One of cinema's most prolific film composers, John Barry, has died of a heart attack, aged 77.

Best known for creating music for the James Bond movies, the British film composer scored 11 of the super spy films and won five Academy Awards and four Grammys during an illustrious career.

His Bond compositions included "Goldfinger", "From Russia With Love" and "You Only Live Twice", and his Academy Awards included best music for "Dances With Wolves", "Out of Africa", "Lion in the Winter" and "Born Free".

Barry's family said he died in New York on Sunday (January 30).

Doug MacLaurin, Reuters