Jeffrey Dean Morgan had his heartstrings pulled on Saturday when he stumbled upon an old photo of late actor, and former costar, Bill Paxton.
Being that he considered Paxton, who passed away in February 2017, a very close friend, the Walking Dead star couldn’t resist sharing a heartfelt and emotional tribute on Twitter.
‘This popped up today on my phone memories. G**damn, I Miss him. So much,’ he wrote alongside the photo showing the two stars on the set of the miniseries Texas Rising back in 2014.
Emotional tribute: Jeffrey Dean Morgan shared a heartfelt tribute to late actor, and good friend, Bill Paxton, after a photo of the two stars on the set of the miniseries Texas Rising appeared on his phone memories on Saturday
‘Never known anyone quite like Bill. Never will. Loved him with a passion. Everyone lucky enough to know him did.’
The photo shows the two actors flashing big smiles as they sat side-by-side under umbrellas as rain fell while they waited to shoot their next scene for the 10-hour historical drama that premiered on the History Channel in May 2015.
Dressed in full costumes from the 1830s area, Paxton was decked out brown pants and a puffy gray shirt, along with a pair of suspenders, high boots, and a hat sitting on his left knee.
Morgan was similarly dressed, only he added a vest and had his hat on his head.
The storyline of the miniseries takes place after the Battle of the Alamo and follows the creation of the Texas Rangers during the Texas Revolution.
Paxton starred as General Sam Houston, while Morgan portrayed Captain Erastus ‘Deaf ‘Smith, a role in which Morgan lost 40 pounds to play because the character suffered with tuberculosis.
Heavy words: Morgan, 55, revealed he loved Paxton ‘with a passion’ in his throwback post
RIP: Morgan called Paxton ‘one of the greatest people ever’ upon leaning of his passing on February 25, 2017, 11 days after he underwent surgery to repair a damaged heart valve
Paxton starred as General Sam Houston, while Morgan portrayed Captain Erastus ‘Deaf ‘Smith, in the 10-hour miniseries Texas Rising that premiered on The History Channel in May 2015
Just over a year-and-a-half after Texas Rising made its premiere, Paxton underwent open-heart surgery, on February 14, 2017, to repair a damaged heart valve, the result of rheumatic fever contracted when he was 13-years-old.
The father of two would suffer a stroke and died 11 days later, on February 25, at the age of 61. A family representative said at the time that Paxton died ‘due to complications from surgery.’
His family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor who operated on him and the hospital where his heart surgery was performed, accusing them of ‘negligent diagnosis, management, and treatment.’
Upon learning of his passing, Morgan was among the many stars to take to social media and share a heartfelt tribute.
‘Bill Paxton was simply one of the greatest people ever. To know him was to love him. I loved him. Huge love to Louise, Lydia and James. Xo,’ he shared in a Twitter post at the time.
Legal battle: Paxton’s family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the doctor who operated on him and the hospital where his heart surgery was performed, accusing them of ‘negligent diagnosis, management, and treatment’
Getting in character: Morgan previously shared that he lost 40 pounds to play because his character of Deaf Smith suffered with tuberculosis.
Paxton’s Hollywood resume was long and diverse, appearing in such films as Weird Science (1983), The Terminator (1984), Commando (1985), Aliens (1986), Predator 2 (1990), Boxing Helena (1990), True Lies (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Twister (1996), and Titanic (1997).
He also played lead roles in the HBO drama series Big Love (2006-2011) and the History Channel miniseries Hatfields & McCoys (2012).
Morgan’s post came one day after actress Amanda Seyfried paid tribute to Paxton with her own throwback photo posted on Instagram.
Seyfried, who played Paxton’s onscreen daughter in Big Love, shared a photo of the two nestled up together with big smiles.
‘Bill and me. Sorting through the thousands of photos I’ve packed away over the years has been mostly fun but every once in a while I find one that brings me to my knees,’ she began in the caption.
‘I got so lucky to know this man and feel his bright, warm light so often while playing his daughter on Big Love. He was wonderful and so deeply loved and I miss him.’
Paxton left behind his wife, Louise Newbury, whom he married in 1987, and their two children: son James, now 27, and daughter Lydia, now 23.
Heartfelt: Morgan’s post came one day after actress Amanda Seyfried paid tribute to Paxton with her own throwback photo posted on Instagram; Seyfried played Paxton’s onscreen daughter in the hit HBO drama series Big Love (2006-2011)