The death of Kris Kristofferson, country superstar and 'Blade' actor

Legendary country singer and actor Kris Kristofferson passed away at the age of 88 at his home in Maui, surrounded by his family. With a career that spanned more than five decades, Kristofferson left an indelible mark on both music and film.

"It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 28 at home," his family said in a statement shared with People magazine.

Born June 22, 1936, in Brownsville, Texas, Kristofferson developed an early passion for country music. By the age of 11, he had written his first song, 'I Hate Your Ugly Face,' People reports.

Although Kristofferson studied at Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship and had a promising academic career, he chose to follow his passion for music and left the army in 1965 to move to Nashville and become a composer, the BBC reported.

Kris began his career in Nashville working as a janitor at Columbia Studios while writing songs. Hits like 'For the Good Times' and 'Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down' catapulted him to fame.

The song 'Me and Bobby McGee', co-written with Fred Foster, was immortalized by Janis Joplin on her posthumous album 'Pearl'. It reached number one in the charts in 1971. During the 1970s, Kristofferson released a series of successful albums and collaborated with artists such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson, forming the supergroup The Highwaymen.

Kristofferson rose to film stardom playing self-destructive rocker John Norman Howard in the 1976 remake of "'A Star Is Born' alongside Barbra Streisand. He won a Golden Globe for his performance.

Although he had numerous roles throughout his career, many remember him for his role as Whistler in the 'Blade' trilogy, where he played the mentor of Wesley Snipes' character.

In 2013, Kristofferson revealed that he was suffering from memory problems, initially diagnosed as Alzheimer's but later found to be Lyme disease. Despite these challenges, he continued making music until 2021.

Throughout his career, Kris Kristofferson received multiple awards, including three Grammys and a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame. His talent and creative spirit will live on through his music and film legacy.

Following the announcement of his passing, celebrities such as Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire shared their grief at the news. "What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend," Parton wrote. McEntire called him a 'gentleman.' "I'm so glad I knew him and was around him. One of my favorite people. Rest in peace, Kris."