MYSORE: Veteran Kannada actor K S Ashwath died of multiple organ failure at a local hospital here today, family sources said.
The 85-year-old actor was ailing from long time. He is survived by wife Sharada, two daughters and two sons.
The death of Ashwath, who had acted in over 300 films comes as another blow to Kannada film industry which only recently lost Vishnuvardhan, next only in popularity after thespian Rajkumar.
Ashwath was very popular among cine lovers for decades for the effectiveness and ease with which he lent life to the characters he played, mostly supporting ones.
Ashwath, who was admitted to B M hospital here on January 13, was in the ICU for some days.
The actor made his foray as a theatre artiste before stepping into the Kannada celluloid world.
The movie 'Striratna' saw him debut as an independent hero. He had to give him up his passion for acting due to health problems.
He was last seen on the big screen in the film 'Bhoopathi'.