Horror filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis has died in his sleep, aged 87

Herschell Gordon Lewis was a pioneer in the horror genre. Photo / Youtube

Herschell Gordon Lewis, the horror filmmaker known as the "godfather of gore", has died at the age of 87.

Lewis' spokesman James Saito says the director of such films as Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs died in his sleep early on Monday.

Lewis pioneered the horror genre in the 1960s known as the splatter film, which intentionally focused on gore and gruesomeness.

Other horror films created by Lewis included A Taste of Blood, The Wizard of Gore, The Gruesome Twosome, She-Devils on Wheels and Scum of the Earth!

Lewis worked in advertising and financed most of his own films.

John Waters, Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino and James Gunn are among the filmmakers who were inspired by Lewis' work.

RIP Herschell Gordon Lewis, the creator of splatter films & the director of Blood Feast & 2000 Maniacs. He changed cinema. 🔪🙇🏻💦❤️

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) September 26, 2016

The #GodFatherOfGore, the one and only Herschell Gordon Lewis has passed away.
Glad I got to meet him before he... https://t.co/XwAwa99zhX

— Jessica Cameron (@JessicaCameron_) September 26, 2016

R.I.P. Herschell Gordon Lewis, the “Godfather of Gore”. 2016 has been a rough year for losses :/

— James Cullen Bressack (@JamesCullenB) September 26, 2016