Jewish-born Hollywood star Zsa Zsa Gabor has died in California, aged 99.

The veteran actress, who was famed for her bubbly demeanour and string of wealthy husbands, had been ill for several years. She passed away at her home in Los Angeles, according to Edward Lozzi, her long-time publicist.

Born Sari Gabor in Budapest in 1917, the showbiz legend was nicknamed Zsa Zsa by her family.

Although she went on to become an observant Roman Catholic, Gabor’s parents were both from Jewish families and her mother Jolie escaped the Nazi occupation of Hungary during WWII.

Among her nine husbands was a Turkish diplomat, a hotelier, an English actor, a Mexican actor, a Beverly Hills investor, a Texas socialite, an inventor, a divorce lawyer and even the adopted son of German royalty.

Her longest marriage was to Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, who was by her side when she died. The couple tied the knot in 1986.

Marriage was something of a family preoccupation, with her sister Eva collecting five and her other sibling Magda going one better with six.

In recent years she was rarely seen in public due to difficulties she was having with her health, especially after having part of her right leg amputated in 2011.

Gabor’s only child Francesca, from her second marriage to Conrad Hilton, died last year. Gabor sued her daughter in 2005, saying she had taken out a loan against Gabor’s Bel Air, California, home and used the transaction to steal $2 million.

The self-parodying star, who had a penchant for calling everyone "dah-ling" in her thick Hungarian accent, made more than 30 films during her lengthy career. She has also left behind a lexicon of sparkling quotes, many of which focused on her colourful love life.

• Macho does not prove mucho.
• I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house.
• I don't remember anybody's name. Why do you think the 'dahling' thing started?
• On husband number three George Sanders: "We were both in love with him. I fell out of love with him but he didn't.
• I love being married. I love the companionship, I love cooking for a man (simple things like chicken soup and my special Dracula's goulash from Hungary), and spending all my time with a man.