Actor and theatre personality Vankayala Satyanarayana Murthy died on Monday here. He was 78 and is survived by wife and two daughters.

He was suffering from a respiratory ailment and was admitted to a private hospital a few days ago where he breathed his last. He acted in more than 250 films in Telugu and Tamil.

He began his career with Needaleni Adadi made with all-new cast.

He was most remembered for his role as station master in K. Viswanaths Sitamalakshmi where he appears in the song "Mavi chiguru tinagane…. His other well-known films include Subhalekha, and Sutradharulu.

He acted in several TV serials including the popular Mr. Anajaneyulu.

He was brother of Vankayala Tataji, a former Chairman of Sri Kanaka Mahalaskhmi temple trust board.

Special Correspondent from Vijayawada adds: The septuagenarian joined Hindusthan Shipyard as a clerk and retired as company secretary.

He had his theatre study in Andhra University under the guidance of eminent stage personality K. Venkateswara Rao and acted in plays like Triveni, Kodukuputtala, Asura Sandhya, Otunna Prajalaku Koti Dandalu, Manasunna Manishi and Asaya Vardhate.

In fact he was preparing to stage a play on March 17 and 23 at the the Nandi drama festival at Kakinada.

Vizag-based movie and theatre artist S.K. Misro recalled his association with him and said that Vankayala used to mesmerise the audience with his voice and expressions.

Mr. Vankayala had a close intimacy with Vijayawada theatre and artists. He was honoured by city-based Sumadhura Kala Niketan during the comedy drama festival in 2017.