Pop icon Cher recently took to social media to pay tribute to her Moonstruck director, Norman Jewison, after his passing at the age of 97. Cher, who boasts an impressive 11.9 million followers on social media, expressed her gratitude for one of the greatest experiences of her life and credited Jewison for creating the iconic film.

It has been 36 years since Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, portrayed the role of Brooklyn bookkeeper Loretta Castorini in Moonstruck. At the age of 41, she triumphed over Sally Field and secured the leading role in the romantic dramedy. However, Cher famously threatened to quit the film if Jewison cast Peter Gallagher instead of a young Nicolas Cage, who was 19 years younger than her.

Jewison considered Moonstruck to be his favorite film, and it garnered critical acclaim and won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Despite a modest budget of $15 million, the film raked in an impressive $122.1 million at the global box office. Cher's stellar performance as the no-nonsense, Italian-American widow earned her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Additionally, Olympia Dukakis, who played Cher's onscreen mother, won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and John Patrick Shanley was honored with the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his work on Moonstruck.

In 2009, Cher had the opportunity to reunite with Jewison at a tribute event held at the LACMA in Los Angeles, celebrating the Canadian filmmaker's illustrious career. Cher expressed her admiration and appreciation for Jewison's contribution to cinema.

Jewison's final film, The Statement, released in 2003, received mixed reviews and performed poorly at the box office, earning only $1.6 million against its hefty $27 million budget. The thriller featured renowned actors Michael Caine and Tilda Swinton.

Outside of her successful acting career, Cher has remained a public figure. She is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on January 29 for a hearing regarding her request for conservatorship over her son, Elijah Blue Allman. The multi-talented artist, who is just a Tony Award away from achieving EGOT status, continues to captivate audiences with her music, boasting a monthly listener count of 15.9 million on Spotify.

Norman Jewison may have departed, but his legacy lives on through the timeless and beloved film Moonstruck. Cher's poignant tribute serves as a reminder of the bond they shared and the impact Jewison had on her career.