Oscar-winning US actor Cliff Robertson, who rocketed to fame after playing slain US president John F Kennedy, died on Saturday at the age of 88, the Los Angeles Times reports.

A spokesman confirmed Robertson's death, citing the actor's family, but gave no further details.

Media reports said he died at Stony Brook University Medical Centre of natural causes.

The actor's official website carried the message "In loving memory" and noted the dates of his birth and death.

In the course of his career, Robertson appeared in some 60 movies, including PT 109, My Six Loves, Sunday In New York, The Best Man, The Devil's Brigade, Three Days Of The Condor, Obsession and Star 80.

But it was PT 109, where he starred as a young John F Kennedy who commanded a torpedo boat in the Pacific World War II theatre, that brought him success and universal recognition.

Robertson won an Academy Award in 1968 for his portrayal of a mentally disabled janitor in the movie Charly.

More recently, he played Uncle Ben Parker in the Spider-Man films.

Robertson was married twice and twice divorced.

He had two daughters from his marriages.

AFP