Kris Kristofferson, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter best known for his lead role in 1976’s “A Star Is Born,” has died. He was 88.
He was surrounded by family when he passed away “peacefully” at his home in Maui, Hawaii, on Saturday, Variation reported Sunday.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home,” his family said in a statement to the newspaper.
“We are all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know that he is smiling down on us all.”
The statement was shared on behalf of Kristofferson’s wife, Lisa; his eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly and Blake; and his seven grandchildren.
No cause of death has been revealed.
Representatives for Kristofferson did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Born in Brownsville, Texas, in June 1936, Kristofferson began his decades-long career as a musician in the late 60s.
He wrote several classic country songs, including “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” which was performed by Ray Stevens and Johnny Cash, and “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.
In 1985 he teamed up with Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson to form The Highwaymen. The trio released their first album, “Highwayman”, in 1985.
The band went on to release two more albums, the 1990s “Highwayman 2” and “The Road Goes on Forever” from 1995.
On the big screen, Kristofferson got his big break in Hollywood opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 remake of “A Star Is Born”.
His performance as self-destructive rocker John Norman Howard earned the actor a Golden Globe Award in 1977.
He is also known for portraying Whistler in the “Blade” trilogy alongside Wesley Snipes.
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