Classic rock fans were left saddened this week after the man who wrote some of The Eagles' biggest songs passed away. 

According to Variety magazine, 78-year-old singer, songwriter, and actor J.D. Souther died peacefully at his home in New Mexico of undisclosed causes.

A career that spanned decades

Souther is best known for helping to pen such singles as "New Kid in Town" and "Best of My Love," both of which were recorded by The Eagles.

Other works included  "Heartache Tonight," "Victim of Love," "James Dean," "Doolin-Dalton," "The Sad Cafe," "You Never Cry Like a Lover," "Teenage Jail," and "Last Good Time in Town."

In addition to writing for others, Souther was also a solo artist who composed and recorded 1979's "You're Only Lonely," which went on to become a top 10 hit.

Meanwhile, Souther first began to apply his talents as an actor in 1989 when he appeared on the television series "Thirtysomething."

What's more, he also made regular appearances on the first season of "Nashville" in 2012 and turned up on the silver screen with roles in "Postcards From the Edge," "Always," "Purgatory," "Deadline," and "My Girl 2."

Souther had no plans to become an actor

"The acting stuff came because someone asked me," Souther said during an interview with Acoustic Storm in 2009. "I acted when I was a kid… in high school and college."

Souther admitted that he "never thought of it much in L.A." but added that "anybody who likes movies fantasizes about being in them."

"But great people asked me to be in their movies. Steven Spielberg asked me to be in a movie, Ed Zwick asked me to do this arc of episodes on 'Thirtysomething’ and Mike Nichols asked me to be in 'Postcards From the Edge,'" he explained.

"There's absolutely no reason to say no to people of that quality when they ask you to be in their films," the artist declared.

The Eagles remember Souther as "a friend and a brilliant collaborator"

Billboard reported that The Eagles released a statement after Souther's death which called him "a brother, a friend and a brilliant collaborator."

The Eagles Pay Tribute to ‘Brother, Friend, Brilliant Collaborator’ J.D. Souther: ‘He Was An Extraordinary Man’ https://t.co/X7qKUuHlv1

— billboard (@billboard) September 19, 2024

"J.D. Souther was smart, talented, well-read, and in possession of a wicked sense of humor.  He loved a good meal, a good movie, and a good Martini … and he loved dogs, adopting many, over the course of his lifetime," the band added.