Paul McCartney took to social media to pay tribute to his brother-in-law John Eastman, who died Tuesday at the age of 83 from pancreatic cancer.
The pair were linked both personally and professionally, as Eastman was not only the brother of McCartney’s late wife Linda Eastman McCartney, but also the former Beatles singer’s longtime lawyer.
The musician shared the heartfelt tribute on Instagram, honoring Eastman’s role in his career, noting that he was a “hard to beat” friend.
“His sense of humor always shone through in everything he did and his devotion to his family was supreme,” McCartney wrote.
Eastman has stood by McCartney’s side for more than 50 years, representing the artist during the Beatles’ infamous breakup, a time when the lawyer says he had to “risk his entire reputation — which was zero,” according to one biography on Eastman from New York University.
Despite the death of the star’s first wife, the two men clearly remained close as family, and the 80-year-old musician’s admiration for his late friend was evident in his words:
“So much more could be said about his incredible qualities, but words can hardly describe his passion for life and our affection for this wonderful man,” McCartney wrote.
“He will be sorely missed, but always held dear in the hearts of those of us who knew and loved him.”