Veteran Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh passed away at the age of 80 on Saturday night due to health issues. His family confirmed his death in a statement: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our father, Mr. Delhi Ganesh, passed away on November 9 at around 11 pm.” His body was placed in Ramapuram, Chennai, with the final rites scheduled for November 11.

With a career spanning over four decades, Ganesh has appeared in over 400 films, establishing himself as one of the most versatile actors in Tamil cinema. Known for his ability to bring depth to roles ranging from comical to villainous to sympathetic, Ganesh has left a lasting legacy in the industry.

Ganesh made his debut in 1976 with Pattina Pravesam, directed by the legendary K. Balachander, who also gave him the nickname “Delhi Ganesh”. Although he had a brief lead role in Engamma Maharani (1981), it was his work in supporting roles that brought him recognition and love. Memorable performances include Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), Nayakan (1987), Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990), Aahaa..! (1997) and Thenali (2000).

His contributions to Tamil cinema earned him many awards, including the Pasi Special Award of the Tamil Nadu State Film Award (1979) and the prestigious Kalaimamani award given by the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in 1994.

Later in his career, Ganesh turned to television and short films. He left a lasting impression with his role as Alfred Pennyworth in What If Batman Was From Chennai, as well as his role in the 2016 thriller Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru, directed by Karthick Naren.

Additionally, Ganesh was an active member of the Delhi-based theater group Dakshina Bharata Nataka Sabha, displaying his dedication to performing arts in various mediums.