Melissa Mathison, who penned the script for Spielberg’s 1982 success E.T. and his upcoming adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The BFG, has died aged 65.

Mathison had already written the screenplay for The Black Stallion when she wrote E.T., a script Spielberg claimed he would have been “willing to shoot the next day” when he read it. In a statement following the announcement of her death, the director said, “Melissa had a heart that shined with generosity and love and burned as bright as the heart she gave E.T.” She also wrote Spielberg’s section of the Twilight Zone movie, as well as adapting The Indian in the Cupboard for Frank Oz.

The BFG marked her return to screenwriting after almost 20 years; the movie will be released in July 2016.