Veteran actor Tom Alter dies at 67

Veteran film, television and theatre actor Tom Alter passed away in Mumbai on Friday night. He was 67.

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

Tom was suffering from Stage-IV skin cancer.

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."

A recipient of the coveted Padma Shri award, he was a prolific sports writer and author and his career spanning close to four decades, he had acted in over 300 films.

An alumnus of the Films and Television Institute of India in Pune, he has carved a niche for himself in the entertainment industry.

He worked for films, theatre and television and had excelled in all the fields. He could speak English, Hindi and Urdu with equal ease – though his looks were of a gora-sahib.

He has worked for noted filmmakers like Satyajit Ray in Shatranj Ke Khilari and is remembered for his role as a British officer in Kranti. In Sardar, the 1993 film biography of Indian leader Sardar Patel, which focused on the events surrounding the partition and independence of India, Alter portrayed Lord Mountbatten of Burma.He played the role of gangster Keshav Kalsi in soap opera ‘Junoon’, which ran for a record five years during the 1990s.

His other popular television stints included Shayam Benegal's Bharat Ek Khoj, Zabaan Sambhalke and Betaal Pachisi.

He later acted in several foreign films too, notably Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi and One Night with the King.Alter was also the first to take the television interview Sachin Tendulkar, then a young kid and budding genius.

He was of American descent and a native of Mussoorie, where he grew up and went to school. He was born to American missionaries in 1950. Tom Alter's grandparents came to India from Ohio in 1916, settling in Lahore. After Partition, Tom Alter's father, who was born in Sialkot, moved to India. He graduated from the Woodstock School, Mussoorie.

Tom Alter was inspired to take up acting in Bollywood after he watched Rajesh Khanna- Sharmila Tagore starrer Aaradhna. It was Dharmendra who gave him the first break in Charas.


Condolences pour in

Bollywood and the celebrity world condoled the death of veteran actor Tom Alter describing him as a true professional and a kind human being.

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted: “Sad to know about #TomAlter  Remember working with him as a AD in a film,His contribution 2 theater & cinema will be always remembered. RIP.” Riteish Deshmukh said: “I had the privilege of working with him in Bangistan. Will always remember him for his humility and kindness. #RIP #TomAlter”.

Veteran actor Anil Kapoor said: “An all rounder is what he was, with a heart of gold. Back in the day, I even studied acting under him. You will be missed dearly #TomAlter.”

 “The world is a good man short this morning. Fine actor, pure sports lover and kind human being. You enriched our world #TomAlter,” said commentator Harsha Bhogle.


Thomas Beach Alter

22 June 1950 – 29 September 2017

He worked for Satyajit Ray in Shatranj ke Khiladi and Manoj Kumar in Kranti.

His roles from the movies Charas, Des Pardes, Hum Kisise Kum Naheen, Parvarish, Kranti, Veer Zara, Aashiqui were extremely loved by the audience.

Alter has written books including The Longest Race, Rerun at Rialto, and The Best in the World.

He himself was a cricket player and followed the game keenly.

He was the first to interview Sachin Tendulkar for television.

He had written extensively in publications such as Sportsweek, Outlook, Cricket Talk, Sunday Observer and Debonair.

Alter is a life member of International Film And Television Club & International Film And Television Research Centre of Asian Academy of Film & Television.

He lent his voice for authorised audio autobiography of Dr. Verghese Kurien, titled The Man Who Made The Elephant Dance which was released in 2012.