(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Veteran stage, film and teledrama actor Sampath Tennakoon has passed away this morning (03) after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 62 years old at the time of his death.
He made his stage debut in Dayaratne Ratagedara’s play ‘Guru Lipi’ and won the State Drama Award for his role as Lucien in ‘Numba Vitharak Thala Elalui’. He also acted in a number of stage plays such as “Thalamala Pipila”, “Hitler”, “Ambusamiyo” and “Guru Tharuwa”.
Entering cinema as the artistic director of Vijaya Dharma Sri’s ‘Aradhana’, Sampath made his acting debut in ‘Himagira’. He then starred in several films such as “Sky Palace”, “Madhuri”, “Firearms and Fireworks” and “Saroja”. The character of Shehan’s father in Somaratne Dissanayake’s ‘Siri Raja Siri’ and the character of Sangharaja Thera in ‘Siri Parakum’ are two of his most memorable characters. He will be seen in Jackson Anthony’s forthcoming “Ekageyi Sokari” in a prominent Bhikku character.
Sampath Tennakoon, a talented stage actor, was also a talented singer.
He was married to fellow actress Rathna Lalani Jayakody.
