James Horner, the Hollywood orchestrator who composed the scores of "Titanic," "Avatar," "Star Trek's" "The Wrath of Khan" and dozens of other movies, died on Monday when his single-engine plane crashed in Southern California, NBC News reported. He was 61.

Britain's Guardian described the composer as an "astonishingly prolific virtuoso" who at the same time was "subtle (and) stirring."

The newspaper pointed to his hugely popular "Titanic" soundtrack, for which Horner won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Grammy, along with other prizes; in collaboration with Will Jennings, he had also written the movie's hit song, "My Heart Will Go On," which was interpreted by Céline Dion.

Details about Monday's plane accident remained sparse, but, quoting unnamed officials, the Hollywood Reporter noted that the aircraft piloted by Horner crashed into a remote area about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara. His assistant, Sylvia Patrycja, confirmed the composer's death.

"We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart and unbelievable talent," Patrycja wrote on Facebook on Monday. "He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road."

Horner was born on Aug. 14, 1953, in Los Angeles. The son of a Czechoslovakian immigrant who worked as a set designer and occasional art-director, he started playing the piano at the age of 5.

The future composer studied at London's Royal College of Music and later received his bachelor's degree in music from the University of Southern California. In the 1970s, Horner taught music theory at UCLA and received several assignments from the American Film Institute.

His breakthrough in the industry, though, came when he was invited to write the score for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," a 1982 American science-fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. With the unprecedented success of "Titanic," Horner's career peaked in 1997.

"My job ... is to make sure at every turn of the film it's something the audience can feel with their heart," Horner said in a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times cited by the Hollywood Reporter. "When we lose a character, when somebody wins, when somebody loses, when someone disappears -- at all times I'm keeping track, constantly, of what the heart is supposed to be feeling. That is my primary role."