Mahapatabadige Anthony Crisman Kivlojiyas Perera (13 September 1921 – 20 May 1988 as ඇන්තනී සී. පෙරේරා) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Anthony C. Perera, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, Perera also worked as a singer, screenplay writer and director in a career spanning more than four decades.

Personal life Perera was born on 13 September 1921 in a small village of Mahawewa Vee Hena, Chilaw, in Puttalam as the eldest child of the family. His father Mahapatabedige Logus Perera was born in Tudella, Ja-Ela, who worked as a plantation administrator. His mother was Warnasuriyage Theodora Tissera. He entered Mahawewa Junior School for primary education and then moved to Tudella Roman Catholic College (currently known as Christ King College, Tudella) for further education. With his father's transfer to a new plantation in Kurunegala, Perera shifted to Budupitiya Roman Catholic School which was about 7 miles from Kurunegala.

Perera has one younger brother, Wilfred and one younger sister, Beatrice. Wilfred later became a distinguished teacher at St. Benedict's College, Kotahena and produced several popular figures, including; Vijaya Kumaratunga, Ravindra Randeniya and Robin Fernando.

He married Modarage Mary Vaas in 1953. The couple has five daughters – Menaka, Deepthika, Gaurika, Chaudry, Sherine – and two sons – Rohana and Emil. His elder son Rohana died at a young age in an accident.

Perera died on 20 May 1988 at the age of 66 and was buried in Thudella Cemetery, Ja-Ela.

Career After finishing school career in brief years, he moved to his ambition to be an actor. Anthony went to find Laddie Ranasinghe to be a stage actor and joined with Ranasinghe's Arcadians Drama Troupe. Meantime, Laddie introduced Perera to one of his colleagues, P.D.S. Kularatne, who worked as the principal of Ananda College, Colombo. Kularatne has set up a theater club called "National" in Maradana and he joined Perera for his newest drama Aewessa Bena.

However after that play, he refused to act in further and applied to the Ceylon Army and Race Horse. He received calls to come to both on the same day. In 1942, Perera got the opportunity to join the British Army. For five and a half years, Perera fought with the forces of the Allies against the enemy in the jungles of the desert. After returning to Sri Lanka, he joined the public service. He worked in Kurunegala Kachcheri for a brief period and then joined as an agent for Brookbond Company, Colombo. There he joined the 1953 Hartal to seek professional rights. He was a hard leftist at the time. Due to the continuous Hartal, Brookbond manager transferred Anthony to Negombo branch of the company. He also worked as the production manager of Vijaya Studios in Hendala.

After many years in civil service, Perera met one of his friends, H. M. L. Tissera, who owns Ratnavali Cinema, Ja-Ela. Tissera introduced Perera to K. Gunaratnam, who owns Cinemas Film Corporation. During that time, Perera met Hugo Fernando and got the opportunity to act in the film Suraya co-directed by Indian filmmakers S. V. Krishna Reddy and T. R. Sundaram. Then he acted in many popular films such as Wana Mohini, Sandesaya, Weera Vijaya and Ranmuthu Duwa. He has acted more than 70 films across many genres from character roles to comedy roles. In 1965, Perera introduced Sonia Disa into Sinhala Cinema.

He acted many comedy roles in films Hathara Denama Surayo, Edath Suraya Adath Suraya, Allapu Gedara, Chandiya and Singapore Charlie. He acted in five different roles in the film Hondama Welawa. He starred in the film Singapore Charlie wearing a wig and also worked as the dialogue writer. In 1980, he made screenplay, story and dialogue and directed the film Hondin Inna. After 1977, he did not receive many films. During this free period, he enjoyed reading Paddle Chase novels. In 1986, he produced the stage play Yama Lowa Peraliya.

Filmography Year Film Role Ref. 1956 Duppathage Duka 1957 Suraya 1957 Surasena Elderly Surasena 1958 Sepali 1958 Wana Mohini 1960 Subhadra 1960 Sandesaya Town crier 1960 Veera Vijaya 1962 Ranmuthu Duwa Bandu's uncle 1963 Adata Vediya Heta Hondai 1964 Sasaraka Hati Match maker 1964 Dheewarayo 1965 Allapu Gedara Yattalagoddage Chandra Udadeniya 1965 Chandiya Andaya 1965 Yata Giya Dawasa 1966 Oba Dutu Da 1967 Pipena Kumudu 1967 Okkoma Hari 1967 Sura Chauraya 1967 Saru Bima 1967 Ran Rasa Perera 1967 Ipadune Ai? 1968 Ataweni Pudumaya 1968 Punchi Baba Sena's friend 1968 Ruhunu Kumari 1969 Kohomada Wade 1969 Pancha 1969 Surayangeth Suraya 1970 Dan Mathakada? Michael 1970 Athma Pooja 1970 Thevatha 1970 Seda Sulang 1971 Hathara Denama Surayo Jaggi 1972 Adare Hithenawa Dakkama Valentino 1971 Seeye Nottuwa 1972 Edath Suraya Adath Suraya Johnny 1972 Singapore Charlie Singapuru Charlie 1972 Ada Mehemai Sira 1973 Hondama Welawa 1973 Hondata Hondai Chandana's friend 1973 Aparadhaya Ha Danduwama 1973 Gopalu Handa 1974 Sihasuna 1974 Jeewana Ganga 1974 Mehema Harida 1975 Awa Soya Adare 1975 Suraya Surayamai Batta 'Batson' 1975 Jeewana Geethaya 1975 Lassana Dawasak Anthony 'Anto' 1975 Lassana Kella Caldera 1975 Gijulihiniyo 1976 Saradielge Putha Sooting 'Chutti' 1976 Deviyange Theenduwa Sunny 1976 Kawuda Raja Punchi Hamu 1976 Harima Badu Thunak 1977 Hariyanakota Ohoma Thamai 1977 Deviyani Oba Koheda? Anthony 1977 Yakadaya Bandara 1977 Chandi Putha 1977 Aege Adara Kathawa 1978 Hitha Mithura 1979 Visihathara Peya Sira 1980 Anuhasa 1980 Hondin Inna 1981 Kolamkarayo Member Mahaththaya 1982 Re Manamali Sergeant Rubaru 1982 Thakkita Tharikita 1983 Yali Pipunu Malak 1984 Bambara Patikki 1984 Kekille Rajjuruwo Kakkiley Rajjuruwo 1987 Hitha Honda Chandiya Muslim shopowner 1988 Newa Gilunath Ban Chun Mohandiram Wansanayake 1989 Waradata Danduwam 1991 Sihina Ahase Wasanthaya 1992 Sakkara Suththara

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