Jackson Anthony

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Sri Lankan actor (1958–2023)

title: "Jackson Anthony" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1958-births", "2023-deaths", "sri-lankan-male-film-actors", "alumni-of-the-university-of-colombo", "alumni-of-the-university-of-sri-jayewardenepura", "sinhalese-singers", "kala-keerthi", "road-incident-deaths-in-sri-lanka", "sri-lankan-male-television-actors", "sri-lankan-male-stage-actors", "20th-century-sri-lankan-male-actors", "21st-century-sri-lankan-male-actors", "20th-century-sri-lankan-male-singers", "21st-century-sri-lankan-male-singers", "people-from-ragama"] description: "Sri Lankan actor (1958–2023)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Anthony" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Sri Lankan actor (1958–2023) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameJackson Anthony
ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී
other_namesSakalaKala Sakwithi, Panaputhra Kuhubumpaniya
imageJackson Anthony resize.jpg
birth_date
birth_nameConganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony
birth_placePodiwee Kumbura, Ragama, Ceylon
death_date
death_placeColombo, Sri Lanka
resting_place_coordinates
educationHapugoda Junior School
St. Mary's College, Bandarawela
Galahitiyawa Central College
alma_materUniversity of Colombo
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
years_active1987–2022
relativesSenaka Titus (brother)
Sudath Anthony (brother)
Saman Anthony(brother)

| | spouse | Kumari Munasinghe (m.1987) | | children | Madhavee Wathsala Akila Dhanuddara Sajitha Anthony | | awards | See below | | website | | | occupation | Creative director, Film producer, Actor, Singer, Painter, Dancer, Lyricist, Columnist, Novelist, Dubbing artist, Television host, Historian, Traveler, | ::

| name = Jackson Anthony ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී | other_names = SakalaKala Sakwithi, Panaputhra Kuhubumpaniya | image = Jackson Anthony resize.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | birth_name = Conganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony | birth_place = Podiwee Kumbura, Ragama, Ceylon | death_date = | death_place = Colombo, Sri Lanka | death_cause = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | education = Hapugoda Junior School St. Mary's College, Bandarawela Galahitiyawa Central College | alma_mater = University of Colombo University of Sri Jayewardenepura | years_active = 1987–2022 | relatives = Senaka Titus (brother) Sudath Anthony (brother) Saman Anthony(brother)

Mohan Anthony (brother) | spouse = Kumari Munasinghe (m.1987) | children = Madhavee Wathsala Akila Dhanuddara Sajitha Anthony | awards = See below | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Creative director, Film producer, Actor, Singer, Painter, Dancer, Lyricist, Columnist, Novelist, Dubbing artist, Television host, Historian, Traveler,

Conganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony (as ජැක්සන් ඇන්තනී; 8 July 1958 – 9 October 2023), commonly known as Jackson Anthony, was a Sri Lankan actor in film, theatre and television. He was referred as Sakalakala Sakwithi in Sinhala cinema 'King of All Arts', Also considered one of the greatest actors in Sinhala cinema One of the most popular artists in Sri Lanka, Anthony won the award for the Best Actor a record sixteen times. Primarily active as an actor in all three media, he appeared before the public in versatile forms; director, producer, singer, screenwriter, television host, novelist, columnist, lyricist, historian and traveller.

Early life and education

Conganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony was born on 8 July 1958 in Podiwee Kumbura village, Ragama, Sri Lanka. While he's recognized as "Jackson" by many people, his parents used to call him "Malsi". He received his primary education at Hapugoda St. Mary's Junior School and St. Mary's College in Bandarawela and later entered Galahitiyawa Central College in Ganemulla. For higher education he attended the University of Colombo where he first obtained an honors degree in Sinhala language and Literature and did his master's degree in Mass media at University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He is of a lineage of South Indian migrant origins.

Anthony often remembered his father, Konganige Benedict Anthony and his mother Podivee Kumbure Rolin Perera as the mammoth pillar of his success. Jackson's parents lived in his hometown Podiweekumbura, Ragama. His grandfather was Peduru Anthony, who worked as an overseer at Ceylon Electricity Board. He hails from a family of 5 brothers. his elder brother, Senaka Titus Anthony was a journalist for several medias. and his other brothers are Sudath Anthony, Saman Anthony, and Mohan Anthony. On 23 October 2017 in Singapore, his elder brother Senaka Titus died due to kidney and liver failure.

Drama career

Anthony acted extensively in several stage dramas in university stage. Then he performed in the Neville Dias Subasinghe's Vaaruwen Yana Minissu and Manavayo as well as E. M. D. Upali's Methanin Maruwenu. Then he performed in many popular stage plays such as Marasad, Madhura Jawanika, Loma Hansa, Dhawala Beeshana, Ath, Mora and Tharavo Igilethi which brought him island wide recognition in the field of cinema. He was also the Best Actor at the National Drama Festival.

In 1993 he came to film industry. Having acted in Guru Gedara, Chitti, Ayoma and Loku Duwa, in his initial days, Jackson went on to prove his status in films like Bawa Duka, Bawa Karma, Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli, Aswesuma, Agni Dahaya, Sooriya Arana, Mille Soya and Randiya Dahara. In the meantime, he came to terms with television as well. These fields helped him establish his own identity as an actor. Some of his most popular television roles came through the serials: Palingu Manike, Ella Langa Walawwa, Suseema, Weda Hamine, Kadulla, Pitagamgarayo and Akala Sandya. Of these, he won the award for the Best Actor at the Sumathi Awards for his performance in the serial Pitagamkarayo. In the movie Tharanaya, he played the role of a train man named "Thangappan" and practiced dark magic. He learned low country dance from Sedaraman Gurunnance of Handapangoda for his performance in the film Bawa Duka. He learned the difference between a hunter and a shooter while acting for the film Sooriya Arana.

In 1992, he directed his maiden teledrama Esala Kaluwara. In 1990, a drama festival called 'Bhumika 7' featured seven of Anthony's best plays which allowed scholarly fans to experience Jackson's wide range of theatrics. Then in 2014, he made second teledrama direction Daskon which later won several awards at several local award festivals. During his acting career he has garnered more than 20 Best Actor Awards at local award ceremonies such as Sarasavi Awards, Presidential Awards and OCIC Awards.

Anthony also directed several blockbuster Sri Lankan films. His directorial debut, Julietge Bhumikawa won him the award for the Most Promising Director at the Critics' Awards Ceremony. Paradeesaya was another film directed by him which was critically acclaimed. His direction Aba, allegedly an expensive movie has been made in Sri Lanka and been awarded in many film festivals. He won award for the Best Actor in Derana Film Awards 2015 for the film Address Na, which was directed by him. In 2017, he joined a Kerala cinema production Lucknow directed by Anil Kumar along with another Sri Lankan Piumi Hansamali.

Stage drama

  • Bera Handa
  • Ath
  • Oththukaraya
  • Methanin Maruwenu
  • Lomahansa
  • Tharavo Igilethi
  • Madhura Javanika
  • Maha Samayama
  • Dhawala Bheeshana
  • Tharawo Igilethi

Songs

Other careers

Anthony was the Winner of the People's award for the best artist at the Awards Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) 2007. Jackson Anthony served as the Creative Director of Swarnavahini in early 2000s and produced popular musical program Hapan Padura. He is acclaimed for his concept and presentation of Maha Sinhalaye Vansa Kathawa (translated as The Chronicle of the Great Sinhalese) and Maha Sinhalaye Yatath Vijitha Vansa Kathawa, telecast through Swarnavahini for several years. Other popular programs created by him include exploratory programs like Awaare Siripa, Ganga Dige, (an exploration of the water bodies in the island around Mahaweli River), Roma Puranaya, a travel program revealing the history and civilization of Italy and Salang Hanthe, (a travel program revealing the history and civilization of Lesotho).

In addition cinema, he worked with Clarence Wijewardena; one of the most respected Sri Lankan musicians in Sinhalese music, as a supporting singer for a Sinhala teledrama called Suseema. He sang two popular songs with Clarence, Sithe Susum and Desa Piya Gathkala.

Anthony was one of three judges of Sri Lanka's Got Talent reality program, which is telecast on Sirasa TV. In January 2020, he launched his book Kanda Uda Gindara. On 22 July 2020, he started the second travelling documentary along the Kalu Ganga titled Kalu Ganga Dige.

Personal life

Anthony was married to his long time partner Kumari Munasinghe, who is also an actress and a singer. They had two sons and a daughter and the family was settled in Kadawatha, a Colombo suburb. The daughter, the eldest of three siblings, Madhavee Wathsala, is a television presenter, actress and a singer. The elder son, Akila Dhanuddara, also is a television presenter, model and an actor. His youngest son, Sajitha Anuththara is also a television presenter, singer and award-winning actor who has played the role of the hunter's son in Sooriya Arana. Sajitha is a graduate at University of Kelaniya. He also played the title role in his father's big-budget film Aba. All three children celebrated their wedding ceremony on 18 January 2019.

Anthony was a Catholic but an enthusiast of Buddhist studies. He conducted a show on Sri Lankan Buddhist history and a discussion program on the Buddhist channel.

Accident and death

On 2 July 2022, Anthony along with his younger brother Saman Anthony and a friend had been hospitalised following an accident at Thalawa in Anuradhapura after the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a wild elephant at Thalawa. The incident took place when he was returning in his personal vehicle after taking part in the shooting of the movie Sinhabahu directed by Dr. Somaratne Dissanayake. He was admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital on the same day and to the Emergency Department of the Colombo National Hospital on the morning of 3 July. At the Colombo National hospital, he underwent a seven-hour surgery in the intensive care unit. Anthony remained in intensive care, on a ventilator donated by his family, for 458 days (15 months), until 9 October 2023 when he died as a result of his injuries at the age of 65.{{Cite web |title= Veteran actor Jackson Anthony passed away |url=https://colombogazette.com/2023/10/09/veteran-actor-jackson-anthony-passed-away/ |access-date=9 October 2023 |website=ColomboGazette|date=9 October 2023 }}

Filmography

As actor

::data[format=table]

YearFilmRoleNotesRef.
1993Guru GedaraSunanda
1995Chitti
AyomaWilson
1996Loku DuwaWickrama
1997PunaruthpaththiyaSediris
Bawa DukaPeduru
VisidelaNimal
1998Bawa KarmaPeduru
TharanayaThangappan
Gini Avi Saha Gini KeliTunmulle Padme
2001AswesumaSediris
2002AgnidahayaPunchirala
2004Mille SoyaSomson
2004Sooriya AranaSediris Vedda
2004Randiya DaharaLionel
2005Guerilla MarketingGregory Mahadikaram
2006DheewariManuel
Kurulu PihatuChandrasekara
2010Kshema Bhoomi
2011DheewariManuel
2012Kusa PabhaKing Kusa
2015PravegayaBrando
Maharaja GemunuKing Elara
Ahlepola KumarihamiKing Sri Vikrama Rajasinha
Address NaNasiwatte Hitler
2017DharmayuddhayaHarishchandra
2018GharasarapaGharasarapa aka Kalu Kumara
UdumbaraCoach Ananda
2019Vishama BhagaHemachandra
2020Rookada PanchiUncle Louis
2023Dada ImaKeerthi Gajanayake
Ksheera Sagaraya KalabinaEmperor
2024SeeruwenRetired Army Officer
::

As director

::data[format=table]

YearFilm
1994Julietge Bhumikawa
2008Aba
2015Address Na
2020Eka Gei Sokari
::

Awards

"Gampaha 80" Drama Festival

|- || 1980 ||| || Best Actor || |- || 1980 ||| || Best Script || |- || 1980 ||| || Best Production ||

National Drama Festival

|- || 1983 ||| Methanin Maruwenu || Best Supporting Actor || |- || 1986 ||| Maratsade || Best Actor ||

Divaina Sama Drama Festival

|- || 1987 ||| Maratsade || Best Actor ||

Wijaya Rupavahini Awards

|- || 1987 ||| Kadulla || Best Actor ||

UNDA Awards

|- || 1991 ||| Kadulla || Best Actor || |- || 1992 ||| Mahamera Pamula || Best Script || |- || 1996 ||| Akhala Sandyaa || Award of Excellence for Acting ||

[[Sumathi Awards]]

|- || 1997 ||| Pitagamkarayo || Best Actor || |- || 2002 ||| Maha Sinhale Wansakathawa || Award of Excellence for Media || |- || 2004 ||| Yeheli || The Best Current Event || |- || 2008 ||| Ganga Dige || The Best Magazine Program || |- || 2008 ||| Neighbor Talks || Award of Excellence for Media || |- || 2016 ||| Daskon || Best Teledrama || |- || 2016 ||| Daskon || Best Teledrama Director || |- || 2016 ||| Daskon || Best Teledrama Script || |- || 2018 ||| See Raja || Best Teledrama Director || |- || 2018 ||| See Raja || Best Teledrama Script ||

Mass Media Awards

|- || 2006 ||| Maha Sinhale Wansakathawa || The Best Television Programme || |- || 2006 ||| || The Best Television Presenter ||

Critic Awards

|- || 1995 ||| Punuruppaththiya || Best Actor || |- || 1996 ||| Julietge Bhoomikawa || Most Promoting Director || |- || 1997 ||| Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli || Best Actor ||

[[SIGNIS Awards (Sri Lanka)|SIGNIS OCIC Awards]]

|- || 1996 ||| Loku Duwa || Best Actor || |- || 1997 ||| Bawa Karma & Bawa Duka || Best Actor || |- || 2002 ||| Agnidaahaya || Outstanding Performance || |- || 2005 ||| Randiya Dahara || Outstanding Performance || |- || 2005 ||| Garilla Marketing || Outstanding Performance ||

[[Sarasaviya Awards]]

|- || 1996 ||| Ayoma || Merit Awards || |- || 1997 ||| Bawa Duka || Best Actor || |- || 2004 ||| Randiya Dahara || Best Actor || |- || 2005 ||| Milla Soya || Best Supporting Actor || |- || 2015 ||| Maharaja Gemunu || Best Actor ||

Presidential Awards

|- || 1997 ||| Julietge Bhoomikawa || Special Jury Awards || |- || 1997 ||| Bawa Duka || Best Actor || |- || 1998 ||| Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli || Best Actor || |- || 1998 ||| Aswesuma || Best Actor || |- || 2001 ||| Sooriya Arana || Best Actor || |- || 2005 ||| Garilla Marketing || Best Actor ||

Top Ten Awards

|- || 1997 ||| Agnidaahaya || Cultural Achievement ||

[[SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Awards|People's Awards]]

|- || 2007 || People's vote || People's Artist of the Year || |- || 2007 || Aba || People's Film of the Year ||

[[Raigam Tele'es|Raigam Tele'es Awards]]

|- || 2014 ||| Appachchi || Best Actor || |- || 2015 ||| Daskon || Best Drama Script || |- || 2015 ||| Daskon || Best Drama Direction || |- || 2015 ||| Daskon || Best Teledrama of the Year ||

[[Derana Film Awards|Lux Derana Film Awards]]

|- || 2016 ||| Address Na || Best Actor || |- || 2018 ||| Dharmayuddhaya || Best Actor || |- || 2019 ||| || Most Popular Actor ||

[[Hiru Golden Film Awards]]

|- || 2016 ||| Maharaja Gemunu || Jury's Award of Excellence ||

Asian Film Festival

|- || 2019 ||| Vishama Bhaga || Best Actor ||

Fox International Film Festival

|- || 2020 ||| Vishama Bhaga || Best Supporting Actor ||

References

;Notes

Articles

References

  1. "Jackson Anthony".
  2. "The story of Jackson Anthony, who won the Best Actor sixteen times".
  3. "Jackson Anthony is the best actor in all three media".
  4. "My hero is my father - Jackson Anthony".
  5. "Senaka Titus passed away". Sarasaviya.
  6. "Veteran artiste Senaka Titus passes away". ITN News.
  7. ""He is better than others"".
  8. "I practiced multitasking from an early age".
  9. (30 November 2017). "Jackson Anthony to make a Kerala film ..!".
  10. "Sinhala musical play at Wendt9". Sunday Times.
  11. "Jackson Anthony's historical voyage". Sarasaviya.
  12. "මව්බිමේ හදවත සොයා ගිය ගමන ගඟ දිගේ අවුරුදු 15කට පසු". Sarasaviya.
  13. "Jackson steps on "Kanda Uda Gindara"".
  14. "Fifteen years later Jackson walks down the hip-wide river". Divaina.
  15. "Jackson children wedded on same day". Sarasaviya.
  16. "Jackson Anthony and 2 others injured after vehicle hits elephant".
  17. "Jackson underwent seven hours of surgery".
  18. "Loku Duwa appears on Rupavahini". Sunday Times.
  19. "බිඳුණා දැහැන් බිඳුණා වීසි දැල". Sarasaviya.
  20. "Vishama Bhaga won in Philippines". Sarasaviya.
  21. "A cinematic carnival by the sea". Sunday Times.
  22. "'Dhada Ima' directed by Dr Naomal Perera". The Island.
  23. "Seeruwen: The third eye of an unseen dimension". Sarasaviya.
  24. "President honours Lankan Cinema". Sunday Times.
  25. "Jackson wins international award for Vishama Bhaga". Sarasaviya.

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1958-births2023-deathssri-lankan-male-film-actorsalumni-of-the-university-of-colomboalumni-of-the-university-of-sri-jayewardenepurasinhalese-singerskala-keerthiroad-incident-deaths-in-sri-lankasri-lankan-male-television-actorssri-lankan-male-stage-actors20th-century-sri-lankan-male-actors21st-century-sri-lankan-male-actors20th-century-sri-lankan-male-singers21st-century-sri-lankan-male-singerspeople-from-ragama