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1-23 of 23
- Joan Elan was born on 24 July 1928 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. She was an actress, known for Darby's Rangers (1958), Matinee Theatre (1955) and Front Row Center (1955). She was married to Harry Franklin ("Bud") Nye Jr.. She died on 7 January 1981 in New York City, New York, USA.
- John Carson was a hugely prolific actor who appeared constantly on UK screens throughout the mid-50s until the mid-80s. He has appeared alongside many of the UK's stars and became hugely popular as a villain or hero. The secret of John's success was his versatility and his wonderful silky voice. He appeared in 3 Hammer films which led to an ever-increased popularity amongst film fans. John moved to South Africa from England in the 80s and, sadly, his appearances became far more sporadic although he always kept working, even producing and filming his own short documentary, "African Spirit". He returned to England in 2007 and has been involved in a few films, such as The Deal (2008). He attended a John Carson Celebration Day in London (July 2009). This was the first time he had talked publicly about his long career in television, film and stage. The day was a huge success and, aside from a showing of two of his films, John gave an interview on stage and then signed autographs. The day was a huge success and this was proved so by a large attendance and the queues for his autograph and photos. John returned to South Africa in 2014 where he spent time with his family and got to relax a little. He sadly passed away on November 5th, 2016, a few weeks before his 90th birthday. He was a fine actor and leaves behind a legacy of his versatility on screen.
- Hugh Burden was a distinguished British actor and playwright. He was born in Colombo (then Ceylon), the son of a colonial official. He was sent to England at the age of ten to further his education. At Beaumont College, he studied history, French and music, becoming proficient on the piano. He trained for acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made his theatrical debut in 1933. He served in the British Army in India from 1939, but was invalided out two years later.
He appeared in films including classics such as One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), The Way Ahead (1944) and Malta Story (1953), but he would become most prolific on television. He starred as J.G. Reeder in The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969) for Thames Television, based on the short stories by the English crime writer Edgar Wallace. He is also remembered by cult television fans for his performance as the sinister alien Channing, who plots to take over the world with killer shop window dummies called Autons, in Jon Pertwee's Doctor Who (1963) debut Spearhead from Space: Episode 1 (1970). - Actor
- Soundtrack
Ceylon-born Colin Gordon began acting on the West End stage as the hind legs of a horse in 'Toad of Toad Hall' in 1934. After wartime service, he returned to the stage, appearing in such plays as 'The White Carnation' and 'The Little Hut' (both 1953), 'Misery Me!' (1955) and 'The Touch of Fear' (1956). His award-winning stage role of teacher Rupert Billings in 'The Happiest Days of Your Life' was recreated for the film version by another bespectacled actor, Richard Wattis. From 1957, Colin worked as actor-director with the Guildford Repertory Theatre. Though he is usually described as a 'light comedy actor', Colin made his mark in the acting profession as much by playing countless supercilious or sneering bureaucrats, lawyers or haughty military types. His stock-in-trade became his ever-present horn-rimmed glasses, combined with a cynical or asinine manner and a precisely modulated voice. His best performances might include pompous BBC announcer Reginald Willoughby-Cruft in The Green Man (1956) and his bank manager, locked up in the Strongroom (1962) of his own bank during a robbery. He is likely best remembered for being a particularly sinister Number 2 to Patrick McGoohan in TV's The Prisoner (1967) - twice.- Actor
- Producer
Albert Moses was born on 19 December 1937 in Gampola, Kandy District, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was an actor and producer, known for The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), Octopussy (1983) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). He died on 15 September 2017 in London, England, UK.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Born in 1962, Prasanna Vithanage became involved in theatre on leaving school. He translated and directed Bernard Shaw's "Arms and the Man" in 1986, and Dario Fo's "Trumpets and Raspberries" in 1991. In 1992, he directed his first film "Sisila Gini Gani" (Ice of Fire). It won nine OCIC (Sri Lanka) Awards including Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Four years later in 1996 was his second feature "Anantha Rathriya" (Dark Night of the Soul), which he wrote and directed. It was based on Leo Tolstoy's last novel "Resurrection". It participated in several international film festivals and won a Jury's Special Mention in the First Pusan International Film Festival. The film also won all the main awards at the 1996 Sri Lanka Film Critics Forum Awards (affiliated with FIPRESCI) including awards for Most Outstanding Film, Best Director and Best Screenwriter. "Pawuru Walalu" (Walls Within), his third feature in 1997 won the Best Actress Award for Nita Fernando in her role as Violet, at the 1998 Singapore International Film Festival. It even won ten out of eleven awards including Best Picture and Best Director at the Sri Lanka Film Critics Forum Awards. His fourth feature "Purahanda Kaluwara" (Death on a Full Moon Day) of the same year, 1997, which he wrote and directed was produced by NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation). It won the Grand Prix at the Amiens Film Festival. Initially banned by the minister in charge of film industry, it was released after a yearlong legal battle. It was given the release under the supreme court verdict. Since it has become one of the most successful film in the more than half a century history of cinema in Sri Lanka. Prasanna Vithanage completed "Ira Madiyama" (August Sun) his fifth film in 2003. It went on to win many international awards and was featured prominently in the world festival circuit. In 2007, Vithanage co-produced the hit film "Machan" a comedy about a group of working class con artists posing as a handball team, directed by "The Full Monty" producer Uberto Pasolini. "Machan" premiered at the 65th Venice Film Festival in 2008. It was shown widely all over the world winning 11 international awards. 2008 also saw the world premiere of Prasanna Vithanage's sixth feature film as director, "Akasa Kusum" (Flowers of the Sky) in Pusan, Korea and screened over forty film festivals to wide acclaim winning numerous international awards. "Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka" (With You, Without You) is his seventh feature. His feature debut Documentary "Silence in the Courts" was the first Documentary film which had a theatrical run in Sri Lanka, despite being initially banned from public screening by the Colombo District Court of Sri Lanka. His historical drama film 'Gaadi - Children of the Sun' (2019) won Cultural Diversity Award at Asia Pacific Screen Awards and ran for 98 days theatrically in Sri Lanka. 'Paradise' (2023) is his first Indian language film in Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil and Sinhala. 'Paradise' had its World Premiere at the 28th Busan International Film Festival 2023 and won the Kim Jeseok Award.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Michael Ondaatje was born on 12 September 1943 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He is a writer and director, known for The English Patient (1996), Elimination Dance (1998) and The Offering (1966). He is married to Linda Spaulding.- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Keith Potger was born on 21 March 1941 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He is an actor and composer, known for It's Not the Size That Counts (1974), Spring (2016) and Remembering Nigel (2009). He was previously married to Nicki Paull, Pamela Potger and Pamela Powley.- Gandhi MacIntyre was born on 2 October 1939 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He is an actor, known for The Blood of Heroes (1989), Babe: Pig in the City (1998) and Dead End Drive-In (1986). He is married to Dorothy MacIntyre.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Yolande Bavan was born on 1 June 1942 in Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. She is an actress, known for The Accidental Husband (2008), Parting Glances (1986) and The Brave One (2007).- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Lester James Peries was born on 5 April 1919 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He was a director and writer, known for The Line of Destiny (1956), Gamperaliya (1963) and Yagunthaya (1985). He was married to Sumitra Peries. He died on 29 April 2018 in Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka.- George Alagiah is a newsreader and journalist who joined the BBC in 1989, working as a reporter and correspondent. He first joined Six O'Clock News (1984) as a newsreader in 2003, and became a much-recognised face of BBC news, also presenting slots in BBC News at Ten O'Clock (2000) and One O'Clock News (1986), among others.
George has occasionally appeared in dramas, playing a newsreader, including Discovery: Part 2 (2017) and Bigfooting (2009). Born in Sri Lanka, he shared his love of Sri Lankan food in Sri Lanka (2018), and has appeared on television as himself in programmes including Episode dated 19 August 2019 (2019) and Out of Africa: Heroes and Icons (2005). - Joe Abeywickrama was born on 13 June 1933 in Lellopitiya, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He was an actor and writer, known for Death on a Full Moon Day (1997), Welikathara (1971) and Sorungeth Soru (1967). He died on 21 September 2011 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Actor
- Writer
Henry Jayasena was born on 6 July 1931 in Bendiyamulla, Gampaha, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He was an actor and writer, known for Sadol kandulu (1967), Sri 296 (1959) and Heta Premada Wadi (1964). He died on 11 November 2009 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.- Sirimavo Bandaranaike was born on 17 April 1916 in Ratnapura, British Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. She died on 10 October 2000 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Eric Shipton was born on 1 August 1907 in Hatton, British Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He died on 28 March 1977 in Wiltshire, England, UK.
- Danny Nalliah was born in 1964 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He has been married to Maryse since 28 March 1987. They have three children.
- Director
- Writer
A.S.A. Sami was born in 1915 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. A.S.A. is a director and writer, known for Arasilankumari (1961), Karpukkarasi (1957) and Aananda Jothi (1963).- Camera and Electrical Department
Laura Lushington was born on 10 December 1920 in British Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. Laura is known for David Macaulay: Cathedral (1986). Laura died on 10 May 2015 in England, UK.- A.T. Ariyaratne was born on 5 November 1931 in Unawatuna, British Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He was married to Neetha Ariyaratne. He died on 16 April 2024 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Composer
- Music Department
Premasiri Kemadasa was born on 25 January 1937 in Talpitiya, Wadduwa, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. Premasiri was a composer, known for Hansa Vilak (1980), Jullietge Bhoomikawa (1998) and Silence of the Heart (1969). Premasiri died on 24 October 2008 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.- Bill Forbes was born on 17 December 1938 in Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. He died on 7 February 2022 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England, UK.
- Aravinda de Silva was born on 17 October 1965 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka].