The Outlaw star, Jane Russell has succumbed to respiratory failure and died at 89 at her home in the central coast city of Santa Maria.

Described by John Rogers of the Associated Press as the ‘voluptuous pin-up girl who set a million male hearts to pounding during World War II’, the star rose to fame for her stunning beauty and with the marketing skills of eccentric billionaire, Howard Hughes.

Russell’s daughter-in-law, Etta Waterfield told AP that Russell had lived an active life until her health had failed her.

"She always said 'I'm going to die in the saddle, I'm not going to sit at home and become an old woman,'" Waterfield said, according to AP.

"And that's exactly what she did, she died in the saddle," Russell’s daughter-in-law added.

After Hollywood, Russell had continued to be involved in various activities in church, charities and as a choir member for a singing group in Santa Maria.

AP said Russell appeared in series of potboilers for RKO, including "His Kind of Woman" (with Robert Mitchum), "Double Dynamite" (Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx), "The Las Vegas Story" (Victor Mature) and "Macao" (Mitchum again).

The star’s family has also noted that those who wish to contribute for the actress’s flowers may have their donations made in her name to the Care Net Pregnancy and Resource Center of Santa Maria or the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County.

A public funeral is scheduled on March 12 at 11 a.m. and will be held at Pacific Christian Church in Santa Maria.