Tom Cruise laughs off death reports

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise laughed off Internet reports that he died in a plumbing accident, assuring fans he's "alive and well".

Rumours started on Friday claiming that the Mission: Impossible star had passed away following a bizarre plumbing mishap while in New Zealand. But the actor is taking the hoax in good humour, admitting he was amused by the odd manner in which he was "killed", contactmusic reports.

When asked about it, he said: "I'm really alive. Did the internet get it wrong again? You can send the message out (I am still alive)."

Online pranksters have targeted a number of stars in false death stories, including Britney Spears, Jeff Goldblum and Kanye West.