ONLINE speculation that U.S. actor Jack Black had died was the work of a hacker who posted messages on his rock band’s official Twitter account.

    Fans expressed dismay after a message on Tenacious D’s Twitter page claimed Black had died at the age of 46.

    Subsequent messages, however, appeared to suggest the group’s account had been hacked.

    This was later confirmed by Tenacious D themselves, who called the hacking a “sick ‘prank.’”

    “WE had our Twitter account hacked,” the band tweeted Sunday afternoon. “We can assure you that Jack is ALIVE and WELL.”

    John Konesky, a guitar player with Tenacious D, also confirmed the tweets were the result of hacking. Neither Black not his band’s U.S. and U.K. representatives have made a statement, but fans had been quick to rubbish the alleged claims.

    One Twitter user said Black was on a plane headed to Los Angeles following his appearance with bandmate Kyle Glass at two music festivals in Germany.

    (SD-Agencies)