Veteran actor-director Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal dies at 92

Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal

Thomas Burleigh Kurishingal, veteran actor-director, passed away at the age of 92.

Popular for the cowboy roles he had played in television serials and Hollywood movies, he died in Kochi, Kerala, on December 16, 2024 (Monday) after being treated for age-related ailments at a private hospital. His funeral will be held at the Santa Cruz Basilica cemetery at Veli, Fort Kochi, on Thursday (December 19), according to family members.

Hollywood dreams

Born on September 1, 1932, he had a passion for acting from childhood and entered tinsel town at the age of 20 as he played the lead role in the movie Thiramala released in 1953. Though his acting career was followed by small roles later, he was undeterred and left Kerala in 1957 to follow his Hollywood dreams and joined the University of California to study motion pictures. He was taught by renowned actors and filmmakers that included Nancy Reagan.

He had acted in the film Never So Few with Frank Sinatra and Gina Lollobrigidia. Actor Steve McQueen, who became his friend, had signed him for his film with a story set in the American West. His successful role stereotyped him for more cowboy films. He starred in Wanted Dead or Alive, Have Gun , Will Travel , Gun Smoke and such. “I was often mistaken for being a Mexican and could imitate Mexican English well,” he had told The Hindu in an interview earlier.

In 1973, he made his directorial debut with the suspense movie Ithu Manushyano and followed it up with the full length comedy Velarikkapattanam in 1985 featuring Prem Nazir, Sukumari, and Jagathy Sreekumar in lead roles. He also wrote a screenplay, Maya and the Elephant, which was later made into a motion picture called Maya.

Apart from his passion for acting and direction, he was a writer, cartoonist and musician. He has contributed to The Illustrated Weekly, Shankar’s Weekly and Current. Beyond Heart, a work in prose-poetry, Fragrant Petals, a book of lyrics and O Kerala, an illustrated work on Kerala are some of his published works.

His last outing as an actor was in Double Barrel directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and released in 2015. He had also tried his luck in business as a seafood exporter.