Liaquat Ali (Urdu: لیاقت سولجر ‎; 1952 – 30 March 2011), better known by his stage name Liaquat Soldier, was a Pakistani stage and television comedy actor, writer, and director.

Liaquat Ali
Born
Liaquat Soldier

1952
Died30 March 2011 (aged 58)
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1973–2011

Early life

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He was born in 1952 in a modest, low-income family of Marwari background in Karachi, while Soldier’s unusual last name was given to him by his friend Nazar Hussain, a stage artist.[1]

Career

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He started his acting career in 1973 and featured in over 250 plays and co-starred with many famous theatre personalities, including the likes of Moin Akhtar, Furqan Haider, Umer Sharif, Hanif Raja and Shahzad Raza.[1]

Channels for which Soldier worked included Geo TV, SAMAA TV, Dhoom TV, Metro, Hum TV and ARY Digital. Overseas, he worked in the United States, Dubai and South Africa.[1]

Death

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On 30 March 2011, Soldier died of a heart attack; before his immediate death, he was reportedly participating in a live TV show during a special transmission of the semi-final between India and Pakistan of the 2011 Cricket World Cup and had died by the time he was transported to the hospital.[2][3] His death was called "a big loss to the world of comedy dramas", while, a friend described him as not only a good actor but a “humble, good person."[1] The news of his death was also announced on Cricinfo, in the commentary scorecard at the start of Pakistan's innings in the match.[4]

Soldier is survived by his wife, daughter and three sons. His body is buried in the old Mewa Shah Graveyard located in SITE Town.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Liaquat 'Soldier' dies of heart attack: Express Tribune". 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  2. ^ Pakistani stage comedian Liaquat Soldier died while participating live TV show for WC semifinal: AllVoices Archived 1 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Famous comedian Liaqat Soldier dies of a heart attack: SAMAA Archived 26 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "India vs. Pakistan Scorecard (Cricinfo)". Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2011.