Morrissey is one of numerous high profile stars to pay tribute to the late actress Elaine Stritch, who died on Friday at 89. The singer, who recently released his new album World Peace Is None Of Your Business, was close friends with Stritch and wrote about the actress in his autobiography.

Elaine StritchElaine Stritch has been remembered by her friend, Morrissey

Stritch was an icon on both stage and screen and recently starred as Alec Baldwin's on-screen mother in 30 Rock.

A statement published on fan-site True To You read: "Elaine was my friend for a while. She was, of course, a demented genius - in loveable ways. Can we appreciate the people who are around us right now? The answer, of course, is No, for we are all pathetic human beings. It takes death for us to say aloud: thank you for everything, Elaine Stritch."

In his autobiography, Morrissey recalled the moment he introduced himself to Stritch in Los Angeles.

"Stritch stretches back one hundred years, a true star of the American stage, and a hallowed prize on any of her rare television appearances. She is a cauldron of Lucille Ball, Tallulah Bankhead, Coral Browne, Estelle Getty and Beatrice Arthur - her creaky tough-nut croak of a voice is loud enough to fill the hotel foyer. She is a blasé broad of yesteryear - so funny that people hope that she will soon stop talking."

Stritch -who died at her home in Michigan aged 89 - has received a slew of tributes, including from 'Girls' writer and actress.

"Here's to the lady who lunched: Elaine Stritch, we love you. May your heaven be a booze-soaked, no-pants solo show at the Carlyle. Thank you," she wrote on Twitter.