Rex Joseph Kodippili (Sinhala:රෙක්ස් කොඩිප්පිලි; 6 October 1938 – 24 December 2023), was a Sri Lankan film actor and producer. Primarily acting as a villain for most of his career, Kodippili appeared in more than 130 films and produced two films. In 2019, he was honoured with Janabhimani Honorary Award at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall.

Personal life Rex Joseph Kodippili was born on 6 October 1938 in Badulla, Sri Lanka as the youngest of the family. His father Don Henry Kodippili was a surveyor. His mother was Ethan Kodippili. His father died when he was 18 months old in a flood that occurred in Trincomalee district. Along with his two brothers, he was raised by his mother. He along with his two brothers completed education from St. Bede's College. Badulla. Though his brothers left the school early, Rex was boarded at the school. After Ordinary Level, he attended Sri Siddhartha Central College, Badulla.

After completing school life, he joined the police department. In 1958, he came to Colombo with the job. At the Apprentice Passing Out Ceremony, Rex finished second out of four hundred soldiers. He served for five years in the police department and departed in 1961. While in the military, he boxed, swam and was the leader of the first swimming team of the military police. Kodippili was a physical training instructor in the Military Police. He was then employed as a manager at the Marina Café and Hotel at Pettah, before becoming the manager at Salaka.

Kodippili was married to Katherine where he met on a marriage proposal. The couple had two daughters, Roshanthi and Sureka, and one son, Prasanna. His wife Katherine died in 2016.

Rex Kodippili died on 24 December 2023, at the age of 85.

Acting career According to him, he was much better at singing than acting. A gifted singer, he was popularly known as 'Badulla Mohideen Beg' in the Badulla area. He started singing when he was little, and also won second place in the grand final of the 'Adunika Peya' programme of the late 1950s radio commercial service where he received an award from the hands of the late prime minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike at the age of seven. He joined a drama circle named as "Rohana Dramatic Society" while at the Siddhartha College. They performed about five stage dramas including Maraka Daivaya and Sangeetha Pissa. After his five-year police service, he Joined the "Adunika Peya" of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. In that competition, he won second place and Nanda Malini won first place. Then he got involved in programmes like Nevum Mihira as well as recording around five solo tracks.

While working at the Hotel Salaka, he became friends with Oswald Jayasinghe and Dommie Jayawardena. In 1969, while he was dropping Jayasinghe off at a film location in Nugegoda, the film's director, K. A. W. Perera, approached him and cast him in the role of a pick-pocket in the film Kathuru Muwath. In the meantime, he had the opportunity to do "double" roles in action scenes for the lead actors in movie fight scenes including stunt double for Senadheera Rupasinghe in the film Hathara Denama Soorayo. In 1972, he appeared in the film Lokuma Hinawa directed by K. A. W. During a stunt in the film, he broke his leg and was hospitalised for nine months.

However in 1973, he joined another stunt role in the film Aparadaya Saha Danduwama. In the film, Oswald Jayasinghe and Rex had a deadly fight where the scene was filmed on a big rock on Maligathenna hill. He fell to the ground with a quick blow from Oswald. As he was falling from the hill, he was lucky enough to hanging from a tree branch. The branch shattered into a pile of glass on the ground. Later, he was hospitalised with serious injuries and rested for three weeks. In the 1974 film Onna Babo Billo Enavo, he had a stunt scene where he climbed a helicopter with difficulty and fought with Gamini Fonseka. In the following years, he appeared in several action films such as Duppathage Hithawatha, Kalyani Ganga and Maruwa Samaga Wase.

In 1976, he made his first romantic role with the film Lassana Dawadak. Then he moved to more dramatic roles than action stunt roles. Some of his most notable character roles came through the characters such as: 'Kadira' in the film Muwan Pelessa, 'Daanu' in the film Raktha, 'Ratne Ayya' in the film Sagarika and 'Sergeant Silva' in the film Koti Waligaya. In 1987, he won the merit award at the 1987 Sarasaviya Awards for his performance in the film Koti Waligaya.

In 1982, he became a producer with the film Bicycale. In the film, he was also the screenwriter. The theme of the film is boxing, which had never been discussed in a movie. He acted in the teleplay titled Gini avi saha Gini keli which was aired on TV Derana.

Selected Television Serials Ahimi Charithayakata Paata Denna Deweni Inima Gauthami Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli Nadeeladiya Rala Bindena Thana Ran Kahawanu Samanalunta Wedithiyanna Wansakkarayo

Filmography

As an actor Year Film Role Notes 1971 Kathuru Muwath debut film appearance 1972 Ihatha Athmaya Lokuma Hinawa 1973 Hondai Narakai Sunethra Aparadaya Saha Danduwama 1974 Duleeka Rodie Gama Sureka Dinum Kanuwa Onna Babo Billo Enawa Sagarika Duppathage Hithawatha Lenin 1975 Damayanthi Lassana Kella Chandani Suraya Surayamai Rex Hitha Honda Minihek Mage Nangi Shyama 1976 Lassana Dawadak first romantic role Kauda Raja Adarei Mang Adarei Diyamanthi Nilla Soya Disa Hamu Uannath Dahai Malath Dahai Hulawali Second Maha Eka Ran Thilaka 1977 Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai Yakadaya Police chief Sakunthala Maruwa Samaga Wase Siemen Appu Chin Chin Nona Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Niluka Yali Epade Chin Chin Nona Honda Hitha Yasoma 1978 Chandi Shyama Siripathula King Nissankamalla Asha Desin Mage Ran Putha Sara Tikira Lionel Hithamithura Deepanjali Seetha Devi Kamal aka Kumbakarna 1979 Sugandi Hari Pudumai Janthuwa Rosa Mal Thunak Minisun Athara Minisek Wisihathara Peya Thomson Mudalali Monarathenna King Geheniyak Samanmalee Lawyer Muwan Pelessa 1980 Raktha Daanu Mal Kekulu Mahinda Uthumaneni Seetha Sankapali Village head Mage Amma Muwan Pelessa-2 Kadira fought with a live sloth bear in one of the scenes 1981 Chanchala Reka Jeewanthi Ranga Thavalama 1982 Eka Diga Kathawak Sudu Ayya Bicykaley Kalu mahaththaya 1983 Sister Mary Hithath Hondai Wedath Hondai Chandi Sriya Chandira Sakkara Mama 1984 Namal Renu Rana Derana Nikapitiye Bandara Sasara Chethana Thaththai Puthai Saliya's father 1985 Kiri Madu Wel Araliya Mal Police Inspector Suradhuthiyo Channai Kello Dennai 1986 Koti Waligaya Sargent Silva Peralikarayo 1987 Ahinsa Kavuluwa Raja Wedakarayo Hitha Honda Chandiya 1988 Satana Sathutai Kurula Ape 1989 Mamai Raja 1990 Christhu Charithaya Pontius Pilath Veera Udara Thanha Asha Sydney Wana Bambara Hitha Honda Puthek 1991 Salambak Handai Raja Sellam Uthura Dakuna Rex de Silva 1992 Rumathiyai Neethiyai Ahimi Dadaman Kadira Sinhayageth Sinhaya 1993 Jeevan Malli Weli Sulanga 1994 Nohandan Kumariye Raja Wansen Ekek Wilson Nomiyena Minisun Ahas Maliga 1996 Sebe Mithura Loku Duwa Soora Daruwo Bawa Sasara Obatai Me Aradhana 1997 Soorayo Wedakarayo Apaye Thathpara Asu Haradahak Rathtaran Minihek Puthuni Mata Wasana Doctor Perera 1998 Dorakasa Marawa 1999 Kolompoor guest appearance 2000 Anuragaye Ananthaya 2000 Kauda Bole Alice Nelson Fernando 2001 Oba Koheda Priye Madanayake Pissu Puso Mahanama 2002 Somy Boys Rex Mahaththaya Pissu Double Danapala 2003 Pissu Trible Police Inspector Sonduru Dadabima Police OIC 2004 Underworld Ohoma Harida Gajasinghe Mudalali Katawath Kiyannepa Sumedha 2005 Mata Thama Mathakai One Shot Minister Sallala Arachchi Sanduni 2006 Naga Kanya Eka Malaka Pethi Mahela's father Anjalika Kavya's father 2007 Wada Bari Tarzan Treasure hunter Jundai Gundai James Bond 2008 Heart FM Child specialist doctor Superstar Jayawardana Rosa Diganthe 2009 Ali Surathal Mr. Senarathna Juliya Thushara remake Sonia's father 2010 Suwanda Denuna Jeewithe Ayeshmantha's father Jaya Pita Jaya IP Saliya 2011 Kiwwada Nahi Nokiwwada Nahi Nidi Yahana Kelabei Mahindagamanaya 2012 Sakvithi Dadayama Cyril 2014 Ranja OIC. guest appearance 2015 Maharaja Ajasath Purohitha 2017 Devani Warama Wickrama Karaliyadde Dr. Nawariyan Mr. Senanayake 2018 Yama Raja Siri Nilnayani's father 2020 Ethalaya 2023 Meka Puduma Kathawak Post production.

As a producer Year Film Notes 1974 Sihasuna 1982 Bycikalaya

References