British nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer.
Stringfellow, who had wanted to keep his illness private, died in the early hours of this morning, a spokesman said.
Known as the King of Clubs, the controversial Stringfellow opened a string of adult-themed venues across the world, including a lap dancing club in Dublin in 2006.
However, the Dublin venture in Parnell Street was short-lived and closed after just five months.
The club had been opposed by locals from the outset.
At the time, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Aodhán Ó Riordáin welcomed the closure of the club, saying Parnell Street was a residential area and never suitable for a club of that nature.
While his clubs around the world hosted many celebrities, including Prince, Marvin Gaye, Rod Stewart and Tom Jones, he was often accused of exploitation of women for his clubs' use of topless girls and table dancers.
He opened his landmark Stringfellows club in London's West End in 1980, which remains open.
Stringfellow was born in Sheffield, England in 1940.
He was married three times and he is survived by his wife, Bella and four children.
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