Joe Abeywickrama passes away

21 September 2011 02:35 pm Views - 12588

Veteran award-winning actor Joe Abeywickrema who is regarded as one of the topmost character actors ever produced by the country, passed away this evening at the age of 84.

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

He first acted in stage plays and made his film acting debut in ‘Deva Sundari’ in 1955 but six films were screened before his debut movie  was released. Joe’s first film to be screened was ‘Saradam’ followed by 'Awishwasaya', 'Sri 296' and others including a large number of award winning  movies.

Among the noteworthy movies  he acted in were 'Welikathara', 'Ranmuthuduwa', 'Parasathumal', 'Thungmang Handiya', 'Beddegama', 'Sikuruliya', 'Aswesuma', 'Purahanda Kaluwara' and others.

He has acted in more than 100 films and is the only Sri Lankan actors to have won an international award for the ‘Best Actor’ at the Singapore International Film Festival for 'Purahanda Kaluwara'.

He has won almost all prestigious awards in Sri Lanka for his outstanding acting talents.

Funeral arrangements will be notified later but his remains will lie at the Jayaratne Funeral  parlour Borella from tomorrow afternoon. (Ramesh Uvais)