# Vinod Raj (Tamil actor)
**Vinod Raj** was the screen name of John Albert Victor (1937 – 31 December 2017), an Indian actor who worked in supporting roles in Tamil films and television and who was the father of the Tamil film star [Vikram](https://www.edgepedia.org/vikram-actor).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name / stage name | John Albert Victor, known professionally as Vinod Raj[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj) |
| Born | 1937, Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj) |
| Died | 31 December 2017, Chennai (one profile gives 31 January 2017)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/) • [1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj) |
| Best-known roles | Trisha's father in *Ghilli* (2004); roles in *Thirupaachi* and *Kanthaswamy* (2009), the last alongside his son[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/) • [3](https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994681833/Chiyaan-Vikram-recounted-how-his-father-struggled-to-find-opportunities-within) |
| Spouse | Rajeshwari, a government sub-collector and sister of actor-director Thyagarajan[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/) |
| Children | Vikram (born Kennedy), Arvind, and Anitha; grandson Dhruv Vikram is also an actor[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj) |
| Screen span | 1983 (*Malaiyoor Mambattiyan*) to 2012 (*Aravaan*; the Jaya TV serial *Kavari Maangal*)[4](https://tamilminutes.com/entertainment/actor-chiyaan-vikram-father-actor-vinodh-raj-215309/) • [1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj) |
## Early life and stage name
Vinod Raj was born in 1937 in Paramakudi, Tamil Nadu, under the name John Albert Victor[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj). He left home to pursue a career in films[5](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vikram-says-his-father-vinod-raj-never-made-it-as-an-actor-after-running-away-from-home-101664291814248.html). In an interview, Vikram recalled that his father would stand outside Chennai studios such as Ave Maria without being able to get in, and that when he did enter a studio, heroes who felt threatened by his good looks would single him out and say "get that guy out"; Vinod Raj struggled for years and, in Vikram's words, "never did quite make it"[5](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vikram-says-his-father-vinod-raj-never-made-it-as-an-actor-after-running-away-from-home-101664291814248.html).
## Acting career
Vinod Raj began as a supporting actor. His first significant appearance was in *Malaiyoor Mambattiyan* (1983), starring Thyagarajan, in which he played a police officer; he then appeared as Jailer Meyyappan in P. Bharathiraja's *Kodi Parakkuthu* (1988), alongside [Rajinikanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajinikanth)[4](https://tamilminutes.com/entertainment/actor-chiyaan-vikram-father-actor-vinodh-raj-215309/) • [1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj).
**Supporting roles across three decades.** His most widely seen role was as the father of Trisha Krishnan's character in the Vijay film *Ghilli* (2004), and he appeared with Vijay again in *Thirupaachi* (2005)[3](https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994681833/Chiyaan-Vikram-recounted-how-his-father-struggled-to-find-opportunities-within) • [1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj). In 2006 he appeared in *Madrasi*, *Thambi*, *Thiruttu Payale*, *Pachakuthira*, and *Manathodu Mazhaikalam*; in 2007 in *Maya Kannadi* and *Machakaaran*; and in 2008 in *Satyam*[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj). In Susi Ganesan's *[Kanthaswamy](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanthaswamy)* (2009) he shared the screen with his son Vikram[3](https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994681833/Chiyaan-Vikram-recounted-how-his-father-struggled-to-find-opportunities-within). He worked into the 2010s with *Agam Puram* (2010) and *Aravaan* (2012), and appeared in the Jaya TV serial *Kavari Maangal* in 2012[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj).
## Family
Vinod Raj married Rajeshwari, a government officer who reached the rank of sub-collector; her brother Thyagarajan was a prominent actor-director in [Tamil cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/tamil-cinema), and Thyagarajan's son is the actor [Prashanth](https://www.edgepedia.org/prashanth)[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/). The couple had three children: Kennedy, who became the actor Vikram; Arvind, who settled in Dubai, U.A.E.; and Anitha, a teacher[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/). Vikram, who began on television with the [Doordarshan](https://www.edgepedia.org/doordarshan) series *Galatta Kudumbam* in 1988 and broke through with Bala's *Sethu* (1999), built his screen name from family elements, taking "Vi" from his father's name Victor, "K" from Kennedy, "Ra" from his mother Rajeshwari, and "ram" from his sun sign, Aries[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/Vikrams-original-name-is-Kennedy-Vinod-Raj/articleshow/44931645.cms). Vikram's own son Dhruv Vikram became an actor, making Vinod Raj the first generation of a three-generation acting family[5](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vikram-says-his-father-vinod-raj-never-made-it-as-an-actor-after-running-away-from-home-101664291814248.html).
## Death
Vinod Raj died on 31 December 2017 in Chennai after a heart attack at his residence in Mahalingapuram; he had reportedly been suffering from heart problems and died of age-related causes. He was laid to rest at Kilpauk cemetery[2](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/) • [7](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/vikrams-father-vinod-raj-passed-away.html) • [3](https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994681833/Chiyaan-Vikram-recounted-how-his-father-struggled-to-find-opportunities-within). His age at death was given as 80[5](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vikram-says-his-father-vinod-raj-never-made-it-as-an-actor-after-running-away-from-home-101664291814248.html). One entertainment profile dates the death to 31 January 2017 instead[1](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj).
## Not to be confused
The name Vinod Raj also belongs to a Kannada film actor born in 1967 in Chennai, the son of the veteran Kannada actress Leelavathi, who debuted in *Dance Raja Dance* (1987) and is known for that film's dancing[8](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vinod-raj/biography.html). The two are distinct people.
## References
1. [Actor Vinod Raj Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/tamil/actor/actor-vinod-raj)
2. [Actor Vikram's father passes away, The Indian Express (31 December 2017)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/tamil/actor-vikram-father-passes-away-5006271/)
3. [Chiyaan Vikram recounted how his father struggled to find opportunities, India Herald](https://www.indiaherald.com/Movies/Read/994681833/Chiyaan-Vikram-recounted-how-his-father-struggled-to-find-opportunities-within)
4. [நடிகராக ஜெயித்த விக்ரமின் தந்தை, Tamil Minutes](https://tamilminutes.com/entertainment/actor-chiyaan-vikram-father-actor-vinodh-raj-215309/)
5. [Vikram says his father wanted to be an actor but good looks worked against him, Hindustan Times (27 September 2022)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/tamil-cinema/vikram-says-his-father-vinod-raj-never-made-it-as-an-actor-after-running-away-from-home-101664291814248.html)
6. [Vikram's original name is Kennedy Vinod Raj, Times of India (25 October 2014)](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/did-you-know/Vikrams-original-name-is-Kennedy-Vinod-Raj/articleshow/44931645.cms)
7. [Vikram's father Vinod Raj passed away, Behindwoods (31 December 2017)](https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/vikrams-father-vinod-raj-passed-away.html)
8. [Vinod Raj Biography, FilmiBeat (Kannada actor, disambiguation)](https://www.filmibeat.com/celebs/vinod-raj/biography.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Film actors and performers › Indian and South Asian film actors by industry and language › Tamil film actors › Surnames R to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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