Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama (Sinhala:ජෝ අබේවික්රම) (22 June 1927 – 21 September 2011), popularly known as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.Initially famed as a comedic actor in early 1950s, Abeywickrama became one of the greatest film actors of all time in Sinhala cinema with several critically acclaimed award winning dramatic performances. Some critics and audiences regard him as the finest actor in the local industry, while others argue that distinction belongs to Gamini Fonseka . Among the three “crowned kings” of Sri Lankan cinema, Abeywickrama was the second to die, after Gamini Fonseka. The last to die was Tony Ranasinghe"The struggle of the common man for self-dignity is very profound". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved December 18, 2006."Joe Abeywickrama passes away" . Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Retrieved August 05, 2014."Joe Abeywickrama the actor extraordinaire" . Sunday Observer (Sri lanka). Retrieved August 05, 2014.
He won 18 Sarasavi Awards and Presidential Awards."Sinhala Cinema database" Films lk.Retrieved August 05, 2014. At the 1999 Singapore International Film Festival, Abeywickrama won a Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Actor for his portrayal of a grieving father in Pura Handa Kaluwara (Death on a Full Moon Day), a first for a Sri Lankan."Awards for Joe Abeywickrama". Internet Movie Database Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
He was the first Sri Lankan actor to participate in the Filmfare Film Festival, which he attended in 1966.
Personal life Abeywickrama was born on 22 June 1927 in Lellopitiya, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka (at that time British Ceylon) and grew up in a rural area. He was the eldest of four children, with two sisters, Nanda Abeywickrama and Missie Abeywickrama, and a brother, Allan Abeywickrama. His surroundings instilled in him a strong appreciation of nature and hard work. His father had a close friendship with John D’Oyly, from whom Abeywickrama received his name, “Joe.”
He completed primary education at Dippitigala Mixed School near Lellopitiya. Then he joined Sivali Central College, Ratnapura for his secondary education and then joined St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura for a short period of time.
After completing his education, Abeywickrama worked as the manager of the Lellopitiya Co-operative with the support of his brother Allan Abeywickrama, who himself appeared in two Sinhala films. In the 1940s he settled in Colombo and started working for Sirisena Wimalaweera's studio Nawajeewana.
Joe married Pushpa Kumari Karunarathna, the daughter of a civil engineer and architect. He first met her while living next door to her family’s home. During those days, Joe would often follow her to the temple, hoping for a chance to speak with her. With the help of Gamini Fonseka's wife Tina who discreetly exchanged letters between them, their acquaintance blossomed into a romance. Joe and Pushpa eventually married and remained together until her death in 2007. They had two children: a daughter, Udeni Kumari Abeywickrama, and a son, Channa Abeywickrama.
Career After settling in Colombo he started working for Sirisena Wimalaweera's studio Nawajeewana. Initially limited to doing office chores, Abeywickrama eventually became involved in films screened in Ratnapura by the studio. He made contacts with film industry insiders while with the studio, and on his leave obtained a role in Devasundari.
Abeywickrama began his acting career in stage plays. In 1955, he made his film acting debut with a comedy role in Devasundari directed by M.H. Munas, a Sri Lankan who made films from India. Abeywickrama's first notable role was in Saradama directed by T. Somasekaran as an eccentric police officer who collected ants. He obtained the role with the help of his friend Florida Jayalath and considers it to be his first real role and a turning point in his career. He was a comedian in all of his early films with some notable roles in the films Sirimalee, Nalangana, Pirimiyek Nisa, Kolamba Sanniya and Daruwa Kageda. Then he was invited to play a major role in the film Ranmuthu Duwa in 1962, where he acted with Gamini Fonseka for the first time. In 1956, he made a role of "comedy detective" in the film Shri 296 directed by Premnath Moraes.
In the preceding years, he appeared in many dramatic roles in several critically acclaimed films such as Deepashika, Soldadu Unnehe, Chandiya, Sweep Ticket, Allapu Gedara, Ektam Ge, and Saravita. In 1965, he won the award for the Best Actor at the Sarasaviya Awards for his role "Sarayya" in the film Saravita. In 1971, he acted in the film Welikathara directed by D. B. Nihalsinghe, where he played the role of "Gorin Mudalali". The film received several awards at local film festivals and considered one of the Ten Best Sri Lankan films of all time. He also starred in Mahagama Sekera's Tun Man Handiya in 1970. His other notable acting came through Getawarayo as "Semaneris", and in Sadol Kandulu as "dumb servant". For his role in the film Sadol Kandulu, he later won the Sarasaviya Award for the Best Actor. He won forty awards including both international and local film festivals.
In the film Beddegama directed by Lester James Peries, he played a critically acclaimed role as "Silindu". In 1982, the character gave him another Sarasviya Award as the Best Actor. His character "Nirudaka" in the film Desa Nisa is also received critics acclaim. He also appeared in two English films titled Peter of the Elephants and The Three Yellow Cats. In 2001, he acted in the film Pura Handa Kaluwara directed by Prasanna Vithanage. The film is considered a hallmark in Sinhala cinema history. He won the Best Actor award at 12th Singapore International Film Festival for his role "Wannihami" in the film. His final film role came through the war drama film Selvam. Until his death, he has acted in 172 films where 62 of them as leading actor and rest 110 as a supporting actor. He was also the first Sri Lankan actor to attend the Filmfare Awards in India.
Apart from cinema, he also appeared in few stage dramas such as: Mal Yahanawa, Beri Sil (1960) and Kele Mal (1962). He also acted in many television serials such as Andu Kola, Vanas Pathi, Gamperaliya, Sakisanda Eliyas and Esala Kaluwara. He also made the script for the popular comedy serial Sabada Pabilis. In the serial, he also wrote the theme song, "Una Puruke Balu Walige" sung by lead actor Anton Jude. Meanwhile, he also sang the song "Wel Eliyata' in the tele drama Thahanchi. one of his television production. In 2004, he wrote the script of television serial Sakisanda Eliyas.
Author work Abeywickrama published his first novel Maha Bambata Muhunu Dekai in 1972.
Legacy On 21 September 2020, a special commemorative event was held on the ninth death anniversary of Joe Abeywickrema. It was organized by The National Film Corporation and was held at the NFC Auditorium at 6 pm. After the event, one of his popular film Thun Mang Handiya was screened.
Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1957 Saradama police officer1959 Avishwasaya 1959 Sri 296 1959 Gehenu Geta 1959 Sirimalee 1960 Nalangana 1960 Pirimiyek Nisa 1961 Daruwa Kageda 1962 Ranmuthu Duwa Sena 1962 Deva Sundari 1963 Wena Swargayak Kumatada 1963 Deepashika 1964 Hete Pramada Wediyi 1964 Getawarayo Semanaris1964 Suba Sarana Sepa Sithe 1964 Sithaka Mahima 1965 Chandiya Peda 1965 Sathutu Kandulu 1965 Saaravita Bamunusinha Arachchige Gunahamy 'Saraiya' 1965 Hithata Hitha1965 Allapu GedaraKapila 1965 Satha Panaha1965 Sweep Ticket1965 Landaka MahimaMohan1966 Kommissar X – Drei gelbe KatzenPolice constable1966 Sengawena Sewanella1966 Mahadena MuththaPolbemuna1966 Senasuma Kothenada1966 Athulweema Thahanam1966 Seegiri KashyapaRala1966 Kapatikama1966 Parasathu Mal 1967 Sorungeth Soru 1967 Manamalayo 1967 Daru Duka 1967 Sendol Kandulu1968 Punchi Baba Sena1968 Akka Nago1968 Amathikama Mudalali1968 Dahasak Sithuvili Sunny1968 Adarawanthayo 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1969 Senehasa 1969 Oba Nethinam 1969 Narilatha Alpenis 1969 Hari Maga 1969 Baduth Ekka Horu 1969 Uthum Sthree 1969 Prawesam Wanna 1969 Para Walalu 1969 Pancha 1969 Romeo Juliet Kathawa 1970 Lakseta Kodiya Pinsiri1970 Thewatha 1970 Tun Man Handiya Abilin1971 Seeye Nottuwa 1971 Welikathara Goring Mudalali 1971 Haralaksaya 1972 Chandar, the Black Leopard of Ceylon Father1972 Weeduru Gewal 1973 Mathara Aachchi 1973 Thushara 1973 Sadahatama Oba Mage 1974 Kalyani Gangaa 1974 Onna Babo Billo Enawa 1974 Niyangala Mal 1975 Raththaran Amma 1975 Tharanga 1974 Sooraya Soorayamai Abeywickrama 1975 Sikuruliya Berty 1975 Sadhana 1975 Kalu Diya Dahara 1975 Desa Nisa Nirudaka 1976 Wasana1976 Madol Duwa Dharmasinghe gurunnanse 1976 Kolomba Sanniya Andare1976 The God King Swami1976 Unnatha Dahai Malath Dahai 1976 Onna Mame Kella Panapi 1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Alwis 1977 Yali Ipade 1977 Siripala Ha Ranmenika Simon 1978 Gehenu Lamai 1978 Siripathula Chanting man1978 Selinage Walauwa 1978 Sara Gajanayake1978 Veera Puran Appu Gongalegoda Banda1978 Bambaru Avith Anton Aiya1978 Sally 1978 Kumara Kumariyo Dharme1978 Sandawata Rantharu 1979 Jeewana Kandulu Vimal1979 Hingana Kolla Vayya, Diyathalan Mama 1979 Raja Kollo 1979 Wasanthe Dawasak Samantenne Arachchi1979 Visi Hathara Peya Winson1979 Hari Pudumai Sugath1980 Tak Tik Tuk Detective Serasinghe1980 Jodu Walalu Suminda1980 Ektem Ge Wilson 1980 Seetha 1980 Aadara Rathne Bertholameus1980 Siribo Aiya Siribo Aiya1980 Bambara Pahasa Siripala1980 Dandu Monara Jinapala1980 Muwan Pelessa 2 1980 Para Dige 1980 Sinhabahu Sinha1981 Kolam Karayo Saarapala1981 Taranga 1981 Baddegama Silindu 1981 Sayuru TheraFish salesman 1981 Soldadu Unnahe Soldier1981 Sathara Pera Nimithi 1981 Pinhami 1981 Sathara Diganthaya 1982 Thana Giravai Doctor Siri1982 Wathura Karaththaya Shooter1982 Major Sir 1982 Kele Mal Daasa1982 Malata Noena Bambaru Sunny 1982 Rail Paara Rail Guard1982 Kadaunu Poronduwa Hemapala1983 Ran Mini Muthu 1983 Sandamali 1983 Sumithuro 1983 Niliyakata Pem Kalemi 1983 Samuganimi Ma Samiyani 1983 Suboda 1983 Muwan Pelessa 3 1983 Monara Thenna 2 1983 Peter of the Elephants 1983 Muhudu Lihini 1984 Shirani 1984 Thaththai Duwai Lavuris1984 Podi Ralahami Podi Ralahami1984 Sasara Chethana 1984 Wadula 1984 Hima Kathara 1984 Sahodariyakage Kathawa 1985 Suddilage Kathaawa Ex-Village Headman 1986 Maldeniye Simion Simion 1986 Dev Duwa Mohomed1986 Pooja Jamis (the executioner)1986 Aadara Hasuna Army officer (Colonel)1987 Viragaya Jayasena, Aravinda's father 1988 Rasa Rahasak Hitler Abeynayake1988 Angulimala Disapamok1990 Palama Yata Uncle 1991 Golu Muhude Kunatuwak Podi Mahaththaya1991 Cheriyo Doctor Chief psychiatrist1991 Sthree Appuhamy1992 Umayanganaya The eldest brother1994 Ambu Samiyo Doctor1995 Awaragira K.B. Sethigala1995 Cheriyo Captain Captain Doson1996 Hitha Honda Gahaniyek 1996 Loku Duwa Mr. Palihawadana 1996 Cheriyo Darling Chief psychiatrist1996 Bithu Sithuwam Senaka1997 Suddu Akka Blacksmith1998 Vimukthi 1999 Theertha Yathra Father 2000 Saroja Indigenous doctor2000 Rajya Sevaya Pinisai Sumanasekara2001 Purahanda Kaluwara Vannihamy2001 Aswesuma Guneris – old age2006 Dheewari Mudalali 2009 Alimankada 2010 Tikiri Suwanda Devendra2011 Mahindagamanaya Mantha2011 Selvam Sathyavelu2012 PrathirooSiyathu2013 Abhinikmana Buddhadasa's Father
Awards Sarasaviya Film Award
|| 1965 ||| Getawarayo || Merit Award || |- || 1966 ||| Saaravita || Best Actor || |- || 1982 ||| Beddegama || Best Actor || |- || 1983 ||| Malata Noena Bambaru || Best Actor || |- || 1986 ||| Contribution to cinema || Rana Thisara Award || |- || 1987 ||| Maldeniye Simieon || Best Actor || |- || 1991 ||| Palama Yata || Best Supporting Actor || |- || 1992 ||| Golu Muhude Kunatuwak || Best Actor || |- || 1993 ||| Umayangana || Best Actor || |- || 1997 ||| Bithu Sithuwam || Best Actor || |- || 1998 ||| Bithu Sithuvam || Best Actor || |- || 2001 ||| Purahanda Kaluwara || Best Actor ||
Presidential Film Awards
|| 1979 ||| Bambaru Evith || Merit Award ||