Acting · Mysore, Karnataka, India · Born September 18, 1950
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.
MovieNagarahavu
2016
as King Nagaraja (created with CGI)
MovieAptharakshaka
2010
as Dr. Vijay
MovieSchool Master
2010
MovieBellary Naga
2009
MovieNamyajamanru
2009
MovieEe Bandhana
2007
as Harish Raj
MovieMaathaad Maathaadu Mallige
2007
as Hoovaiah
MovieEkadanta
2007
MovieSirivantha
2006
MovieNeenello Nanalle
2006
MovieVishnu Sena
2005
MovieVarsha
2005
MovieJyeshta
2004
MovieSahukara
2004
as Sahukara Raja Mahendra Varma
MovieApthamitra
2004
MovieMalla
2004
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieKadamba
2004
as Madhukeshawara Kadamba
MovieHrudayavantha
2003
MovieRaja Narasimha
2003
MovieSimhadriya Simha
2002
as Narasimha Gowda and Chikka
MovieJameendarru
2002
MovieParva
2002
MovieKotigobba
2001
as Nanjunda
MovieDiggajaru
2001
as Wodeya
MovieYajamana
2000
as Shankar/Ganesha (Dual Role)
MovieNan Hendthi Chennagiddale
2000
MovieDeepavali
2000
MovieSoorappa
2000
as Soorappa
MovieOkkadu Chaalu
2000
MoviePremotsava
1999
MovieSuryavamsha
1999
as Sathyamurthy/Kanakamurthy (Dual Role)
MovieHabba
1999
as Vishnu
MovieVeerappa Nayaka
1999
MovieHendithghelthini
1998
MovieSimhada Guri
1998
MovieYaare Neenu Cheluve
1998
MovieNishyabdha
1998
as Major Vishwanath
MovieLaali
1997
MovieEllaranthalla Nanna Ganda
1997
MovieJanani Janmabhoomi
1997
MovieMangala Suthra
1997
MovieJeevanadi
1996
MovieBaalina Jyothi
1996
MovieDhani
1996
MovieKarnataka Suputhra
1996
MovieAppaji
1996
MovieHello Daddy
1996
MovieHimapatha
1995
MovieKarulina Kudi
1995
MovieThumbida Mane
1995
MovieBangarada Kalasha
1995
MovieMojugara Sogasugara
1995
MovieZaalim
1994
as Inspector Mohan
MovieKiladigalu
1994
MovieHalunda Tavaru
1994
MovieKotreshi Kanasu
1994
MovieMahakshathriya
1994
MovieSamrat
1994
MovieKunthi Puthra
1994
MovieTime Bomb
1994
MovieAshaant
1993
as Vishnu
MovieVishnu Vijaya
1993
MovieManikantana Mahime
1993
MovieRaayaru Bandaru Maavana Manege
1993
as Vishnu
MovieNanendu Nimmavane
1993
MovieIthu Manjukaalam
1993
as Pauli
MovieNishkarsha
1993
as Ajay Kumar
MovieSangharsha
1993
MovieHarakeya Kuri
1992
MovieBelliyappa Bangarappa
1992
MovieRavi Varma
1992
MovieKauravar
1992
as Haridas I.P.S.
MoviePolice Matthu Dada
1991
MovieInspector Dhanush
1991
MovieJagadeka Veera
1991
MovieNeenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare
1991
MovieLion Jagapathi Rao
1991
MovieMathe Hadithu Kogile
1990
as Anand
MovieMuthina Haara
1990
MovieShivashankar
1990
as Shivu / Shankar
MovieGaneshana Maduve
1990
as Self
MovieHrudaya Geethe
1989
MovieDeva
1989
MovieDaada
1988
as Daada
MovieKrishna Rukmini
1988
MovieJana Nayaka
1988
MovieNammoora Raja
1988
MovieSuprabhatha
1988
as Vijay Kumar
MovieShubha Milana
1987
MovieJeevana Jyothi
1987
MovieJayasimha
1987
MovieSowbhagya Lakshmi
1987
as Shyam / Chandru
MovieKrishna Nee Begane Baaro
1986
MovieViduthalai
1986
as Amar
MovieKarna
1986
MovieNee Thanda Kanike
1985
MovieSri Raghavendrar
1985
as Sri Yogenthra Tirtha
MovieEetti
1985
MovieNee Bareda Kadambari
1985
Veeradhi Veera
1985
MovieMaduve Maadu Thamashe Nodu
1984
as Ganesha
MovieAaradhane
1984
as Rajesh
MovieHuli Hejje
1984
MovieKhaidi
1984
MoviePolice Papanna
1984
as Guest Appearance
MoviePrachanda Kulla
1984
MovieBenki Birugali
1984
as Vishnu
MovieBandhana
1984
as Dr. Harish
MovieSimha Gharjane
1983
MovieOnde Guri
1983
MovieJimmy Gallu
1982
MovieSahasa Simha
1982
as Prathap
MovieKarmika Kallanalla
1982
MoviePedda Gedda
1982
MovieSnehithara Saval
1981
MovieMaha Prachandaru
1981
MovieAvala Hejje
1981
MovieMane Mane Kathe
1981
MovieDriver Hanumanthu
1980
MovieBangarada Jinke
1980
MovieRahasya Rathri
1980
MovieMakkala Sainya
1980
MovieKalinga
1980
as Prabhakar/ Ranga
MovieVijay Vikram
1979
MovieAsadhya Aliya
1979
as Ashok
MovieSingaporenalli Raja Kulla
1978
as Raja
MovieAmarnath
1978
as Guest Appearance
MovieVasantha Lakshmi
1978
as Chandru
MovieKiladi Jodi
1978
as George
MovieSneha Sedu
1978
MovieMuyyige Muyyi
1978
as Sanjay
MovieSirithanakke Saval
1978
Kiladi Kittu
1978
as Kittu
MovieHombisilu
1978
as Dr. Nataraj
MovieKittu Puttu
1977
as Kittu
Galaate Samsaara
1977
as Vasudev Rao
MovieSahodarara Savaal
1977
as Kiran
MovieChinna Ninna Muddaduve
1977
MovieNagarahole
1977
MovieBangarada Gudi
1976
as Vijay
MovieHosilu Mettida Hennu
1976
MovieBhagya Jyothi
1975
MovieNaga Kanye
1975
MovieOnde Roopa Eradu Guna
1975
MovieKalla Kulla
1975
as Mahesh aka Kalla
MovieBoothayyana Maga Ayyu
1974
as Gulla
MovieGandhada Gudi
1973
as Anand
MovieSeetheyalla Savithri
1973
MovieAlaigal
1973
as Inspector Raju
MovieNaagarahaavu
1972
as Ramachari
Vamsha Vriksha
1971
as credited as "Kumar"
MovieMarudhanayagam
as Wajid Khan
