Writer, producer and director John Hughes has passed away at the age of 59 after suffering a heart attack.

The Home Alone creator was on a morning stroll in New York  when he collapsed. He was in Manhattan to visit family.

Before making Home Alone - which was named the top grossing film of 1990 - John also directed a number of successful coming-of-age flicks throughout the Eighties, including The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink

After his last film, 1991 comedy Curly Sue, John turned his back on Hollywood to run a farm in Illinois.

The director is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, two sons, John and James, and four grandchildren.

"I was a fan of both his work and a fan of him as a person," says Macaulay Culkin, who shot to fame with John's Home Alone films.

"The world has lost not only a quintessential filmmaker whose influence will be felt for generations, but a great and decent man."