David Bowie Dies at 69: Kanye West, Ricky Gervais, Travis Barker and Stars Share Touching Tributes

Music legend David Bowie died at the age of 69 on Sunday after a long battle with cancer, and the news of his passing has hit the world hard.

Many of the iconic performer's famous friends and devoted fans have taken to Twitter and Instagram to share their condolences, their memories and their grief over the loss of one of entertainment's most groundbreaking and influential figures.

WATCH: David Bowie Dies at 69 After Battle With Cancer

Ricky Gervais, who had just completed hosting the Golden Globes, shared his heartbreak on Twitter, writing: "I just lost a hero. RIP David Bowie."

In 2006, Bowie appeared with Gervais on the comedian's British sitcom Extras.

Here are some of the many heartfelt and emotional tributes being paid to Bowie in celebration of his illustrious career and his revolutionary life.

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In the days before his death, Bowie's wife, model Iman, shared a number of tweets that resonate strongly in the wake of her husband's passing, including a post shared on Saturday that read: "Sometimes you will never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory."

For more on the celebrated life and legacy of David Bowie, check out the video below.