Schlesinger was also nominated for an Academy Award for penning the song behind the 1997 movie “That Thing You Do,” about a fictional one-hit wonder band from the 1960s.
The film’s director, Tom Hanks – who recently won his own battle with coronavirus – took to Twitter to express his sadness at the loss of Schlesinger.
“Lost him to Covid-19,” Hanks wrote on Twitter. “Terribly sad today.”
It is believed Schlesinger had been in hospital for over a week before passing away.