin – who’s recovering from coronavirus – recalled how Adam ‘graciously wrote the theme song to my Kathy talk show’ as a ‘favor in a little home studio.’

The Lord of the Rings alum and occasional DJ Elijah Wood tweeted: ‘Ugh. Heartbreaking to hear about Adam Schlesinger having passed. Such a brilliant songwriter.’

Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant called Adam’s death ‘bleak, bleak news’ and said he was a ‘bona fide genius and lovely person. Gold and silver.’

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn tweeted: ‘I was a huge Fountains of Wayne fan, and I just found out about the passing of Adam Schlesinger. Heartbreaking.’

Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn tweeted: ‘I was a huge Fountains of Wayne fan, and I just found out about the passing of Adam Schlesinger. Heartbreaking’

‘Thank you so much’: Golden Globe-winning triple threat Darren Criss thanked Schlesinger for his ‘incredible songs – the best parties will forever be the ones where they play your hits’

‘RIP’: WTF podcaster Marc Maron said it was a ‘sad day’ and called Adam ‘a good guy’ and a ‘brilliant musical mind’

‘Underrated musician’: ‘Heartbroken’ former child star Mara Wilson tweeted that Adam was ‘a lovely person’ and said ‘every playlist I’ve ever made to cheer myself up had an Adam Schlesinger-penned song on it’

Golden Globe-winning triple threat Darren Criss thanked Schlesinger for his ‘incredible songs – the best parties will forever be the ones where they play your hits.’

WTF podcaster Marc Maron said it was a ‘sad day’ and called Adam ‘a good guy’ and a ‘brilliant musical mind.’

‘Heartbroken’ former child star Mara Wilson tweeted that Adam was an ‘underrated musician and a lovely person’ and said ‘every playlist I’ve ever made to cheer myself up had an Adam Schlesinger-penned song on it.’

One of Schlesinger’s final songwriting efforts was Sarah Silverman’s musical The Bedwetter but the global pandemic postponed the June 10 opening at the Atlantic’s Linda Gross Theater.

‘He was my brother’: One of Schlesinger’s final songwriting efforts was Sarah Silverman’s musical The Bedwetter but the global pandemic postponed the June 10 opening at the Atlantic’s Linda Gross Theater

‘We will miss you’: Adam had also been writing music for Fran Drescher’s upcoming Broadway musical adapation of her nineties sitcom The Nanny, and she said she was ‘devastated’ 

‘So sad to hear’: Other celebrities sharing touching tributes included Mark Ronson, Michael McKean, Taylor Hanson, Jack Antonoff, Stephen King, Bret Easton Ellis, Rick Springfield, Juliana Hatfield, and the Counting Crows

‘I’m in shock. I’m just kind of numb, and I can’t seem to convince myself it’s true. My body won’t believe it,’ the 49-year-old comedian wrote on Instagram.

‘I’m in NYC where I came to work with him to finally mount a musical we had been working on together for almost 7 years. I write this from an Airbnb he found for me, sitting in a chair he was in just under 3 weeks ago, the last time we worked together before he started feeling sick.

‘Adam was an astonishing songwriter and composer and one of the funniest people you could know. His songs are funny and poignant, and often – despite himself – stunningly heartfelt. Adam was hilarious and generous and kind. We’ve worked together for years, both of us able to fight hard like siblings, always ALWAYS knowing that we loved each other like siblings. He was my brother.’

Adam had also been writing music for Fran Drescher’s upcoming Broadway musical adapation of her nineties sitcom The Nanny, and she said she was ‘devastated’ and will ‘miss’ him.

Other celebrities sharing touching tributes included Mark Ronson, Michael McKean, Taylor Hanson, Jack Antonoff, Stephen King, Bret Easton Ellis, Rick Springfield, Juliana Hatfield, and the Counting Crows.

Schlesinger was a founding member of the bands Fountains of Wayne, Ivy, and Tinted Windows, and was a key songwriting contributor and producer for Brooklyn-based synth-pop duo Fever High.

Adam’s final social media post on Instagram on March 13 read: ‘See everyone when things semi-normalize!’

Schlesinger is survived by his two daughters – Sadie, 17; and Claire, 13 – from his 14-year marriage to graphic designer Katherine Michel, whom he divorced in 2013.

Fountains of Wayne co-founder: Schlesinger is survived by his two daughters – Sadie, 17; and Claire, 13 – from his 14-year marriage to graphic designer Katherine Michel, whom he divorced in 2013 (pictured in 2007)