Blade star and country music legend Kris Kristofferson dies at age 88

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

Kristofferson, a Grammy-winning country music legend and star of films such as “Blade” and “Planet of the Apes,” died Saturday, Sept. 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 28th,” 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 Kristofferson's official Facebook page.

“We are all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him for all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, you know he is smiling down on all of us.” – The family of Kris Kristofferson.

“The family requests privacy during this time.”

In addition to his highly successful music career, which 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 romantic musical drama ” A Star Is Born from 1976.

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

Guillermo del Toro, director of 2002's “Blade 2,” tweeted that Kristofferson was “a true and proven humanitarian and an upstanding guy. Principled, funny and completely factual. Our short and intensive time with Blade 2 was full of lessons learned. What a gentleman! Rest in peace, O 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 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 author. What a great actor. What a great friend. I’ll always love you, Dolly.”

In an Instagram post, Barbra Streisand said she “knew he was 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].