TV host Indra Safera dies at 35

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian artists were in tears on Sunday as popular TV host Indra Safera, who often touched their hearts during his talk shows, died of liver and kidney failure at the Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Central Jakarta. He was 35.

According to his brother Fajar, Indra who was unmarried, had been hospitalized for three weeks at Mitra Keluarga hospital to treat a liver ailment and was moved to the Army hospital last Thursday.

His body will be taken to his parents' home in Bulak Rantai, Kramatjati, East Jakarta, said Fajar as reported by private television station Trans TV.

Starting his career on television in a sitcom produced by comedian Harry de Fretes in 1994, Indra had worked as an emcee, quizmaster, talk show host -- including the controversial beneath-the-sheets Bantal, and radio announcer.

Famous for his witty remarks, Indra, whose real name is Indra Nuradi Salman, was a graduate of tourism school in Hawaii Pacific University, United States.

Having been in the celebrities circuit for years, Indra always succeeded in digging up the most touching memories of his guests on Ngobras, Ngobrol Bareng Indra Safera (A chat with Indra Safera).