The tributes to Quincy Jones, who passed away on Sunday night at the age of 91, have been pouring in across the various industries he worked in and from the fans who respected his work. While all of these tributes have meaning, one struck an emotional chord today when Oscar-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg spoke about her dear friend, whom she first met when he produced and composed the score for 1985’s The Color Purple, the film that earned Goldberg her first Oscar nomination.
Goldberg, who is the moderator on ABC’s The View, took a moment before the first commercial break following their coverage of the upcoming presidential election to speak about Jones, clearly getting emotional before speaking about her friend. Following a deep sigh, something that was reflected by the supportive reactions of her co-hosts, Goldberg said, “I can’t even explain what’s happening in my head right now. We just lost the extraordinary Quincy Jones, songwriter, composer, producer, he worked with everybody.” After listing the slew of people Jones had worked with, including his groundbreaking collaborations with Michael Jackson, the actress explained their connection through The Color Purple.
“Of course, he was the composer on The Color Purple, which is how I met Quincy. What I can I tell you is, in three words, is that I had no better friend, he never left, when other people were flocking away, Q stayed, and he always told me to stand my ground. I do and I always will. I also want to tell people that he’s going to be receiving an honorary Oscar this year, and the last thing I’ll tell you, he’s such a prolific composer. He composed stuff you probably don’t even know was his.”
Whoopi Goldberg Met Quincy Jones on Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple
Not only did Jones compose the score for The Color Purple, but it was also his first film-producing credit. The movie went on to become a huge success, grossing $98.4 million on a $15 million budget, and it went on to be nominated for eleven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and a Best Actress nomination for Goldberg. While the movie didn’t receive a single win, it’s still considered one of Steven Spielberg’s best films, and it went on to spawn a musical adaption in 2005, which was turned into a feature film in 2023. As for Goldberg, she went on to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1990’s Ghost.
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After the news of Jones’ passing broke, Goldberg took to her Instagram story, via Entertainment Weekly, to share her thoughts about her friend ahead of her appearance on The View. The story read, “Quincy Jones was my friend, and was one of a kind. I was lucky enough to have him in my life all these years. My heart is breaking for his family & his extended family who loved and adored him…my condolences.”
With a career such as his, it’s easy to see why so many in the industry are in mourning. You can find social media posts from some of the biggest people working in film, music, television, and all entertainment paying tribute to Jones because he truly left his mark on so many because of his immense talent and incredible work ethic. The great thing about art is that it lives on long after someone passes, and he certainly has so much art for generations to discover, enjoy, and be inspired by.
- Release Date
- December 18, 1985
- Cast
- Danny Glover , Whoopi Goldberg , Margaret Avery , Oprah Winfrey , Willard E. Pugh , Akosua Busia , Desreta Jackson , Adolph Caesar , Rae Dawn Chong , Dana Ivey , Leonard Jackson , Bennet Guillory , John Patton Jr. , Carl Anderson , Susan Beaubian , James Tillis , Phillip Strong , Laurence Fishburne , Peto Kinsaka , Lelo Masamba , Margaret Freeman , Howard Starr , Daphaine Oliver , Jadili Johnson , Lillian Njoki Distefano , Donna Buie , Leon Rippy , John R. Hart , David Thomas
- Runtime
- 154 Minutes
- Budget
- $15 million
- Studio(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Distributor(s)
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- Character(s)
- Albert , Celie , Shug Avery , Sofia , Harpo , Nettie , Young Celie , Old Mr. , Squeak , Miss Millie , Pa , Grady , Preacher , Reverend Samuel , Corrine , Buster , Mayor , Swain , Adam , Olivia , Odessa , Young Harpo , Young Olivia , Young Adam , Young Tashi , Daisy , Store Clerk , Mailman , Road Gang Leader