Producer and director Bruce Paltrow, the father of actress Gwyneth Paltrow, has died at the age of 58.

Paltrow, who had throat cancer, passed away at a hospital in Rome according to a US diplomatic official.

The American consulate in the Italian capital was informed of the death on Thursday.

He died from complications of pneumonia and a recurrence of the cancer, according to his daughter's publicist, Steven Huvane.

I think he's the smartest person I've ever known in my life

Gwyneth Paltrow speaking in 1999

The unnamed US diplomatic official said it was the embassy's responsibility to help with the return of the remains.

"The consular section of the embassy was contacted by the hospital where Mr Paltrow died," the Associated Press news agency quoted the official as saying.

Earlier reports had suggested Paltrow died of a heart attack.

He was best known for the television series St Elsewhere and the film Duets, which starred his daughter.

Daughter's birthday

Paltrow, who was married to actress Blythe Danner, lived in Los Angeles.

He flew to Italy to celebrate his daughter's 30th birthday on 27 September, according to reports.

Paltrow was married to actress Blythe Danner

She was in Rome, reportedly staying with Italian friends.

His wife of 32 years, was working on a new television drama in Los Angeles and was not with her husband when he died.

Over the last week Paltrow has appeared in public on several occasions, and he attended the Italian premiere of the Tom Cruise film Minority Report.

Critical acclaim

His career began in the theatre in the late 1960s, but he did not make his mark until a decade later, when he created the television series The White Shadow, about a former pro basketball player coaching African-American players.

It received high praise but low ratings.

Gwyneth Paltrow loved working with her father

He then went on to produce St Elsewhere, an Emmy-nominated television series about a run-down Boston hospital.

Paltrow is also known for directing an episode of the show Homicide: Life on the Street.

He made his first big screen outing as writer-producer-director of the comedy A Little Sex in 1982.

More recently, he directed his famous daughter in the comedy-drama Duets, set in the world of karaoke.

Gwyneth Paltrow said she loved working alongside her father.

"I think he's the smartest person I've ever known in my life," she said after winning an Oscar in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love.

"And also, he's my dad. I thought, maybe I'll work and get spoiled at the same time."

Paltrow is also survived by his son, film director Jake Paltrow.