Country music legend and Hollywood actor Kris Kristofferson has passed away. The Brownsville, Texas -born star, who won a Golden Globe for his role in the 1976 film A Star is Born alongside Barbara Streisand, was not only a gifted actor but also a celebrated country music artist. He bagged four Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 2014.
Kristofferson breathed his last at his home in Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, according to family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland. The 88 year old died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
From the late 1960s, Kristofferson penned classic hits such as Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down, Help Me Make it Through the Night, For the Good Times and Me and Bobby McGee. While he was a singer himself, many of his songs gained fame through performances by other artists, like Ray Price's rendition of For the Good Times or Janis Joplin's powerful performance of Me and Bobby McGee. In 2004, Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The chief executive for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Kyle Young, said: "Kris Kristofferson believed creativity is God-given, and those who ignore such a gift are doomed to unhappiness. He preached that a life of the mind gives voice to the soul, and his work gave voice not only to his soul but to ours. He leaves a resounding legacy.
In addition to his musical career, Kristofferson made a name for himself in Hollywood , starring in films like Martin Scors.
