Padma Shri actor Tom Alter known for playing hard-hitting characters in movies like Aashiqui, Junoon, Ram Teri Ganga Maili and Gandhi, passed away on Friday night after a painful battle with skin cancer.

The 67-year-old appeared in over 300 films which included the acclaimed Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Sardar and Parinda. He also worked in Bengali, Assamese and Telugu cinema. His TV work ranged from Bharat Ek Khoj to Shaktimaan. Tom Alter, who received the Padma Shri in 2008, was last seen in Sargoshiyan this year with Alok Nath and Farida Jalal.

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,” the statement read.

Earlier this month, Tom Alter’s son Jamie told media that the cancer he was treated for last year had returned. “It is what is called a squamous cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer). It is a relapse of the same thing which had happened last year and unfortunately, for various reasons, it was not detected at that time and has come back,” he said.

He is survived by his wife Carol, son Jamie and daughter Afshaan.

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