Chariots of Fire

He won an Oscar for the stirring score to 1981's Chariots of Fire.

Paying tribute, Lord Puttnam, who produced the film, told the BBC Vangelis had created "a new musical landscape".

US composer Austin Wintory wrote on Twitter that Vangelis "changed an entire era of music".

Oscar-nominated British musician Daniel Pemberton said it was hard to underestimate the colossal impact of Vangelis on modern film music.

"It is also hard to understand how groundbreaking Chariots of Fire was. A period British film with a phenomenal synth score," he added.

His representatives said he had died "suddenly" following a short illness.

Writing on his Facebook page, his daughter Lauren said she was "utterly heartbroken" that her "darling father" had died.

She said he had been "sick for a while" but there had been a "rapid decline over the past week".

Cross, who died in Vienna, Austria, had two children, Lauren and Theo.

His representatives said he had just finishing shooting horror film The Devil's Light and later this year will appear in a leading role in the romantic drama film Last Letter From Your Lover.