"Hugo was a "social champion" " - Danny Glover

Veteran US actor Danny Glover praised Hugo Chavez as a "social champion" on Wednesday, the latest Hollywood liberal to pay tribute to the dead Venezuelan president.

He joined director Oliver Stone, Sean Penn and Michael Moore in hailing Chavez, who died Tuesday aged 58, issuing a statement "in sadness and in tribute to my friend.

"I join with millions... of freedom-loving people around the world, in hope for a rewarding future for the democratic and social development charter of the Bolivarian Revolution," he said, referring to liberation icon Simon Bolivar.

"We all embraced Hugo Chavez as a social champion of democracy, material development, and spiritual well-being," added Glover, star of the "Lethal Weapon" movies and a long-time supporter of Chavez and liberal causes.

On Tuesday, "JFK" and "Natural Born Killers" director Stone said: "I mourn a great hero to the majority of his people and those who struggle throughout the world for a place."

Activist actor Penn said the world's poor had lost a "champion" and America "a friend it never knew it had," adding: "Venezuela and its revolution will endure under the proven leadership of Vice President (Nicolas) Maduro."

Oscar-winning director Moore meanwhile tweeted: "Hugo Chavez declared the oil belonged 2 the ppl. He used the oil $ 2 eliminate 75 percent of extreme poverty, provide free health & education 4 all.

"That made him dangerous. US approved of a coup to overthrow him even though he was a democratically-elected President."

He added: "You won't hear much nice about him in the US media in the next few days. So, I thought I'd say a couple things to provide some balance."