Sci-fi screenwriter Dan O'Bannon, whose film credits include Alien and Total Recall, has died aged 63.

The Writers Guild of America confirmed he passed away on Thursday in a Californian hospital.

He began his career in 1974 with the movie Dark Star, which he co-wrote with director John Carpenter.

O'Bannon continued writing sci-fi and horror pictures including Invaders from Mars, Bleeders and The Return Of The Living Dead, which he also directed.