Tom Alter, actor and Padma Shri awardee, dies aged 67

Veteran film and television actor and Padma Shri awardee, Tom Alter died aged 67.

Mumbai: Veteran film and television actor and Padma Shri awardee, Tom Alter died on Friday night at the age of 67. He had been battling stage four skin cancer and was admitted to Mumbai's Saifee Hospital two weeks ago.

As per a media report, a statement released on behalf of his family said, "It is with sadness we announce the death of Tom Alter, actor, writer, director, Padma Shri, and our dear husband and father. Tom passed away Friday night at home with his family and close family members in attendance. We ask for their privacy to be respected at this time."

Alter was an American-born Indian actor and was a native of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand.

He was bestowed with Padma Shri in the year 2008 for his service to the field of arts and cinema. 

Alter was fluent in Hindi and Urdu. Apart from numerous television shows, theatre, he acted in over 300 movies. He was famously known for playing the role of gangster 'Keshav Kalsi' in the hit soap opera 'Junoon'. 

Alter's first release was Ramanand Sagar's 'Charas' in 1976. Among his notable roles are Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', Shyam Benegal's 'Junoon', Manoj Kumar's magnum opus 'Kranti', Raj Kapoor's 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' and Mahesh Bhatt's 'Aashiqui'.

He also acted in several foreign films, like Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi' and 'One Night with the King'.

In the 80s and 90s, Alter also tried his hand in direction and sports journalist. He was the first person to interview cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar for TV when the cricketer was yet to debut for India.

A number of eminnet personalities from the field of arts, cinema and elsewhere expressed their grief on social media.