FREAKY Friday actress Barbara Harris has died at the age of 83.

The Hollywood star passed away after a battle with lung cancer.

She died yesterday at a hospice in Scottsdale, Arizona, after a bout of ill health.

Tributes have poured in from friends and co-stars including Bruce Dern, who starred alongside Barbara in Alfred Hitchcock's final film Family Plot.

Bruce tweeted: "With the passing of Barbara Harris today, our generation lost its true female comic genius and a girl for the ages. #RIPBarbaraHarris #familyplot."

Acting veteran Ed Asnor added: "Goodnight sweet lady. You were a force. I will miss your calls."

Barabra's most famous role was in the 1976 original body swap comedy Freaky Friday, playing the mum who switches roles with daughter Jodie Foster.

She was also well known for her star turn in Robert Altman's 1975 classic Nashville, and for her role in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin.

A career highlight came when she was nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for 1971's Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? in which she starred opposite Dustin Hoffman.

She also played Kathleen Turner's onscreen mother in Peggy Sue Got Married in 1986 and appeared 1997 John Cusack film Grosse Point Blank.