Oscar-winning composer John Barry dies - BBC

British composer John Barry (R) poses with his 'BAFTA Fellowship' award with British actress Virginia McKenna who presented the award at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards at the Odeon Leicester Square cinema in London February 12, 2005.

LONDON (Reuters) - British film composer John Barry, who won five Oscars and is best known for creating music for the James Bond movies, has died of a heart attack, the BBC reported on Monday. He was 77.

Fellow Bond composer David Arnold wrote on his Twitter feed: "It was with a heavy heart that I tell you John Barry passed away this morning". Barry's London agent was not immediately available for comment.

"I think James Bond would have been far less cool without John Barry holding his hand," Arnold later told BBC Radio.

Barry's Bond compositions included "Goldfinger", "From Russia With Love" and "You Only Live Twice", and his Academy Awards included best music for "Dances With Wolves", "Out of Africa" and "Born Free".

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)