Larry Birkhead in mourning after death of father

Larry Birkhead is in mourning after his father passed away.

Birkhead - the father of the late Anna Nicole Smith's baby daughter Dannielynn - said he was devastated by the loss of dad, Larry L. Birkhead.

He told US TV: "I (had) just spoken to my father who was looking forward to both Dannielynn and myself joining the family for the holidays. Unfortunately he passed away (on) Monday.

"I am so thankful that he got to meet my daughter. He was extremely proud of my fight to know my daughter, and that gives me great comfort to know I made him proud one last time. I hope that everyone can respect our privacy in this most difficult time."

Photographer Birkhead won a paternity battle over baby Dannielynn earlier this year, after DNA tests proved he was the father of Smith's one-year-old daughter.

Birkhead Snr passed away on Monday, just days after undergoing surgery on his knee. He was 67. He died after being rushed to hospital following a collapse at his California home. He recently underwent a knee replacement operation, and was sent home to recover despite experiencing shortness of breath, with doctors issuing him with an oxygen tank to help him breathe more easily.

Larry Birkhead said his dad had also previously undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his lung, but had not suffered any problems since the cancer was cut out a few years ago.

The cause of death is still unknown.