Sakshi Ranga Rao

Sakshi Ranga Rao (Telugu: సాక్షి రంగారావు) (15 September 1942 – 27 June 2005) was a character actor in theater arts and South Indian cinema.

He was born to Lakshmi Narayana and Ranganayakamma as Rangavajhula Ranga Rao of Kondiparru village near Gudivada. He began his career as a stenographer in Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. He showed passion for theater arts and performed poignant roles on stage. He began his film career with Saakshi in 1967 directed by Bapu. Then onwards, he became known by this screen name. He acted in about 450 films over about four decades. The majority of them were of comedies.

He had the distinction of acting in most of the Telugu film directed by K. Vishwanath, Bapu and Vamsi. He has acted in the successful films like Sirivennela, Swarna Kamalam, April 1st Vidudhala, Joker and Swarabhishekam.

He died after a prolonged illness in 2005 in Chennai at the age of 63 years. The apparent cause of death was diabetes and associated renal failure. He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter. Television actor Saakshi Siva is his youngest son.