AceShowbiz - Rocker-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie has paid tribute to Sid Haig, the star of his horror movies, following the actor's death on Saturday, September 21.

The 80 year old's wife, Susan L. Oberg, announced the sad news on social media on Monday morning, and Zombie has responded, revealing he heard the news from a mutual friend.

"He told me that our friend Sid Haig had died," the rocker writes. "It was shocking but unfortunately not unexpected. I've know (sic) for a long time how sick Sid was and what he was battling. Over the past year as I saw pictures of him still attending conventions I thought perhaps he had beat it, but last week when he returned to the hospital I feared the worstcc."

"Sid and I had a long talk on the day that he told me of his condition and he knew (new movie) '3 from Hell' would most likely be his last appearance on screen. Sadly it was. I knew it was very important to Sid that (character) Captain Spaulding make one more round and he did. Sid's time in the film is brief. He was in rough shape that day, but he gave it his all and made his scene very memorable."

Zombie also posted a photo of the last time he sat and chatted with Haig, who also appeared as Spaulding in the rock star's films "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects", adding, "After twenty years of working together. This was the final day."

"I was (a) fan of his as a kid watching 'Jason of Star Command' all the way through our twenty years of working together," Zombie added. "I can still clearly remember the first time we met. It was at the Edith Head Costume building at Universal. Sid came out of the dressing room wearing a clown suit which was a few sizes too small. We said hello then we both started laughing at how ridiculous he looked in his ill-fitting suit. We would find him a much better suit."

"As we were making 'House of 1000 Corpses' neither of us knew he was creating a character that would live on and grow in popularity every year. Sid told me many times how thankful he was for the Captain and how that character changed his life. He had completely given up on acting and now suddenly had found a whole new audience at the age of 60. I know he was thrilled and blown away by that fact."

"The Captain is gone... but he will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Sid."

Haig also appeared in Quentin Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" and "Kill Bill, Vol. 2". He also featured in "Night of the Living Dead 3D", 2007's "Halloween", and "Bone Tomahawk".

"3 from Hell" was released in America last week, beg September 16.