Veteran TV actor Yousuf Kamal, better known as Shakeel, passed away at CMH hospital in Karachi following brief illness on Thursday — the first day of Eidul Azha — state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported citing a member of his family. He was 85.

Shakeel was known for his “impeccable acting skills and attained prominence with his memorable roles in various television dramas”, the report added.

According to a 2012 profile of Shakeel published in Dawn, he ruled the mini screen, and in his prime no drama serial was complete without him.

Born in Bhopal, India in 1938, Shakeel moved to Pakistan with his family in 1952 and started his career on the big screen with the 1966 film Honehar, where he shared the screen with Waheed Murad.

However, he found his true calling on the TV screen where he was a part of many hits, including Uncle Urfi (1972), Ankahi (1982) and Aangan Terha (1984).

In 2015, the then Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had conferred the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon Shakeel.

Faysal Qureshi, another TV actor, described Shakeel as “pride of our nation” and “the man who entertained us for the longest time “

Senior journalist Raza Rumi remembered Shakeel for his “diverse oeuvre, unmatched performances”.