KARACHI, July 12: Acclaimed television, radio and stage artist Syed Mahmood Ali has died. He was 80.

Although he stood out in nearly every discipline of the performing arts, the Pride of Performance-winning artist was perhaps best known for his role of Maulvi Sahib in PTV’s production of Taleem-i-Balighan.

Born in Hyderabad, India, Mahmood Ali began his career with the All India Radio.

He migrated to Pakistan after partition and arrived in Lahore in July 1947. He soon moved to Karachi and joined Radio Pakistan, where he was employed as a copyist.

But destiny had other things in store for Ali, as he would become one of radio’s best known voices.

Mahmood Ali performed in various stage plays, but it was his TV roles that left an indelible impression on viewers. Aside from Taleem-i-Balighan, in which he acted with other veterans such as Qazi Wajid and the late Subhani ba Yunus, Mahmood Ali performed many memorable roles.

Though his film career did not enjoy similar popularity, he is remembered for playing the villain opposite Nadeem in Khushnaseeb of the 1980s.