Prince won an Oscar for best original song score for "Purple Rain," the 1984 movie whose music was based on his album of the same name.
Prince, the innovative US music superstar whose hits included "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry" and whose songwriting and eccentric stage presence electrified fans around the world, died on Thursday in Minnesota, his publicist said. He was 57.
"It is with profound sadness that I am confirming that the legendary, iconic performer, Prince Rogers Nelson, has died," said publicist Anna Meacham.
Prince was found dead at his home at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, a Minneapolis suburb, the Carver County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter. The office said it was "investigating the circumstances of his death."
The local medical examiner declined to comment on the cause of Prince's death, which was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.
Shocked fans gathered with media crews outside Paisley Park Studios' gates to mourn the award-winning singer and musician, whose genre-defying music combined jazz, funk and disco, and influenced other musicians. His hit songs also included "Raspberry Beret," "Little Red Corvette" and "Kiss."
Prince, who was on a US tour last week, was briefly hospitalized with the flu after his plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, last week, TMZ reported. A representative told TMZ that Prince had performed in Atlanta even though he was not feeling well and felt worse after boarding the plane for a flight back to Minnesota.
Prince first found fame in the late 1970s, and over the next three decades became known as one of the most inventive and eccentric forces in American pop music.
Often making a statement with bold fashion choices, the diminutive star sometimes appeared on stage sporting ruffled shirts and tight pants or elaborate costumes, including chain mail covering his face, a shimmery orange tunic or bikini briefs.
Prince was regarded as a perfectionist who from 1993 to 2000 changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in what was seen as a protest against his record label at the time.
For a while, he was dubbed "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince."
'PRIVATE PERSON'An intensely private person, Prince sold more than 100 million records during his career, won seven Grammy awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
His most recent album, "HITnRUN: Phase Two" was released in December 2015.
Prince became a Jehovah's Witness about 15 years ago, and was a strict vegan. In 2009, he spoke in a PBS television interview about being born an epileptic and suffering seizures as a child.
He said he was also teased in school, and that "early in my career I tried to compensate by being as flashy as I could and as noisy as I could."
Prince won an Oscar for best original song score for "Purple Rain," the 1984 movie whose music was based on his album of the same name. He also starred in the movie.
In 2007, he played the Super Bowl in one of the most celebrated such performances.
While he was more accustomed to performing to arena audiences, two years ago Prince played perhaps his most intimate gig in the living room of British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas' London home with his band, 3rdeyegirl, Billboard said.
"We'll work our way up, if people like us, to bigger venues," Prince quipped at the time.
'EXPLOSIVE PERFORMANCES'Born in Minneapolis as Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, he is said to have written his first song at the age of 7. As well as singing and writing, he played multiple instruments, including guitar, keyboards and drums.
His music was marked by sexually charged lyrics and explosive live performances, while his private life was marked by a string of romances linking him with the likes of Madonna and actress Kim Basinger and Carmen Electra.
Prince was married twice: to his backup singer, Mayte Garcia, in 1996 and then to Manuela Testolini in 2001. Both marriages ended in divorce, and a son he had with Garcia died a week after birth in October 1996.
Music TV channel MTV said it was changing its logo to purple for the day in honour of Prince. Twitter lit up with reaction from dismayed friends and fans.
"And just like that ... the world lost a lot of magic Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much," tweeted pop star Katy Perry.
Film director Spike Lee said on Twitter: "I Miss My Brother. Prince Was A Funny Cat. Great Sense Of Humour."
"This is what it sounds like when doves cry.. Prince RIP.," tweeted actress and TV personality Whoopi Goldberg.