Australian actor Rod Taylor, arguably best for his leading role in Alfred Hitchock’s The Birds, has died.

Mr Taylor reportedly suffered a heart attack at his Los Angeles home in the USA following a dinner party.

The former star would have turned 85 on Sunday.

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Rod Taylor in 1999. Photo: Getty

His daughter, Felicia Taylor, has confirmed his death in a statement.

“My dad loved his work. Being an actor was his passion – calling it an honorable art and something he couldn’t live without,” said Ms Taylor, a former CNN News correspondent.

Mr Taylor’s first major role was in the 1960 film The Time Machine, based on the novel by HG Wells.

His other big hits included Seven Seas to Calais, Sunday in New York, Young Cassidy, Dark of the Sun, The Liquidator and The Train Robbers.

In 2009, he appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.

Mr Taylor was born in Sydney, NSW on January 11, 1930 and graduated from The Parramatta High School.