Multiple roles in one man
Actor, director, script writer, journalist, novelist, singer, announcer, lyricist, historian, traveller and many more. It would be hard for someone to play all these roles at the same time and moreover all exceptionally well. But Jackson Anthony did and he did them well. Having met with an accident and undergoing treatment for long 14 months at the ICU in the National Hospital Colombo, Jackson died Monday, October 9. He was 65.
Started his acting career on the stage, Jackson made a long journey in the theatre, mini-screen and cinema. In theatre he played his initial roles under veteran playwrights like Sugathapala de Silva, Dayananda Jayawardana, Lucian Bulathsinghala, Jayantha Chandrasiri and many more.
Started with Neville Dias Subasinghe’s ‘Vaaruwen Yana Minissu’ and ‘Maanavayo’ and E. M. D. Upali’s ‘Methanin Maruwenu’, Jackson was invited to play in other popular plays like ‘Marasad’, ‘Madhura Jawanika’, ‘Loma Hansa’, ‘Dhawala Beeshana’, ‘Ath’, ‘Mora’ and ‘Tharavo Igilethi’ some of which won him the Best Actor Awards in different time frames.
With the introduction of television and teledrama industry, Jackson had roles in some of the exceptional teleplays like ‘Palingu Menike’, ‘Ella
Langa Walawwuwa’, ‘Kadulla’, ‘Weda Hamine’, ‘Pitagamkarayo’, ‘Akala Sandya’ and ‘Suseema’ to name a few.
Jackson acting proves was further highlighted when he entered cinema with ‘Guru Gedara’ in 1993. He went on to play roles in ‘Chitti’, Parakram Niriella’s ‘Ayoma’ and Sumithra Peiris’ ‘Loku Duwa’. One of Jackson’s exceptional performance was highlighted in Dharmasiri Bandaranayake’s ‘Bhawa Duka’ and ‘Bhawa Karma’. Jackson’s dedication was proved when filmmaker Banbdaranayeke assigned him to undergo training on low country dancing and drumming under tutelage of a famous Gurunanse. The result was Jackson returned as one of the best dancers and a drummer. Benette Ratnayake’s internationally award winning ‘Aswesuma’, Udayakantha Warnasuriya’s ‘Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli, Jayantha Chandrasiri’s ‘Agni Dahaya’, were some of the other films that Jackson’s exceptional acting ability came to light.
Jackson next entered filmmaking with ‘Julietge Bhumikawa’ and won the award for the Most Promising Director. He also directed ‘Paradeesaya’ and the last film he directed was ‘Address Nae’.
In his multifaceted career Jackson’s knack for journalism was highlighted with his weekly column to
Divaiyna Sinhala newspaper under the pet name ‘Pana Puthra Kuhumbu Peniya’ the title bestowed on him by the late lyricist and announcer Premakirthi de Alwis. This name was made dividing Jackson Anthony’s name into four parts—Jack-Son- Ant- Honey. JackPana meaning Jackfruit, Puthra in Sihala is ‘Son’, Ant is Kuhumbu and Honey referred to Paniya.
With an unmatchable capacity and talent, Jackson played many roles in his one life.
As William Shakespeare in his immortal verses in ‘As You Like It’ said
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,” we play some roles in our lifespan. But Jackson was different.
Jackson did play not many but too many roles and he had his exit.