Kumar Pallana, best known for his small but scene-stealing roles in films such as Rushmore, The Terminal, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited has passed away at the age of 94.
The Indian actor was discovered by director Wes Anderson, and first appeared on-screen in the film Bottle Rocket in 1996. Starting out his acting career at the age of 80, Pallana is proof that it is never too late to try something new. The comedic actor knew just how to deliver a strong performance in even the smallest of roles, and fit perfectly with Wes Anderson’s quirky aesthetic.
Pallana’s last notable role was in the Mike Cahill film Another Earth, alongside Brit Marling. In Cahill’s feature film debut, Pallana played a janitor who had a close relationship to Marling’s Rhoda, providing one of the most moving scenes in the picture bound to bring tears to anyone’s eyes. Pallana has a few more low-key films that were released after, as well as a few still in production. The cause of his death is one that has not been revealed; however Pallana sure will be missed, as he brought something extra special to each film he graced.
2 thoughts on “In Memoriam: Kumar Pallana (1918-2013)”
One of the coolest guys ever. I love his appearances in Wes Anderson’s films. I think “The Royal Tenenbaums” is his best work. After all, how cool it is to stab Gene Hackman and call him a son-of-a-bitch. Thank you Kumar!
love him in The Royal Tenenbaums!