Country legend and Hollywood star Kris Kristofferson has died at the age of 88, his family has announced.

Kristofferson, a Grammy Award-winning country music legend and star of films such as Blade and Planet of the Apes, died on Saturday, September 28, at his home in Maui, surrounded by his family.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 28,” a statement on behalf of Kristofferson’s wife Lisa; his eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly and Blake; and seven grandchildren, read on Kristofferson’s official Facebook page.

“We are all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these years, and when you see a rainbow, know that he is smiling at us all.” – Kris Kristofferson’s family.

“The family requests privacy during this time.”

In addition to his hugely successful music career that began in the late 1960s, Kristofferson starred in a number of Hollywood films, including Martin Scorsese’s 1974 romantic comedy-drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and with Barbra Streisand in the 1976 musical romantic drama A Star Is. Born.

Later, Kristofferson played Abraham Whistler in Marvel’s Blade film trilogy alongside Wesley Snipes, Karubi in 2001’s Planet of the Apes, and, in his final role, Edwin Fuller in Ethan Hawke’s 2018 biographical drama film based on the life of country musician Blaze Foley.

Guillermo del Toro, who directed 2002’s Blade 2, tweeted that Kristofferson was “a true and proven humanist and a stand-up guy. Principled, funny and absolutely no-nonsense. Our short and intense time on Blade 2 was full of lessons to be learned to follow.” What a gentleman! Rest in peace, oh great one!

❤️ pic.twitter.com/iC6VfPCXLd

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 29, 2024

Kristofferson also had two notable video game roles: Ned White in Activison’s 2005 Western-themed action game Gun, and Chief Hanlon in Obsidian’s 2010 post-apocalyptic adventure Fallout: New Vegas.

In a tweet, Dolly Parton wrote: “What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly.”

In an Instagram post, Barbra Streisand said she “knew he was something special” when she first saw Kristofferson perform.

Wesley is the UK news editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].