Tom Alter dies of skin cancer: Lesser known facts about the actor

New Delhi : Actor Tom Alter lost his battle against the stage 4 skin cancer, took his last breath at his residence in Mumbai. He was 67-year-old. He is best know for his performance in TV shows like "Bharat Ek Khoj", "Zabaan Sambhalke" and "Betaal Pachisi"; also for his contribution to movies like "Gandhi", "Shatranj Ke Khilari", "Kranti", "Aashiqui" and "Parinda".

In 2008, the American-origin actor was also awarded with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of India. Here are some lesser know facts about the actor:

1: Tom Alter was born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, and lived in Mumbai.

2: He was a gold medal diploma graduate in acting from Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He acted in more than 300 movies and TV shows.

3: His dream star was Rajesh Khanna and he always wanted to be like him. "I still dream of being Rajesh Khanna. For me, in the early 1970s, he was the only hero — romantic to the core, not larger than life, so Indian and real — he was my hero; the reason I came into films and he still is," he was quoted saying in an interview.

4: He worked as sports journalist and also the first one to interview master blaster Sachin Tendulkar.

5: Tom acted in films, TV shows and theatres, but he is famous for his roles in shows like Zabaan Sambhalke, Betaal Pachisi, Shaktimaan, Captain Vyom, Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India and films like Aashiqui, Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Karma, Parinda, Gandhi, Junoon, and Kranti.