Veteran actor Joe dies

Channa Bandara Wijekoon

Veteran and award winning actor, Joe Abeywickrama passed away at the age of 78 yesterday evening following a brief illness. Gammana Patabendige Don John “Joe” Abeywickrama was born on June 13, 1933. He began acting in 1957 and continued until recently. Many in the industry consider him as the best character depictor in Sinhala cinema.

Joe Abeywickrama

He won a gamut of awards for his acting prowess on the silver screen, including several Sarasavi Awards. At the 1999 Singapore International Film Festival, Abeywickrama won the Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Actor for his portrayal of a grieving father in the film Pura Handa Kaluwara ( Death on a Full Moon Day).

Joe was born in Lellopitiya (near Ratnapura) and was the eldest of four children. He received his education at Seevali Central College in Ratnapura.

Initially limited to doing office chores, Abeywickrama eventually became involved in films and made his debut appearance in ‘Devasundari’.

Abeywickrama’s first notable role was in ‘Saradama’ as an police officer. He later noted the film as a turning point in his career.

Joe during his illustrious tenure in the Sri Lankan film industry was on par with greats of the time such as Gamini Fonseka, Malini Fonseka, Rukmani Devi and others.. He was an actor who evolved with time and adjusted to situations with much flexibility and humbleness.

At the age of 12, Joe got the opportunity to watch the latest English films released at the Colombo Regal. They were released simultaneously at Imperial Theater in Ratnapura, for the benefit of foreigners who worked in estates as Planters. Thus Hollywood giants like John Wayne, David Niven, Lee Marvin and Marlon Brando who starred in these films, became Joe’s heroes. He mentioned this in an exclusive interview with ‘Daily News’ recently, most probably the final media interview he gave before his demise yesterday. Joe as fondly called by both his colleagues and fans alike was a man with many faces on the silver screen.

His versatile acting produced some of the most memorable characters ever in the Sri Lankan cinema which would no doubt be embedded in the hearts of the fans for life.

Siribo Aiya, the ruthless Anta in Bambaru Awith, Saaraiya in Saarawita, Abilin in Thun Man Handiya, Nirudaka in Daasa Nisa and Gorin Mudalali in Welikathara are few of his performances which are considered to among the best on the silver screen.

Actors are born and not made Joe told me during the interview.. True to his words Joe was no doubt a born actor who possessed all the attributes of a complete actor. His performances on silver screen were on par with performances of any versatile actor in the world during the era.

His contributions to Sri Lankan cinema would no doubt be remembered for ever.