Tamil actor and comedian Robo Shankar, best known for voicing Pumbaa in Disney's The Lion King, has died at the age of 46. He passed away on September 18, 2024, a day after collapsing on set and being hospitalised with liver and kidney failure.
Shankar had recently recovered from jaundice, during which he lost significant weight. Despite his illness, he returned to work and appeared on the cooking reality show Top Cooku Dupe Cooku on Sun TV, from which he was eliminated.
He gained fame for his robot acts in village shows and on television, earning the nickname 'Robo'. He began his film career in 1997 and rose to prominence with his performance in Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumar. He appeared in over 50 films and was a regular on television, including as a judge on Kings of Comedy Juniors.
Fellow actor Kamal Haasan paid tribute on X, calling Shankar a 'younger brother'. Fans also expressed grief, with one writing: 'Robo Shankar was a real entertainer... gone too soon.'
Shankar is survived by his wife Priyanka and daughter Indraja, both actors. His last rites will be performed in Chennai on September 19.
