Rachel Zegler penned an emotional tribute to West Side Story producer, Adam Somner, following his death at the age of 57 on November 27.

He pᴀssed away one day before Thanksgiving following a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reported on Friday.

The Snow White actress, 23, notably portrayed the role of Maria in the 2021 adaptation of the stage musical. Somner was also the first ᴀssistant director on the Oscar-nominated movie – which was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Zegler — who recently revealed her ‘worst’ Hollywood audition — took to her Instagram stories as she recalled having the ‘honor’ to work alongside Somner.

She penned, ‘I had the honor of making west side story with adam somner when I was seventeen years old.’ 

‘And with so much grace and love, he lifted me up and refused to let me stumble as I navigated the world of filmmaking. i could not have been in better hands.’ 

Rachel Zegler, 23, penned an emotional tribute to West Side Story producer, Adam Somner, following his pᴀssing at the age of 57 on November 27; seen in October in NYC 

Zegler took to her Instagram stories as she recalled having the ‘honor’ to work alongside Somner

Rachel continued, ‘Long story short, i loved him, as did everyone who ever got to work with him. he was the kindest, the most efficient, the wackiest and he was the best at his job.’ 

‘It is not fair that he won’t get to do more,’ the actress added. ‘So much love to all of his family and all who got the honor of working with him.’ 

Read More Rachel Zegler reveals her ‘worst’ audition as she avoids discussing Snow White drama

Zegler concluded with, ‘I never took it for granted and now i will take it with me forever. adam somner, you legend. i miss you already.’ 

Along with the moving statement, the star also included a short reel of herself sharing a hug with Somner while on set of West Side Story. 

Adam collaborated with a variety of filmmakers during his long-lasting career in the industry, such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Paul Thomas Anderson and Steve McQueen. 

He has 20 producer credits – per his official IMDB page – on films such as Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023), West Side Story (2021), Licorice Pizza (2021), Ford v Ferrari (2019), Lincoln (2012) and The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013). 

Somner was also the first ᴀssistant director on movies including War Horse, Killers Of The Flower Moon, Licorice Pizza, Ready Player One, Phantom Thread, The Revenant, Lincoln, There Will Be Blood and The Wolf Of Wall Street. 

He took on the role of second ᴀssistant director on other projects such as Hannibal (2001), Gladiator (2000) and G.I. Jane (1997).  

He pᴀssed away one day before Thanksgiving following a battle with anaplastic thyroid cancer, ᴅᴇᴀᴅline reported on Friday; seen in 2022 in L.A. 

The Snow White actress, 23, notably portrayed the role of Maria in the 2021 adaptation of the stage musical. Somner was also the first ᴀssistant director on the Oscar-nominated movie – which was directed by Steven Spielberg

Following his pᴀssing, Spielberg also reflected on Somner’s career throughout the years in a statement – and having the chance to work alongside Adam on a number of films. 

Somner’s earliest credit as an AD on his IMDB page was Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) – which was directed by Spielberg. 

The filmmaker said, ‘The job тιтle “ᴀssistant director” is insufficient to describe what Adam Somner was to me and the contribution he made to my films – just as my left arm is more than just an ᴀssistant to my right.’ 

‘He worked as AD, and producer and he performed both of those tasks with equal measures of devotion. He loved making movies. He loved being on the set. It was his gridiron.’

‘He was a cheerleader and ball carrier and at times I couldn’t tell if he was following my lead or I was following his.’

Steven added that Somner, ‘made everyone who joined the crew feel like they were part of the family.’

‘He was a uniter and when things weren’t going according to plan, his English working-class wit and humor, could smooth out the problem through his under-the-breath cursing, laughter, and the backup plan he always seemed to have standing by.’

‘He was an icon in his field and an inspiration to anyone who wants a career in the mounting of productions – with the full recognition that it is as creative as it is organizational. Going back to work without Adam will never be the same.’ 

Following his pᴀssing, Spielberg also reflected on Somner’s career throughout the years in a statement – and having the chance to work alongside Adam on a number of films; Spielberg seen in June in NYC 

Scorsese also mourned Adam’s pᴀssing and said in a statement, ‘Adam Somner was credited as an ᴀssistant Director and a Producer on three of my pictures, but his presence meant more to me and to the films than any credits could really even indicate.’

‘Adam had a very special and very particular set of qualities – the organizational abilities and the discipline of a general on the battlefield.’ 

‘A unique ability to work as closely with me or with any director as two dancers doing a routine or two musicians bouncing off each other; and an extraordinary artistry when it came to organizing and orchestrating movement in the frame.’

Martin continued, ‘Adam Somner embodied and practiced all of it. I would never have been able to make The Wolf Of Wall Street or Killers Of The Flower Moon without him, and we were in the middle of planning another project.’

‘He pᴀssed away far too early, and I will miss him terribly. He loved “making pictures,” as he put it. He was one of the finest collaborators I could ask for, and I know that my fellow directors would say the same.’ 

Paul Thomas Anderson collaborated with Somner on projects such as Licorice Pizza, Phantom Thread and There Will Be Blood. 

While not on sets, the pair also developed a close friendship – with Anderson officiating Adam’s wedding in 2011. 

Paul expressed, ‘Adam loved making films more than anyone else ever in the history of the movie business. It was food and drink to him. He made everyone who worked with him feel safe.’ 

‘I would never have been able to make The Wolf Of Wall Street or Killers Of The Flower Moon without him, and we were in the middle of planning another project,’ Scorsese said 

Paul expressed, ‘Adam loved making films more than anyone else ever in the history of the movie business. It was food and drink to him. He made everyone who worked with him feel safe’; Somner seen with producer Sara Murphy in 2022 in Hollywood 

A DGA (Director’s Guild of America) scholarship will be established under Somner’s name, per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline; seen with producer Sara Murphy in 2022 

‘He saw everything from all sides at once and had a back up plan to the back up plan to the back up plan. He moved mountains and trucks and people like he was moving a salt shaker across a table. It was glorious to watch him work.’ 

The director added, ‘He knew how to make a film better than anyone else. His intuition and talent was second only to how deeply funny and loving he was. Most of all and above everything, he was generous.’ 

‘For those of us lucky enough to work with him, we know going to work will never be the same or as much fun.’

Anderson expressed that he, ‘would rank him in the Kobe Bryant, Mick Jagger, Winston Churchill category of Legends. And that would be under-selling it.’ 

Somner’s most recent first AD and producer credit was for the 2024 film, Blitz, which was written and directed by Steve McQueen. 

Before his pᴀssing, Adam had been working on an upcoming Paul Thomas Anderson film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. 

A DGA (Director’s Guild of America) scholarship will be established under his name, per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline. 

Somner is survived by his wife, Carmen Ruiz de Huidobro, children Olivia and Bosco, and also his brother Mark Somner.