Popular Malayalam film actor and former Lok Sabha MP, Innocent died on Sunday after being hospitalised earlier this month. He was 75 years old.
"He was infected with Covid and had respiratory issues along with multiple organ failure resulting in heart failure," the hospital said in a release, news agency PTI reported.
The hospital yesterday said that the actor was on cardiopulmonary support, wherein a patient's blood is pumped and oxygenated outside the body using a machine.
Innocent had been diagnosed with cancer in 2012. Three years later, he announced that he beat the disease and wrote about his battle with cancer in his book 'Laughter in the Cancer Ward'.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan mourned the former Lok Sabha MP's death. "Innocent captured the hearts of people with his unique style of acting and as a public figure he touched the lives of people, taking up their issues," Mr Vijayan said.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also condoled Innocent's death and said that he was a brilliantly inventive and gifted actor.
"Mourning the loss of character actor, comedian & one-time Kerala MP Innocent, who has just passed away at age 75. Aside from being a brilliantly inventive and gifted actor, he was a fine human being whom it was a pleasure to interact with in the Lok Sabha. RIP. Om Shanti," Mr Tharoor said on Twitter.
BJP's Khushbu Sundar said that "a priceless gem" had been lost.
Ms Sundar said,"Devastated!! We have lost a great actor. Moreso a great human being. What a legend he was. With the passing away of #Innocent Sir, we have lost a priceless gem. May his soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and his followers."
Innocent won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Chalakudy Lok Sabha constituency as an independent candidate supported by the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Born in Inrinjalakuda in 1948, Innocent entered the film industry in 1972 with the movie 'Nrityashala' starring Prem Nazir and Jayabharathi. He also served as the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a guild of Malayalam artists for 12 consecutive years.
The veteran actor, fondly remembered as a comedian, had a career spanning over four decades and 500 films. He was last seen in Prithviraj Sukumaran's 2022 film 'Kaduva'.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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