Will Smith chatted to Prince the night before his death

Los Angeles - Will Smith spoke to Prince the night before he died.

The Concussion actor - who has children Jaden, 17, and Willow, 15, with wife Jada Pinkett Smith - is "stunned and heartbroken' over the passing of the singer, who was found dead in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate on Thursday morning.

He wrote on his Facebook page: "I am stunned and heartbroken.

"I just spoke with him last night. Today, Jada & I mourn with all of you the loss of a beautiful poet, a true inspiration, and one of the most magnificent artists to ever grace this earth.(sic)"

And Jada also paid tribute to the late star, hailing him as a "genius" who had taught her to live by her own rules.

She posted on her own page on the social media site: "Prince was one of the first artists to put me on game in regard to the industry.

"He was not only a genius artist, he was kind, funny, beautifully eccentric, curious, imaginative, magical, spiritual, rebellious and extremely intelligent. He showed me early the power of living one's life by one's own rules and no one else's.

"There are really no words to express what we have all lost today.

"To quote my friend Paress, 'Music has lost its heart beat.' Rest in peace Beauty..."