▲ Late actor Ahn Jin-soo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- Ahn Jin-soo, a veteran actor who made frequent appearances in South Korean films and TV dramas from the 1970s through the 1990s, died Monday. He was 81.

According to his family Tuesday, Ahn underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer two years ago. His cancer recurred early this year, and his health deteriorated while he was receiving treatment.

Born in 1945, Ahn was a familiar face on television, appearing in MBC's "The Eyes of Dawn" (1991-1992), SBS' "Hourglass" (1995) and "Ladies of the Palace" (2001-2002).

He also worked as a scene-stealing supporting actor in films, playing a detective in director Kang Woo-suk's "Two Cops" series and a newspaper company president in director Kim Tae-gyu's "Emergency Measure 19" (2002).

Ahn appeared in more than 300 films, including director Bae Chang-ho's "Our Joyful Summer Days" (1987), director Kang's "Happiness Is Not in the Grade" (1989), "Two Cops" (1993) and "Kill My Wife" (1994), director Im Kwon-taek's "The Taebaek Mountains" (1994) and director Moon Jong-geum's "Ssaurabi" (2001).

"While it is sad and empty to know that we can no longer see the deceased in new works, the works, performances and beautiful memories he left behind will live on among us for a long time," Moon said in a memorial tribute.

Ahn's funeral wake has been set up at Room 3 of the funeral hall at Seoul Central Veterans Hospital. His funeral procession will leave at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

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