fiction.wikisort.org - Actor

Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne, MBE (15 February 1915 – 25 July 1981), popularly known as Eddie Jayamanne was a popular Sri Lankan comedian and actor of early Sri Lankan cinema.

Eddie Jayamanne එඩී ජයමාන්න
Born	Wanniaarachchige Don David Victor Jayamanne (1915-02-15)15 February 1915 Negombo, Sri Lanka
Died	25 July 1981(1981-07-25) (aged 66) Palliyawaththa, Handala
Resting place	Manyokhena Cemetery, Negombo
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Education	St. Peter's College, Negombo Maris Stella College
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1947-1983
Known for	cinema acting
Spouse(s)	Rukmani Devi (1943-1978)
Parent(s)	W. Don Thomas (father)
Relatives	B. A. W. Jayamanne (brother) Grace Jayamanne (brother in law)

Early life

He was born on 15 February 1915 in Periyamulla, Negambo to a Christian family as the youngest of the family with seven siblings. His father, W. Don Thomas was a teacher at Maris Stella College. He was educated at the Cross College of Negombo, St. Peter's College, Negombo, St. Mary's College, Negombo and Maris Stella College. His elder brother B. A. W. Jayamanne was a renowned filmmaker and producer.[1]

Eddie married fellow Minerva troupe player Rukmani Devi after falling in love through their involvement in the same plays.[2] Devi's parents challenged their engagement in court but they were allowed to go through with their marriage.

Cinema career

Eddie with his brother B. A. W. Jayamanne formed the Minerva theater troupe in the 1930s. They successfully ran plays in which naive Ceylonese characters would ape Western ways to comical results merging South Indian theatre with Western drama. Eddie, a frequent star of these comedies, became a popular theater actor in the years leading up to the development of Sri Lankan cinema.[1]

In 1947, South Indian producer S. M. Nayagam became interested in producing a Sri Lankan film. He contacted B. A. W. Jayamanne and secured the rights to one of his plays called Kadawunu Poronduwa.[2] Eddie would be one of the stars in this film adaption in the village simpleton role of "Manappuwa" alongside Jemini Kantha as Josi Baba. As the first film to feature Sinhalese dialogue, the film found approval with audiences and was a huge success.[1]

The Jayamanne brothers followed the success of the film with several other play adaptions i.e. Hadisi Vinishchaya (1949), Sengawunu Pilithura (1951) and Umathu Wishwasaya (1952). Mabel Blythe joined the cast with Hadisi Vinishchaya. In 1953 the brothers adapted a book into film for the first time in Sri Lankan cinema (Kele Handa). Their subsequent films include Iranganie (1954), Matha Bedhaya (1955), Perakadoru Bena (1955), Daiwa Wipaakaya (1956), Vanaliya (1958), Kawata Andare (1960) and Mangalika (1963).[2][1]

Eddie's work not related to his brother's productions include playing a musician in Sandesaya (1960) and the brother of a village simpleton who discovers a jewel and becomes rich in Kolomba Sanniya (1976). He reprised his role as Manappuwa in a remake of Kadawunu Poronduwa released in 1982.[1]

He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1954 Birthday Honours.[3]

Death

On 25 July 1981, Eddie died from a Heart Attack.[1] During his last days he was residing in 172, Palliyawaththa, Handala. His death was reported by a neighbor, P.K. Piyadasa. He was buried in "Manyokhena" Cemetery in Negombo.

Filmography

Year	Film	Role	Ref.
1947	Kadawunu Poronduwa	Manappuwa
1948	Kapati Arakshakaya	Jacob
1948	Weradunu Kurumanama	Babaiyya
1949	Peralena Iranama	Paucha
1950	Hadisi Vinischaya	Kokila
1951	Sengawunu Pilithura	Manappuwa
1952	Upathu Viswashaya	Saping
1953	Kele Handa	Aanda
1954	Iranganie	Somapala
1955	Mathabhedaya	William
1955	Perakadoru Bena	Gunathilaka Ralahamy
1956	Dosthara	Doctor	[4]
1957	Siriyalatha	Kurunis
1957	Soorasena	441
1959	Daivayogaya	Dantha
1960	Sandesaya	Mamma
1960	Nalangana	Sunil's friend	[5]
1960	Kawata Andare	Andare
1961	Gan Thera
1963	Mangalika
1963	Mangalika
1964	Semiya Birindage Deviyaya		[6]
1965	Sathutai Kandului
1966	Sampatha
1966	Senasili Suwaya	Kavinda
1967	Sarana
1967	Magul Poruwa
1967	Rena Giraw	Club goer	[7]
1968	Abudasse Kale
1968	Radhapura	Lal
1968	Dehadaka Duka	Alankari
1969	Paara Walalu
1971	Kalana Mithuro
1971	Samanala Kumariyo
1972	Hathara Wate	Gunadasa
1973	Hondama Welawa
1973	Hondai Narakai
1973	Hondata Hondai	Uncle
1974	Duleeka	Jayawardena	[8]
1974	Susee	Bastian	[9]
1974	Duppathage Hithawatha	Jimmy	[10]
1975	Hitha Honda Minihek	Eddie Jayamanne
1975	Lassana Kella
1975	Lassana Dawasak	Eddie, Nilanthi's father
1976	Nayana
1976	Haratha Hathara
1976	Unnath Dahai Malath Dahai
1976	Onna Mame Kella Penapi
1976	Adarei Man Adarei
1976	Ran Thilaka
1976	Kolamba Sanniya	Jacolis
1977	Hithuwoth Hithuwamai	Sergeant Banda	[11]
1977	Deviyani Oba Kohida	Juwan 'Aiyya'	[12]
1977	Eya Dan Loku Lamayek	Mama
1977	Honda Hitha
1977	Yali Ipade
1978	Saara	Charlie
1978	Apsara
1978	Sithaka Suwanda	Mr. Samson
1978	Sally
1979	Samanmalee	Father
1979	Jeewana Kandulu
1979	Subhani
1980	Uthumaneni		[13]
1980	Anuhasa
1980	Sankhapali	Sanka's father
1981	Kolankarayo	Kathru Mahaththaya
1981	Thavalama
1982	Sithara
1982	Kadawunu Poronduwa remake	Manappuwa
1983	Sandamali	Sandamali's father
1983	Yali Pipunu Malak

Songs

• Thakkita Tharikita Udapana Natanna Hithuna (With Jemini Kanth)
• Kolompure Shriya

References

External links

• Eddie Jayamanne's Biography in Sinhala Cinema Database
• Eddie Jayamanne at IMDb

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