Washington, Aug 7 (DPA) John Hughes, writer and director of 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off', died of a heart attack Thursday in New York. He was 59.

Hughes was visiting family in the city and suffered the heart attack while taking a morning walk, his spokeswoman, Michelle Bega, said in a statement.

Hughes's hit coming-of-age comedies, which made stars of actors including Matthew Broderick and Molly Ringwald, made him one of the most popular US filmmakers of the 1980s.

In addition to his work as a director, Hughes wrote the screenplays for the popular 'Home Alone films' and several instalments of the National Lampoon's Vacation series staring Chevy Chase.

Hughes had not directed a film since 1991 but continued writing sreenplays until his death, sometimes under the pseudonym Edmond Dantes, an homage to the novel 'The Count of Monte Cristo'.

Hughes was born in Lansing, Michigan, and subsequently moved to suburban Chicago, where he set many of his films.

Hughes is survived by his wife of 39 years, two sons and four grandchildren.