Berty Gunathilake

Mesthiyage Don Bertie Sangathissa Gunathilake (; 2 August 1924 – 6 March 2022), popularly known as Berty Gunathilake, was an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema and television. He was most notable for the role "Baba" in television comedy sitcom Vinoda Samaya.

Personal life Gunathilake was born on 2 August 1924 in Ampitiya, Kandy. He received his primary education at Ampitiya Primary School and then secondary education at Sangharaja Pirivena in Kandy. After that he joined the Ayurvedic Medical College. After school times, he joined as an Assistant Teacher at Galpola College, Kuliyapitiya. Then he started a bookstore until he was bored by the job and then worked as a proofreader in the Sinhala Bauddaya newspaper. He was in the distribution department at the inception of the 1953 People's Newspaper. In 1953, he joined Lake House publishers with the help of Chandraratne Manawasinghe and Meemana Premathilake. He worked there as a junior pastor for twelve years. During that time, he joined the struggles conducted by the Lake House trade union. As a result, he lost his job. Bharatha is a television technician. Harsha is a businessman. Kumuduni works for the Rupavahini Corporation.

Career Gunathilake joined the Radio Ceylon in 1947 from Lama Pitiya program. Then he joined the 1948 radio play Vinoda Samaya along with Joseph Seneviratne, Vincent Weerasekera, Harriet Suraweera, Pitipana Silva and Sisira Kumara Manickaarachchi. It became extremely popular and they were colloquially known as Raja Thun Kattuwa. In later years, many more characters were included in the program such as Gemunu Wijesuriya, Joseph Seneviratne, Alfred Perera and Mercy Edirisinghe.

On 13 November 2013, The Ministry of Cultural Affairs conferred the "Desha Nethru" Award at the National Literary Arts Festival. On 12 January 2014, he was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the Television Industry in the Rupavahini State Awards.

Filmography

Year Film Roles Ref. 1952 Banda Nagarayata Paminima Betel vendor 1968 Abudassa Kale 1969 Samaje Sathuro 1969 Binaramalee 1970 Lakseta Kodiya Tamil film director 1974 Jeewana Ganga 1975 Sikuruliya Haramani's friend 1977 Maruwa Samaga Wase Deke Kanuwa henchman 1979 Chuda Manikya Chuda Manikya carrier 1980 Sasaraka Pethum 1981 Kolamkarayo Member Mahaththaya supporter 1983 Chandi Siriya 1983 Samanala Sihina 1988 Newa Gilunath Ban Chun Suresh's friend 1990 Palama Yata Nanna 1990 Wana Bambara 1991 Asai Bayai 1992 Ranabime Veeraya 1993 Sandarekha 1995 Pudumai Eth Aththai 1995 Deviyani Sathya Surakinna Minister 1995 Cheriyo Captain Partygoer 1996 Mana Mohini Sukiri Patillo 1996 Mal Hathai 1997 Pem Mal Mala 1999 Seetha Samire 2002 Somy Boys Punyadasa 2003 Vala In London Gajasinghe's home servant 2003 Hitha Honda Pisso Employer