Actor G.R. Perera (right) with his wife

Veteran actor Galhenage Rathnapala Perera, better known as G.R. Perera, made a name for himself in cinema, television and theatre, with a career spanning over 50 years. The actor passed away at the age of 83 yesterday (1) and the industry is paying tribute to him.

Perera is said to have acted in 516 teledramas and 40 films, having made his television debut in Thunkal Sihinaya, which was directed by Tissa Abeysekara. Perera has spoken of his friendship with Abeysekara in great detail, saying he met the filmmaker while he was still schooling.

Perera started acting in school, and was involved in the arts. During school holidays, he returned to his village and helped his mother with her home-based business, supplying hoppers, string hoppers and such foods to stores, and during the school holidays, Perera would carry the food to the vendors.

“One day, a boy my age, dressed in pyjamas, asked me what was in my basket. When I said ‘kadayappan’, he didn’t understand, so I showed him the string hoppers, ‘pittu’ and so on that were in the basket. Since that day, he would wait for me every morning, and in a few days, we became good friends. That was Tissa Abeysekara.”

Perera’s role of “Malakada Bass” in Doo Daruwo is considered the turning point in his teledrama career. “My third teledrama was Doo Daruwo, in which I played the role of a very impressive owner of a blacksmith shop. In the drama I was known as the “Malakada Bass”. This character paved the way for me to strengthen my career in the teledrama world,” Perera is quoted as saying.

In terms of his film career, Perera began with a minor role in Welikathara (1971), which was directed by D.B. Nihalsinghe. His second film, Kalu Diya Dahara, saw him in a more prominent role, acting alongside Joe Abeywickrama. Perera has also acted in six foreign films, of which three were Indian, two were American and one was German.