Known For
Acting
Born
Sep 18, 1950
Died
Dec 30, 2009
Place of Birth
Mysore, Karnataka, India
Credits
159 titles
Vishnuvardhan
Biography
Sampath Kumar (18 September 1950 – 30 December 2009), known by his stage name Vishnuvardhan, was an Indian actor who worked predominantly in Kannada cinema besides also having sporadically appeared in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam language films. Vishnuvardhan has a prolific career spanning over four decades, during which he has acted in more than 220 films. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, and holds the status of a matinée idol among the Kannada diaspora. He is popularly called as Sahasa Simha, Dada and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema. Vishnuvardhan's contributions to Kannada cinema have been praised by his contemporaries in the Indian film industry. The Government of Karnataka honoured him with the highest civilian awards of Karnataka State, the Karnataka Ratna Award in 2025, Rajyothsava Prashasthi in 1990 and the Dr. Rajkumar Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his contributions to Kannada cinema. He was called The Phoenix of Indian Cinema. In 2008, a poll conducted by CNN-IBN listed Vishnuvardhan as the most popular star in the Kannada film industry.
Known For
Filmography
Nagarahavu
King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
Aptharakshaka
Dr. Vijay
School Master
Bellary Naga
Namyajamanru
Ee Bandhana
Harish Raj
Maathaad Maathaadu Mallige
Hoovaiah
Ekadanta
Sirivantha
Neenello Nanalle
Vishnu Sena
Varsha
Jyeshta
Sahukara
Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
Apthamitra
Malla
Self - Narrator (voice)
Kadamba
Madhukeshawara Kadamba
Hrudayavantha
Raja Narasimha
Simhadriya Simha
Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
Jameendarru
Parva
Kotigobba
Nanjunda
Diggajaru
Wodeya
Yajamana
Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
Nan Hendthi Chennagiddale
Deepavali
Soorappa
Soorappa
Okkadu Chaalu
Premotsava
Suryavamsha
Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
Habba
Vishnu
Veerappa Nayaka
Hendithghelthini
Simhada Guri
Yaare Neenu Cheluve
Nishyabdha
Major Vishwanath
Laali
Ellaranthalla Nanna Ganda
Janani Janmabhoomi
Mangala Suthra
Jeevanadi
Baalina Jyothi
Dhani
Karnataka Suputhra
Appaji
Hello Daddy
Himapatha
Karulina Kudi
Thumbida Mane