DEAD AT 50: US pop star Michael Jackson gestures during a news conference at the O2 Arena in London in this March 5, 2009 file photograph. Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after falling ill at his home. — Reuters photo

LOS ANGELES: Michael Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson was pronounced dead at 2.26pm PDT (5.26am Malaysian time) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place, he said.

His brother Jermaine told reporters Jackson fell ill at home and his personal physician failed to resuscitate him.

He was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him before pronouncing him dead, added Jermaine.

Known as the ‘King of Pop’, for hits that included ‘Thriller’ and ‘Billie Jean’, Jackson’s dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

His lifetime record sales tally was believed to be around 750 million, and with his 13 Grammy Awards and boundary-breaking music videos he was one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

“For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him,” producer Quincy Jones, who helped arrange the music on the album ‘Thriller’ and produced the ‘Off the Wall’ album, told MSNBC.

Jackson had been due to start a comeback series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010, and had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months.

The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery Homicide division searched Jackson’s home in the Holmby Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, saying they had been directed to do so by Chief William Bratton because of the media frenzy.

“The Los Angeles Police Department handles death investigations every day,” said officer Gregg Strenk.

“Robbery Homicide was assigned to this case due to the high profile nature of it. Don’t read anything into it,” he added.

Jackson is survived by three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II.

– Reuters