Oscar winner Jane Fonda has paid tribute to acclaimed playwright Neil Simon, describing him as one of America's great writers.
Mr Simon, whose works included The Odd Couple, died on Sunday aged 91 after developing complications from pneumonia while in hospital in Manhattan.
Dubbed "Broadway's master of comedy" by the New York Times, one of Mr Simon's earlier works was Barefoot in the Park which hit the stage in 1963 and four years later became a movie starring Ms Fonda and Robert Redford.
Ms Fonda also starred alongside Alan Alda and Dame Maggie Smith in the 1978 comedy California Suite.
The actress said she was sad to learn about his illness from his former wife Marsha Mason, who makes regular guest appearances on Ms Fonda's TV sitcom Grace and Frankie.
"I always liked him very much," Ms Fonda told AAP while in Sydney to promote her new film, Book Club.
"His ex-wife Marsha Mason is a guest star on Grace and Frankie and we learned from her he had been ill for quite a long time.
"So it didn't surprise me when I heard he had passed.
"But I am sorry because he was a great writer. He gave us some great movies and plays."
