fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Don Samuel Dudley Wanaguru (16 December 1924 – 3 April 2002 Sinhala: ඩඩ්ලි වානගුරු), popularly known as Dudley Wanaguru was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema.

Dudley Wanaguru ඩඩ්ලි වානගුරු
Born	Don Samuel Dudley Wanaguru (1924-12-16)16 December 1924 Colombo, Sri Lanka
Died	3 April 2002(2002-04-03) (aged 77) London, England
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	Saint Joseph's College, Colombo Ananda College
Occupation	Actor, director
Years active	1952–1982
Relatives	N. M. Perera (cousin) Ananda Wickramage (son-in-law)

Personal life

Dudley was born on 16 December 1924 in Grandpass, Colombo, Sri Lanka.[1] His father, Don Martolis Wanaguru, was a renowned Sinhala physician born into a traditional medical family in Hokandara. Martolis studied medicine at the Colombo Ayurveda College and was an expert in fracture medicine. Dudley's mother Nanayakkara Pathirajage Rosalyn Perera, was from Kosgas Junction, Grandpass. She was a close relative of renowned politician, Minister of Finance and Leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Nanayakkara Pathirajage Martin Perera popularly known as Dr. N. M. Perera. Dudley had one brother: Jayashantha, and two sisters: Nandawathi, Chandrawathi.[2]

Dudley received his primary education at Grandpass St. Joseph's College and his secondary education at Ananda College, Colombo. Then he passed the London English Matriculation Examination with distinction and was first appointed as an English Assistant Teacher. After few years, he became a police inspector attached to the Ceylon Police Service. Due to his love for cinema, he became the cinema manager and an executive in charge of cinemas at Ceylon Theaters.[2]

He was married to Indani Dissanayake, who was from Mahara. The couple has seven children: Upendra, Lakshman, Manel, Tissa, Nihal, Tamara, Rohan. Lakshman 'Lucky' Wanaguru was an actor who acted in several films such as Vanarayo, Kokilayo and Segawunu Menika. Manel Wanaguru a popular actress in Sri Lankan cinema, television and theater with a career spanning for more than six decades.[3] She first appeared as a child actor in the film Vanaliya in 1958 directed by B. A. W. Jayamanne.[4] Manel is married to fellow dramatist Ananda Wickramage since 1984.[5] The couple has two sons: Janith Abhishek and Sanketh Abhilash, both are actors.[6]

He died on 3 April 2002 in England at the age of 77.[1]

Career

Around 1952, he was the manager of the Maradana Tower Theater, where he met Shanti Kumar Seneviratne. After that incidence, Dudley got the opportunity to play the brother of Sita Jayawardena, who played the lead role of Chandra in Seneviratne's 1953 film Eda Ra.[2] Since then, Dudley has starred in several films, balancing work and acting. Some of his popular films include, Daiva Vipākaya (1956), Daskama (1959), Gæhænu Gæṭa, Hadisi Vivāhaya (1959), "Naḷangana (1960), Jeevita Pūjāva (1961) and Paṭāchārā (1964).[7]

In 1967, he made his directorial debut Segawunu Menika, where he also made the script. In this film, his daughter Manel entered mainstream cinema with the role of a doctor.[8] Then he appeared in many supportive roles in the films, Samanala Kumariyō Samanga Api Kavadat Surayō (1971), Dāhakin Ekek (1973), Hāratha Hathara (1976), Magē Nangi Shyāmā (1975), Unnath Dāhayi Maḷat Dāhayi (1976), Hithuvot Hituvāmayi (1977), Chaṇḍi Shyāmā (1982) and Hellō Shyamā (1982).[1] Then, Dudley emigrated to England in 1980 and later worked at Heathrow Airport in London. Dudley has acted only in one television serial, Sasara Duka directed by B. A. W. Jayamanne.[2]

Filmography

Year	Film	Roles	Ref.
1953	Eda Ra	Chandra's brother
1956	Daiva Vipakaya	Manager
1958	Daskama
1959	Gehenu Geta	Keerthi Bandara
1959	Hadisi Vivahaya	Michael
1960	Nalangana	Police officer
1961	Jeewitha Poojawa
1964	Patachara
1966	Seyawak Pasupasa
1967	Segawunu Menika	Director, screenwriter
1971	Samanala Kumariyo
1973	Dahakin Ekek	Ranatunga
1975	Mage Nangi Shyama
1976	Unnath Dahayi Malath Dahayi
1976	Haratha Hathara
1977	Hithuvoth Hithuvamai
1978	Chandi Shyama
1978	The Mountain of the Cannibal God	Government officer	[9]
1981	Eka Dawasak Ra	Hamu Mahathaya
1982	Hello Shyama

References

External links

• Dudley Wanaguru at IMDb

---