Sam Shepard: Actors, artists pay homage to 'hero' and late playwright

— -- Sam Shepard died last week at the age of 73, a representative for the family confirmed to ABC News on Monday.

When news of the Oscar nominee and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright's death broke, fellow actors and artists took to social media to pay their respects to whom many called a hero in the thespian community.

Here are some of the tributes to Shepard, who worked on Broadway and in film for over half a century.