Veteran actor Joe dies1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minuteVeteran 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.
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’.
