Men In Black and The Larry Sanders Show actor Rip Torn has passed away

Emmy-winning actor Rip Torn, who starred in the Men In Black series and The Larry Sanders Show has died.

He was 88.

Representatives for the acclaimed TV and stage star said Torn "passed away peacefully at his home in Lakeville, Connecticut" with his actress wife Amy Wright and daughters Katie Torn and Angelica Page on Tuesday afternoon.

A cause of death is yet to be revealed.

Rip - whose real name was Elmore Rual Torn Jr. - was best known for playing Chief Zed, the head of the Men In Black, in the 1997 sci-fi movie and its 2002 sequel alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.

Rip also starred as coach Patches O'Houlihan in DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, portrayed Albert Brooks' character's defence attorney in the 1991 romantic-comedy Defending Your Life alongside Meryl Streep, and in 2001's Freddy Got Fingered.

Rip made his movie debut in 1957 film Time Limit opposite Richard Widmark, and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Marsh Turner in 1983's Cross Creek.

As well as his movie work, Rip - who adopted the name as a child - was known for his portrayal of Artie the producer on The Larry Sanders Show, for which he earned six Emmy Award nominations and won one in 1996.