Home Alone dad John Heard found dead

John Heard starred in the smash hit Home Alone, with actress Catherine O'Hara.

The actor best known for playing the father in the Home Alone movies has died at the age of 72.

John Heard, was found dead in a hotel in Palo Alto, California, on Friday, according to TMZ, quoting family sources.

The Washington DC native was reportedly discovered by the maid service and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Heard's rep told the gossip website the actor had minor back surgery on Wednesday and he was at the hotel to recover.

Tributes are flowing from fellow actors including Cher and Elizabeth Perkins, Heard's co-star in the film Big.

Goodbye John,
You were such a Beautiful,Talented,Funny,Crazy,Boy.#CuttersWay pic.twitter.com/sDocFcxc0J

— Cher (@cher) July 22, 2017

Rest peacefully, Mr. John Heard. You were the perfect foil, perfectly sly & a perfect gentleman. Many prayers to his family and children. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vTdEeZThfU

— Elizabeth Perkins (@Elizbethperkins) July 22, 2017

A Palo Alto Police Department spokesman told People: "I can confirm that our officers responded with the Fire Department to a hotel in our city yesterday on a report of a person in need of medical aid.

"The person was determined to be deceased. While still under investigation, the death is not considered suspicious at this time."

The cause of death is not known.

Heard played Peter McCallister - Macaulay Culkin's character's father - in the Home Alone movies.

He also starred in Big with Tom Hanks, Gladiator, The Sopranos and Battlestar Galactica.

Heard had been married three times and is survived by three children.