John Eastman, the former brother-in-law of Paul McCartney, died at age 83, of pancreatic cancer The former Beatle posted via social media on Thursday.
“My beloved brother-in-law, John Eastman, has passed in his sleep. After having known each other for over 50 years, it is a deeply difficult time for me and our families,” McCartney wrote on Instagram along with a photo that shows the two.
Eastman is the twin brother of Paul’s deceased wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, who passed away from breast cancer in 1998.
“John was a wonderful man. One of the friendliest and most intelligent people I’ve been fortunate to meet throughout my life. He not only helped me tremendously in my business transactions as a lawyer, but as a close friend, he was impossible not to surpass,” the music legend wrote.
“There is more to say about his amazing abilities, but words can not adequately describe his love for life and our love for this incredible man. He will be greatly missed but will always be cherished in the hearts of all of those who were close to him and loved the man,” he added.
Eastman as well as the father of his son, Lee Eastman, was also McCartney’s lawyer and was there with him during the dissolution of The Beatles and his solo career. When he was in 1984, McCartney said to Playboy how thankful he was for the Eastmans. “The music publishing I have is amazing. Beautiful. I owe all this to Linda’s father Lee Eastman and her brother John.”
According to a profile from the 2004 NYU School of Law profile, Eastman also represented the estate of painter Francis Bacon and the family of artist Willem de Kooning.
He opted to represent only artists, and stated to NYU law school students that in the year 2004 “You have the power to affect those things that are important to you,” and to “have the courage not to be co-opted,” instead “be what you want to become.”
Eastman has been survived by his wife Jodie Eastman.