Character actors and chameleons have many things in common. Blending and bending themselves to fit into the surroundings is one of the most prominent traits. Character actors acquire another form in the shape of the character they are called upon to portray to the extent that their origin selves are unrecognizable.

By that measure Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrema- fondly known as “Joe” to millions of Sri Lankan cinemagoers- was a chameleon unmatched. This is how veteran filmmaker Dr. D. B. Nihalsingha summed up Joe Abeywickrema in his tribute to the Daily Mirror Reel Life exactly a year ago.

 

Sri Lanka’s undisputed celebrated character actor Joe Abeywickrema bade farewell to the nation on September 21 last year after stamping a golden mark in the Sinhala Cinema for several decades.

Born on June 22 in 1927 at Lellopitiya, Ratnapura , Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrema studied at Dippitigala Mix school and Ratnapura Seevali Vidyalaya.

Initially he worked at Sirisena Wimalaweera’s Nava Jeewana Film Studio in Kiribathgoda when Eddie Junior introduced him to film producer M. H. M. Munas who chose him to play a role in his film ‘Deva Sundari’ in 1955.

When he was offered his first role in the movie Joe only had loads of confidence and the will to succeed. He acted in several other films which were released before Deva Sundari.

For someone with no formal training in acting, his success was always seen as something that came as a result of inborn talent and sheer commitment. His ambition was to become a good actor and not a big star. Work always spoke for an actor and the following roles especially spoke volumes of his versatility.

He was Semaneris in Getawarayo, Saraiyya in Sarawita, Kapila in Allapu gedara, Abiling in Thunmang handiya, Goring in Welikathara, Nirudaka in Desa Nisa, Anthony in Bambaru Awith, Siribo Hami in Siribo Ayya, Silindu in Baddegama, Sunny in Malata Noena Mabaru, Simion in Maldeniye Simion, Jamis in Pooja and Wanni Hami in Purahanda Kaluwara.

He acted in more than 150 films and is the only Sri Lankan actor to have won an international award in the ‘Best Actor’ category at the Singapore International Film Festival for Purahanda Kaluwara.

He has won almost all prestigious awards in Sri Lanka for his outstanding acting talents. He acted in stage plays like Mal Yahanawa, Beri Si and Kele Mal while acting in several tele dramas some of which were also produced by him. As a lyricist he wrote songs including the popular ‘Una Puruke Balu Walige - Ais Amma Gundu’ sung by Anton Jude.

He sang the song ‘Wel Eliyata’ in the tele drama Thahanchi produced by him. In 1999 he wrote his first novel ‘Maha Bambata Muhunu Dekai’.

 

 

By Ramesh Uvais