List of Tamil film actors

This list outlines the names of notable male film actors, who previously worked or are currently working in the Tamil film industry, based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The list is ordered by the year of their debut as a leading actor.

1930s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1934	M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar	Pavalakkodi	Ambikapathy, Haridas, Amarakavi
1936	P. U. Chinnappa	Chandrakantha	Uthama Puthiran, Harichandra, Jagathalapratapan
1936	M. G. Ramachandran	Sathi Leelavathi	Nadodi Mannan, Rickshawkaran, Ulagam Sutrum Valiban

1940s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1946	M. N. Nambiar	Vidyapathi	Nadodi Mannan, Enga Veettu Pillai, Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
1947	Gemini Ganesan	Miss Malini	Vanjikottai Valiban, Kalyana Parisu, Naan Avanillai
1947	M. K. Mustafa	Kanjan	Abimanyu, Kaithi, Sivagangai Seemai, Harichandra

1950s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1952	Sivaji Ganesan	Parasakthi	Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Deiva Magan, Mudhal Mariyathai
1952	S. S. Rajendran	Parasakthi	Mudhalali, Poompuhar, Pazhani
1954	M. R. Radha	Ratha Kanneer	Paava Mannippu, Bale Pandiya, Karpagam
1957	R. Muthuraman	Karpukkarasi	Nenjil Or Aalayam, Kadhalikka Neramillai, Ooty Varai Uravu
1958	Nagesh	Manamulla Maruthaaram	Server Sundaram, Neerkumizhi, Ethir Neechal

1960s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1963	A. V. M. Rajan	Naanum Oru Penn	Veera Abhimanyu, Thillana Mohanambal, Dheivam
1964	Ravichandran	Kadhalikka Neramillai	Adhey Kangal, Justice Viswanathan, Sabatham
1965	Sivakumar	Kaakum Karangal	Rosaappo Ravikkai Kaari, Sindhu Bhairavi, Marupakkam
1965	Jaishankar	Iravum Pagalum	Vallavan Oruvan, CID Shankar, Nootrukku Nooru

1970s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1973	Kamal Haasan	Arangetram	Apoorva Raagangal, Moondram Pirai, Nayakan, Indian, Dasavathaaram, Vikram
1973	Vijayakumar	Ponnukku Thanga Manasu	Aval Oru Thodar Kathai, Agni Natchathiram, Nattamai
1975	Rajinikanth	Apoorva Raagangal	Mullum Malarum, Baashha, Padayappa, Chandramukhi, Sivaji, Enthiran, Kabali, 2.0, Jailer
1978	Sathyaraj	Sattam En Kaiyil	Vedham Pudhithu, Amaithipadai, Baahubali: The Beginning
1978	Sarath Babu	Nizhal Nijamagiradhu	Mullum Malarum, Nenjathai Killathe, Muthu
1978	Sudhakar	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Niram Maaratha Pookkal, Enga Ooru Rasathi, Rusi Kanda Poonai
1978	Vijayan	Kizhake Pogum Rail	Uthiripookkal, Pasi, Niram Maaratha Pookkal
1979	Rajesh	Kanni Paruvathile	Andha 7 Naatkal, Anal Kaatru, Achamillai Achamillai
1979	Bhagyaraj	Puthiya Vaarpugal	Mundhanai Mudichu, Chinna Veedu, Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari
1979	Vijayakanth	Inikkum Ilamai	Sattam Oru Iruttarai, Vaidehi Kathirunthal, Amman Kovil Kizhakale, Captain Prabhakaran, Chinna Gounder, Vaanathaippola, Ramanaa
1979	Pratap Pothen	Azhiyatha Kolangal	Moodu Pani, Nenjathai Killathe, Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai
1979	Suman	Neechal Kulam	Ellam Inba Mayyam, Thee, Sivaji, Kuruvi

1980s

Year	Name	Debut film	Other notable films
1980	Mohan	Moodu Pani	Payanangal Mudivathillai, Mouna Ragam, Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu
1980	Raveendran	Oru Thalai Ragam	Echchil Iravugal, En Priyame, Adutha Varisu
1980	Shankar	Oru Thalai Ragam	Sujatha, Kanalukku Karaiyethu, Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile
1980	Chandrasekhar	Oru Thalai Ragam	Palaivana Solai, Oomai Vizhigal, Nanba Nanba
1980	Nizhalgal Ravi	Nizhalgal	Nayakan, Ore Oru Gramathiley, Adhisaya Manithan
1980	S. Ve. Sekhar	Varumayin Niram Sivappu	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam, Manal Kayiru, Poove Poochooda Vaa
1981	Rajeev	Rail Payanangalil	Palaivana Solai, Nizhal Thedum Nenjangal, Chain Jayapal
1981	Visu	Kudumbam Oru Kadambam	Chidambara Rahasiyam, Samsaram Adhu Minsaaram, Varavu Nalla Uravu
1981	Thiagarajan	Alaigal Oivathillai	Malaiyoor Mambattiyan, Neengal Kettavai, Salem Vishnu
1981	Karthik	Alaigal Oivathillai	Agni Natchathiram, Ponnumani, Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen
1981	Suresh	Panneer Pushpangal	Manjal Nila, Apoorva Sahodarigal, Hello Yaar Pesurathu
1982	Prabhu	Sangili	Chinna Thambi, Duet, Chandramukhi
1982	Prem Menon	Krodham	Vetri Karangal, Andha Naal, Krodham 2
1982	Raghuvaran	Ezhavathu Manithan	Puriyaadha Pudhir, Baashha, Mudhalvan
1983	Bhanu Chander	Silk Silk Silk	Neengal Kettavai, Veedu, Thimiru
1983	T. Rajendar	Thangaikkor Geetham	Mythili Ennai Kaathali, Oru Thayin Sabhatham, En Thangai Kalyani
1983	Anand Babu	Thangaikkor Geetham	Puriyaadha Pudhir, Pudhu Vasantham, Naan Pesa Ninaipathellam
1983	Pandiyan	Mann Vasanai	Pudhumai Penn, Aan Paavam, Kizhakku Cheemayile
1984	Arjun	Nandri	Gentleman, Jai Hind, Mudhalvan
1984	Murali	Poovilangu	Pagal Nilavu, Pudhu Vasantham, Idhayam
1985	Pandiarajan	Aan Paavam	Paatti Sollai Thattathe, Gopala Gopala, Anjathe
1985	Arun Pandian	Chidambara Rahasiyam	Oomai Vizhigal, Inaindha Kaigal, Devan
1986	Ramarajan	Namma Ooru Nalla Ooru	Enga Ooru Pattukaran, Karagattakaran, Amman Kovil Vaasalile
1986	Rahman	Nilave Malare	Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal, Sangamam, Dhuruvangal Pathinaaru
1986	Raja	Kadalora Kavithaigal	Pudhu Vasantham, Captain Magal, Karuththamma
1987	Ramesh Aravind	Manathil Uruthi Vendum	Keladi Kanmani, Duet, Panchathantiram
1987	Ramki	Chinna Poove Mella Pesu	Inaindha Kaigal, Rajali, Irattai Roja
1987	Nassar	Kavithai Paada Neramillai	Nayakan, Avatharam, Saivam
1987	Charan Raj	Neethikku Thandanai	Naan Sonnathey Sattam, Adhu Antha Kaalam, Gentleman
1987	Vivek	Manathil Uruthi Vendum	Kaadhal Mannan, Run, Brindavanam
1988	Sarathkumar	Kan Simittum Neram	Nattamai, Surya Vamsam, Muni 2: Kanchana
1988	Livingston	Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran	Sundara Purushan, Sollamale, En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maadhiri
1989	Rajkiran	Enne Petha Raasa	Aranmanai Kili, Nandhaa, Pa. Pandi
1989	Parthiban	Pudhiya Paadhai	Bharathi Kannamma, Azhagi, Naanum Rowdydhaan