J. Livingston

{{short description|Indian actor, comedian, screenwriter (born 1957)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = J. Livingston | image = | birth_name = Philip Livingston Jones | birth_place = Madras, Madras State (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|10|19|df=y}} | alma_mater = | occupation = {{Hlist | Actor | comedian | screenwriter}} | years_active = 1982–present | known_for = | relatives = Peter Selvakumar (brother-in-law) | children = 2, including Jovita | spouse = {{Marriage|Jessy|1997}} }}

'''Philip Livingston Jones''', commonly credited by his mononym '''Livingston''', is an Indian actor, comedian and screenwriter who usually plays supporting and comedy roles in Tamil films.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 14, 2008 |access-date=19 January 2010 |website=IndiaGlitz |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/rajinis-pat-for-livingston-tamil-news-38528.html |title=Rajini's pat for Livingston |archive-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816162009/http://www.indiaglitz.com/rajinis-pat-for-livingston-tamil-news-38528.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tamil.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/0611/29/1061129025_1.htm |title=Livingston's Thandachoru (in Tamil)|access-date=19 January 2010}} {{Dead link|date=March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 June 2001|access-date=19 January 2010 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/06/08/stories/0908022a.htm |title=From scratch to success|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606102453/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/06/08/stories/0908022a.htm|archive-date=6 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He is known for the films ''Captain Prabhakaran'' (1991), ''Sundara Purushan'' (1996) and ''Sollamale'' (1998). He has acted in over 180 films.

==Career==

He wrote the screenplay for the movies ''Kanni Rasi'' (1985) and ''Kaakki Sattai'' (1985) along with G. M. Kumar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tamilstar.com/interview/actor/livingstone/index.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000115155812/http://www.tamilstar.com/interview/actor/livingstone/index.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2000|title=Interview with Livingstone |date=15 January 2000|website=tamilstar.com |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref>

His first starring role was in ''Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran'' (1988). He started out playing villains and graduated to playing lead roles with ''Sundara Purushan'' (1996), ''Sollamale'' (1998),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/the-boys-company/articleshow/3432047.cms|title=The Boys Company!|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2 September 2008|access-date=20 November 2023|archive-date=20 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120072746/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/the-boys-company/articleshow/3432047.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Viralukketha Veekkam'' (1999), ''En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maadhiri'' (2001) and ''Engalukkum Kaalam Varum'' (2001) are other films in which he has appeared in lead roles.

At the peak of his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Livingston opted to take on a mix of lead roles, antagonistic roles and cameo roles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/mar172.asp |title=A man for all seasons |website=Chennai Online |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041116231731/http://www.chennaionline.com/reeltalk/mar172.asp |archive-date=16 November 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Livingston was born in a Christian family in Chennai, Tamilnadu. His father, Samuel Jones worked as a supervisor in Binny and Co., while his mother was a homemaker who was of Malaysian Tamils descent. He attended ELM Fabricus Hr.Sec. School in Purasawalkam until grade 10 after which he pursued his cinema career.

On 6 September 1997, he married Jessy Irudayaraj a Roman Catholic in a private ceremony in Chennai. The couple have two daughters including Jovita.

==Filmography== ===Tamil films=== ====1980s==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston Tamil film credits as actor in the 1980s |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1982 || ''Darling, Darling, Darling'' || Livingston || Uncredited role |- | 1986 || ''Aruvadai Naal'' || || Uncredited role |- | 1988 || ''Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran'' || Ramkumar || |- |rowspan='6' | 1989 || ''Vaai Kozhuppu''|| Murali || |- | ''Paattukku Oru Thalaivan''|| || |- | ''Pick Pocket''|| || |- | ''Nyaya Tharasu''|| Nagappan || |- | ''Naalai Manithan''|| Livingston || |- | ''Valadhu Kalai Vaithu Vaa'' || || |- |}

====1990s==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston Tamil film credits as actor in the 1990s |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |rowspan='5' | 1990 ||''En Uyir Thozhan'' || Dilli Babu || |- | ''Oru Veedu Iru Vasal'' || Arun Kapoor || credited as Ranjan |- | ''Paattukku Naan Adimai'' || Danny || |- | ''Ethir Kaatru'' || Maasi || |- | ''Puthu Paatu'' || Vadivelu || |- |rowspan='11' | 1991 || ''Irumbu Pookkal'' || || |- |''Captain Prabhakaran'' || Krishnamurthy || credited as Ranjan |- |''Thanga Thamaraigal'' || Sathish || |- |''Ayul Kaithi'' || Sudharshan || |- |''Mill Thozhilali'' || Prakash || |- |''Onnum Theriyatha Pappa'' || || |- |''Apoorva Naagam'' || Maayandi || |- |''Mookuthi Poomeley'' || || |- |''En Pottukku Sonthakkaran'' || || |- |''Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu'' || || |- |''Paattondru Ketten'' || Rocky || |- | rowspan="2"|1992 || ''Amaran'' || Inspector Duraipandi || |- | ''Pudhu Varusham'' || || |- | rowspan='3'|1993 || ''Captain Magal'' || Livi || |- | ''Minmini Poochigal'' || || |- |''Pathini Penn'' || Kadikalingam || |- | rowspan='3' | 1994 || ''Veera'' || Chandran || |- |''Chinna Madam '' || || |- |''Pondattiye Deivam '' || Pandiyan || |- |rowspan='4' | 1995 || ''Oru Oorla Oru Rajakumari'' || || |- |''Chellakannu'' || Thangavel || |- |''Witness'' || Niranjan || |- |''Makkal Aatchi'' || Govindasamy|| |- | rowspan='2' | 1996 || ''Sundara Purushan'' || Ganeshan || Lead role |- | ''Thuraimugam'' || Gowri Kumar|| |- | rowspan='2' | 1998 || ''Jolly'' || Chakravarthy || |- |''Sollamale'' || Nataraj ||Lead role |- |rowspan='4' | 1999 ||''Poomagal Oorvalam'' || Aavudayappan (Armstrong) || |- |''Suyamvaram'' || Kannan || |- |''Vaalee'' || Livingston || Guest appearance |- |''Viralukketha Veekkam'' || Ravishankar || Lead role |}

====2000s==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston film Tamil credits as actor in the 2000s |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |rowspan='5' | 2000 || ''Vaanathaippola'' || Shanmugam || |- | ''Vallarasu'' || Chidambaram Pillai IPS || |- | ''Athey Manithan'' || Mandhira Moorthy || |- | ''Unnai Kann Theduthey'' || Raghu || |- | ''Ninaivellam Nee'' || Kalyana Sundaram || |- |rowspan='5' | 2001 || ''Engalukkum Kaalam Varum'' || Kuppan || |- | ''En Purushan Kuzhandhai Maathiri'' || Murugesan || Lead role |- | ''Sonnal Thaan Kaadhala'' || Roja's uncle || |- | ''Chocolate'' || ACP Jayachandran || |- | ''Asokavanam'' || Selvam || |- |rowspan='8' | 2002 || ''Aasai Aasaiyai'' || || |- | ''Guruvamma'' || Thulasi || |- | ''Charlie Chaplin'' || Vishwa || |- | ''Thamizh'' || Anbazhagan || |- | ''Raja'' || Mathi || |- | ''Arputham'' || Govind || |- | ''Namma Veetu Kalyanam'' || Manickam || |- | ''Virumbugiren'' || || Guest appearance |- |rowspan='11' | 2003 || ''Kadhal Sugamanathu'' ||Thief | |- | ''Annai Kaligambal'' || Madhu || |- | ''Kalatpadai'' || 'Cut' Raj || |- | ''Raamachandra'' || Sathyamoorthy || |- | ''Military'' || Balasubramaniam || |- | ''Dum'' || Inspector Boopathi || |- | ''Banda Paramasivam'' || Ravi || |- | ''Inidhu Inidhu Kadhal Inidhu'' || || |- | ''Whistle'' || Professor Panneerselvam || |- | ''Priyamaana Thozhi'' || Kumar || |- | ''Vadakku Vaasal'' || Annamalai || |- |rowspan='6' | 2004 || ''M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi'' || Sheikh Fakhrudeen || |- | ''Kuthu'' || Adhi Kesav || |- | ''Vayasu Pasanga'' || Devaraj || |- | ''Settai'' || Periyasamy || |- | ''Super Da'' || Subramani || |- | ''Senthalam Poove'' || || |- |rowspan='7' | 2005 || ''Thirupaachi'' || Inspector Inba Raghavan || |- | ''Ayodhya'' || Hussain Bhai || |- | ''Sevvel'' || || |- | ''Jithan'' || Surya's father || |- | ''Chinna'' || Police Officer || |- | ''Daas'' || Allapichai || |- | ''Sorry Enaku Kalyanamayidichu'' || Appu || |- |rowspan='5' | 2006 || ''Aathi'' || Anjali's father || |- | ''Sudesi'' || Ramasamy || |- | ''Thirupathi'' || Chanakkiyan || |- | ''Unakkum Enakkum'' || Lalitha's father-in-law || |- | ''Nenjirukkum Varai'' || ACP Gandhi || |- |rowspan='10' | 2007 || ''Kuttrapathirikai'' || Hari || |- | ''Naan Avanillai'' || David Fernandez || |- | ''Parattai Engira Azhagu Sundaram'' || Parattai's father || |- | ''Kasu Irukkanum'' || Manikkavel || |- | ''Sivaji'' || Police Inspector || |- | ''Cheena Thaana 001'' || CID Aanthaikannan || Guest appearance |- | ''Naalaiya Pozhuthum Unnodu'' || Sakthi's father || |- | ''Puli Varudhu'' || Vaitheeswaran || |- | ''Kanna'' || Ashirvadham || |- | ''Ippadikku En Kadhal'' || Vilvanathan || |- |rowspan='11' | 2008 || ''Aegan'' || Kamalakannan || |- | ''Anjathe'' || Maasilamani || |- | ''Ashoka'' || Politician || |- | ''Dindigul Sarathy'' || Psychiatrist || |- | ''Jayamkondaan'' || Police Inspector || |- | ''Kadhalil Vizhunthen'' || Train passenger || |- | ''Kuselan'' || Kuppusamy || |- | ''Satyam'' || Politician || Bilingual film |- | ''Sutta Pazham'' || Inspector Prasad || |- | ''Thotta'' || Chief Minister Manimaran || |- | ''Vambu Sandai'' || Nehru || |- |rowspan='6' | 2009 || ''A Aa E Ee'' || || |- | ''Enga Raasi Nalla Raasi'' || Pandian || |- | ''Satrumun Kidaitha Thagaval'' || Film director Rajan || |- | ''Solla Solla Inikkum'' || Jayaraman || |- | ''Brahmadeva'' || Dravidan || |- | ''Thoranai'' || Murugan's father || |}

====2010s==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston Tamil film credits as actor in the 2010s |- !Year !Film !Role !class=unsortable|Notes |- |rowspan='6' | 2010 || ''Ambasamudram Ambani'' || Johnson || |- | ''Irandu Mugam'' || Parthasarathy's uncle || |- | ''Kutti Pisasu'' || || |- | ''Magane En Marumagane'' || Mahadeva || |- | ''Thillalangadi'' || Nisha's uncle || |- | ''Vallakottai'' || Advocate || |- |rowspan='6' | 2011 || ''Sankarankovil'' || Doctor || |- | ''Kaavalan'' || College principal || |- | ''Moondraam Pournami'' || || |- | ''Sattapadi Kutram'' || Santhana Swamy || |- | ''Venghai'' || Mariyappan || |- | ''Yuvan'' || Jeevanantham || |- |rowspan='3'| 2012 || ''Vilayada Vaa'' || Jyothi || |- | {{Lang|ta-latn|Adhisaya Ulagam}} || Neelakantan || |- | ''Kasi Kuppam'' || || |- |rowspan="4'| 2013 ||''Kan Pesum Vaarthaigal'' || || |- | ''Yaaruda Mahesh'' || || |- | ''Thirumathi Thamizh'' || Lawyer || |- | ''Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara'' || Sammandham || |- | rowspan="2"|2014 || ''Amara'' || Sebastian || |- | ''Nenjirukkumvarai Ninaivirukkum'' || Bhaskar || |- | 2015 || ''Miss Pannidatheenga Appuram Varuthapaduveenga'' || || |- |rowspan='2'| 2016 || ''Onbathilirundhu Pathuvarai'' || Annachi || |- | ''Vellikizhamai 13am Thethi'' || Ganesan || |- |rowspan='7'| 2017 || ''Unnai Thottu Kolla Vaa'' || Ranganatha Boopathi || |- | ''Mathipen'' || || |- | ''Kattappava Kanom'' || Aali || |- | ''Saravanan Irukka Bayamaen'' || Selvam || |- | ''Paakanum Pola Irukku'' || || |- | ''Magalir Mattum'' || Mangalamurthi || |- | ''En Aaloda Seruppa Kaanom'' || Bhai || |- |rowspan='4'| 2018 || ''Pei Irukka Illaya'' || Inspector Inavana || |- | ''Traffic Ramasamy'' || Aavudayappan || |- | ''Sarkar'' || Venkatesan || |- | ''Silukkuvarupatti Singam'' || Muthaiya || |- |rowspan='6'|2019 || ''Peranbu'' || House owner || |- | ''Agni Devi'' || || |- | ''Perazhagi ISO'' || Veerasamy || |- | ''Gurkha'' || Chief Minister || |- | ''Petromax'' || Paripooranam || |- | ''Capmaari'' || Jai's father || |}

====2020s==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston Tamil film credits as actor in the 2020s |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |rowspan='3' | 2020 || ''Ayya Ullen Ayya'' || || |- | ''Thottu Vidum Thooram'' || || |- | ''Vaanga Padam Paarkalam'' || || |- |rowspan='3' | 2021 || ''Pei Mama'' || || |- | ''Annaatthe'' || Irulandi || |- | ''Mounika'' || || |- | rowspan="6" | 2022 || ''Naai Sekar'' || Police inspector Thangaraj|| |- | ''Taanakkaran''|| Rajendran || |- |''Radha Krishna''|| || |- |''Gargi'' || Sandra's father || |- |''The Legend'' || Gopi || |- |''Eppo Kalyanam'' || || |- | rowspan="3"| 2023 || ''Moondram Pournami'' || || |- |''Kannitheevu''|| || |- | ''Ghosty'' || || |- | rowspan="2"| 2024 || ''Lal Salaam''|| Manickam || |- | ''Pambattam'' || || |- | rowspan="7"| 2025 || ''Rajaputhiran'' || Meesai || |- | ''Chennai City Gangsters'' || Pasupathy || |- | ''Mareesan'' || Chaari || |- | ''Madharaasi'' || Raghu's delusional father || |- | ''Kumaara Sambavam'' || || |- | ''Messenger'' || || |- | ''Nirvaagam Porupalla'' || || |- | rowspan="3"| 2026 || ''Lockdown'' || || |- | ''Mustafa Mustafa'' || || |- |''Vengeance'' || || <ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-01 |title=Vengeance trailer: Veni's straightforward acts of governance attract enemies |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/tamil/news/2026/Mar/01/vengeance-trailer-venis-straightforward-acts-of-governance-attract-enemies |access-date=2026-03-26 |website=Cinema Express |language=en}}</ref> |}

=== Other language films === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston other language film credits as actor |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Role ! Language ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1992 || ''Hello Darling'' || Alexander || Telugu || |- | 2005 || ''Love Story'' || Haribabu || Kannada || |- | 2008 || ''Salute'' || Politician || Telugu || rowspan="3"|Multilingual films |- | 2010 || ''Bombat Car''<br />''Cara Majaka'' || Police officer || Kannada<br /> Telugu |- | 2011 || ''Keratam'' || Mohan Rao || rowspan="2"|Telugu |- | 2026 || ''Couple Friendly'' || M. Thumbathigam Sekar || <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/couple-friendly-movie-review-santosh-soban-manasa-varanasis-romance-drama-is-set-in-chennai/article70623347.ece|title=‘Couple Friendly’ movie review: Santosh Soban, Manasa Varanasi’s romance drama is mature and heartfelt|first=Srivathsan|last=Nadadhur|date=14 February 2026|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> |- |}

===As writer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston film credits as screenwriter |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Writer ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |rowspan='2'| 1985 || ''Kanni Rasi'' || {{partial|Screenplay}} || |- | ''Kaakki Sattai'' || {{partial|Story}} || |- | 1986 || ''Aruvadai Naal'' || {{partial|Story}} || |- | 1996 || ''Sundara Purushan'' || {{Yes}} || |}

===As voice actor=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston film credits as voice actor |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Actor |- | 1994|| ''Suriyan'' || Babu Antony |}

=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of J. Livingston television credits |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" | Channel ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1987 |''Kadal Purathil'' |Peter |DD | |- |2018 |''Jimiki Kamal'' |Kallilio |Sun Life | |- |2020–2021 |''Kannana Kanne'' |Kodeeshwaran |Sun TV | |- |2020 |''Poove Poochudava'' |Poiyamozhi | rowspan="4" |Zee Tamil |rowspan= "2"| Special appearance |- |2021 |''Sembaruthi'' | |- |2022–2023 |''Amudhavum Annalakshmiyum'' |Kathiresan |Extended Special Appearance |- |2022 |''Ninaithale Inikkum'' |Amarthalingam |Special appearance |- |2024 |''My Perfectt Husband'' | Subramani |Disney+ Hotstar | |- |2025 |''Parijatham'' | |Zee Tamil | |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Livingston, J.}} Category:Tamil male actors Category:Living people Category:Indian male film actors Category:Male actors in Tamil cinema Category:Indian male screenwriters Category:Tamil screenwriters Category:Indian male comedians Category:Male actors in Telugu cinema Category:20th-century Indian male actors Category:21st-century Indian male actors Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:1958 births