Robert Loggia: Oscar-nominated Scarface actor dies aged 85

He starred in Scarface, Independence Day and An Officer and a Gentleman

Actor Robert Loggia attends the 10th Annual Ella Awards 25 April, 2001 in Beverly Hills, California (Vince Bucci/Newsmakers)

Actor Robert Loggia, who played drug lord Franz Lopez in Brian De Palma's Scarface, has died at his home in Los Angeles aged 85.

Mr Loggia's wife, Audrey, told TMZ her husband had struggled with Alzheimer's for the last five years of his life.

She said his health took a drastic turn for the worse on Wednesday, but he seemed to recover and then died suddenly and peacefully at home.

Mr Loggia was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Jagged Edge. He had appeared in Independence Day, An Officer and a Gentleman and Big.

He also portrayed a violent mobster named Feech La Manna in several episodes of The Sopranos.

He and his wife had four children and had been married for 33 years

"He was an awesome husband and an awesome father," she said.