Tamil actor Rajesh Williams, a prominent thespian in the Kollywood film scene, passed away on Thursday (May 29) morning. Rajesh’s nephew confirmed the news to DT Next, who said that he had complained of low blood pressure in the morning and breathed his last on the way to the hospital. He was 75.
Born in 1949 to Williams Nattar and Lily Grace Mankondar, Rajesh started his professional career as a school teacher before venturing into the cinema industry. His first on-screen appearance came with a minor role in the 1974 K. Balachander drama film, Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. His big break came five years later, in 1979, with Kanni Paruvathile, a B. V. Balaguru directorial where he starred alongside K. Bhagyaraj, Vadivukkarasi, and G. Srinivasan.
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He reunited with K. Balachander in 1984, this time for a lead role opposite Saritha in Achamillai Achamillai. Rajesh has also collaborated with Kamal Haasan in films like Sathya, Mahanadhi and Virumaandi. He has since acted in over 150 Tamil films.
Additionally, Rajesh had a short stint in the Mollywood film industry, playing the lead role in the 1974 film Alakal and, and a few years, in a small role in Mohanlal-led crime drama Abhimanyu (1991). The actor had also made a name for himself in the small screen scene, appearing in over ten serials since the beginning of the millennium, his latest one being a recurring appearance in Karthigai Deepam.
Rajesh is survived by his two children—Deepak, also an actor, and Divya. His wife, Joan Sylvia Vanathirayar, passed away in 2012.
