Hettiarachchige Don Marcus Conrad Senarathna Samaranayake (born 8 April 1914 – died 4 June 2000 as මාක් සමරනායක) [Sinhala]), popularly as Mark Samaranayake, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema and stage drama.^[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sinhala cinema, Samaranayake acted in several critically acclaimed films such as Peralena Iranama, Perakadoru Bena, Kapati Arakshakaya, Duppathage Duka, and Daivayogaya.^[2]

Personal life

He was born on 8 April 1914 in Weliveriya, Gampaha, as the fifth child in a family with eight siblings.^[2] His father, Charles Samaranayake, was a notary, and his mother, Dona Isabella Perera, was a housewife. He had three elder sisters, Josephine, Harriet, and Lori; an elder brother, George; two sisters, Ellison and Marie; and a younger brother, Benedict. His father died when Mark was a child.^[3]

He received his primary education at the Sinhala School in Weliweriya and then went to Saint Joseph's College, Colombo, for secondary education. Famous actor Laddie Ranasinghe was his classmate. In their youth, Mark and Laddie attended St. Aloysius Seminary, where his father dedicated Mark to the church.^[3]

In 1950, he married Pearl Jayawardena, a fellow actress. The couple had two daughters, Shirani and Damayanthi, and one son, Tiron.^[2] His eldest daughter, Shirani, died at a hospital in Paris in February 2014.^[4] She was a mother of three who made a minor role in the film Duppathage Duka as a child artist in 1956. Her funeral took place on 15 February 2014 in Paris.^[5]

He died on 4 June 2000 at the age of 86 after a severe illness.^[3]

Career

At the age of 14, the college held an open singing competition, where Mark became the winner and Laddie became the runner-up. After school, Mark worked as an assistant agricultural inspector in the Army. During this period in 1945, he met Laddie by accident in Pettah. Laddie invited Mark to join in his stage drama.^[2] He accepted the offer, went to the Arcadian Drama Club in Borella, and acted in the play Mathabhedaya. After that, Mark also formed the Drama Society called 'Lunuwila Victory' in 1946 and produced three stage plays: Andha Aalaya, Wasanawa, and Aladdin. He later made a play called Riyadura, co-starring Josephine Jayalath, the elder sister of popular actress Florida Jayalath.^[3]

When the play Riyadura was performed in Negombo, famous artists Rukmani Devi and Eddie Jayamanne of the then Minerva Drama Troupe participated in watching the play. Later in the day, he was invited to meet Eddie and Rukmani at their home in Bolavalana.^[2] Then, Eddie introduced Mark to filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne. Jayamanne casts Mark as the school inspector in his 1948 film Kapati Arakshakaya.^[3]

After the success of the film, he was selected for many films. In 1949, he played Rukmani's 'evil husband' in Peralena Iranama. Then, he became the 'Hetti' in Weradunu Kurumanama (1948) and 'carpenter' in Perakadoru Bena in 1955.^[2] Then, his notable acting came as an arrogant woman, a 'cunning magician' in Ahankara Sthree, and Buddhi in Matalan in 1955.^[6] In 1956, he made his most dramatic character 'Inspector Jayasinghe' in the film Duppathage Duka. In the film, his friend Laddie acts as the main antagonist 'Baladeva' and his wife, Pearl, as 'Baladeva's sister.'^[3] His acting in the film is rated as one of the best earliest performances in Sinhala cinema.^[7]

In his last years, he played several characters of an elderly father in film such as Thushara, Sahanaya, Me Desa Kumatada, and Aege Adara Kathawa. As an assistant director, he was involved in Siriyalatha, Daivayogaya, and Magul Poruwa films. His portrayal of the elderly ascetic 'Ruchika' in Daivayogaya was critically acclaimed. He last acted in the film Viyaru Minisa in 1992.^[3] Later, in 1997, he was honored with the "Swarna Jayanthi" Award for contributing to Sinhala cinema at the 11th Presidential Award.^[2]

Filmography