Tennison Cooray

Merengnnage Edward Tennyson Cooray (සිංහල:මෙරෙඤඤගේ එඩ්වඩ් ටෙනිසන් කුරේ) (30 April 1952 – 28 September 2020) was an actor and comedian in Sri Lankan cinema and theater. One of the most popular comedians ever in Sinhala cinema with a career spanned more than three decades, Cooray was best known for comedy roles in several blockbuster film franchises such as Re Daniel Dawal Migel, Cheriyo, Peralikarayo, Wada Bari Tarzan as well as Somy Boys. In addition to acting, he also worked as a director and scriptwriter, singer, and lyrics writer.

Personal life He was born on 30 April 1952 in Welimada, [Sri Lanka] as the second of the family to a Catholic father and Buddhist mother. His father Merengnnage Edgar Stanley Arthur Cooray, who worked at Gamini Bus Company, learned to be a pastor for some time and also was a great reader of good English literature. His mother, Herath Mudiyanselage Ran Menika was a housewife. He studied at Kesebewa Junior School for primary education and then attended Willorawatta Protestant Catholic Mixed School also known as Moratuwa Methodist College. He only graduated Ordinary Level examination. He had one elder sister and a younger brother. When he was about ten years old, they used to go to the temple with mother on Poya day as well as to church on Sundays. Tennyson, who had previously attended an automotive course, later worked as a ship mechanic.

He was married to Malsiri Eranjani and the couple had one daughter, Madhumihiri, who is a teacher at Bishop’s College. Madhumihiri is married to Chaturanga Fernando, a businessman(Simple Music & Entertainment Pvt Ltd. They have one son, Chandru Mithushka and one daughter, Mindri Shenumika. Remains were laid at Tennyson's House, 79/1, Willorawatta, Moratuwa for two days. The body was taken to the Rawathawatte Methodist Church at 4 pm and the final rites were performed at the cemetery on 1 October 2020.

Career At adolescent age, he performed at church festivals for about eight years with his friend Percy. Then he went to several drama interviews to take an opportunity to act in movies, but could not get a chance due to his appearance. Totally disappointed, one day his father told him that 'if you want to act, you can do a play that suits you'. Then he made a Vesak drama called Apaaye Thappara 1800. Priyasad's film Hithata Dukak Nathi Miniha was a film that pulls aside the acting style of Tenny where his ability for those adventurous scenes is highlighted in the film. He performed well not only in cinema but also on stage with the popular stage plays Man The Man, Captain Cool, Sivamma Dhanapala and I am Sri Lanka. In each of these stage plays, he discusses the issues and problems of the society in a humorous manner, tries to make the audience laugh as well as try to draw the audience's attention to the issues of the country. He has also appeared in comedy films with fellow actor Bandu Samarasinghe on numerous occasions, including Re Daniel Dawal Migel, Cheriyo, Kolompoor, Parliament Jokes, and Somy Boys. He also acted in the film along with longtime friend Bandu Samarasinghe. Apart from that, he also directed the home movie Eya Thamai Meya in 2015. In 2011, he went to the United Kingdom for a series of concerts organized by UK charity '1+1=1'.

In 2018, Tennyson acted in the film Yama Raja Siri with Bandu for the first time in 10 years. In the same year, he acted in the comedy theater play Reliy Remix produced by Sisil Gunasekara. Later, he won the award for the Best Comedian at 2018 Derana Lux Film Awards for the film Kota Uda Express.

Selected stage plays

Captain Cool I am Sri Lanka Kurulla La Rosa Man The Man Tarzan The Baba

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes 1981 Jeewanthi maiden cinema acting 1986 Peralikarayo Tenny film's scriptwriter 1987 Nommara Ekai Koka Khan film's scriptwriter 1987 Obatai Priye Adare Anta film's scriptwriter 1988 Chandingeth Chandiya 1990 Sambudu Mahima Hondin Nathnam Narakin Pem Raja Dahana Guru's ally Esala Sanda Don Frank Peter Anderson Honda Honda Sellam Tenny Cheriyo Doctor Attendant 1991 Alibaba Saha Horu 40 1992 Singha Raja Sinhayageth Sinhaya Ranabime Weeraya Malsara Doni A. Linganadan 1993 Come or Go Chicago Harrah the Karrah Vijay Saha Ajay 1994 Love 94 Ballpoint 1995 Cheriyo Captain Bantum 1995 Demodara Palama Wali Cooray Story theme 1996 Cheriyo Darling Doctor Dunath Mala 'D. M' 1998 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 1 Migel 1999 Kolompoor Thadawansa plays seven different roles Nagaran Lakiya 2000 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 2 Migel 2001 Pissu Pusoo Jonsun and Gonsun Jonson Kolamba Koloppan Tenny 2002 Parliament Jokes P.K Amaris Somy Boys Bean Love 2002 Tom Seethala Gini Kandu Tamil policeman 2003 Aladinge Waldin Aladdin 'Dean Martin' Taxi Driver Hitha Honda Pisso Sunny Vala In London Valentine 'Vala' / Professor Serpentine 2004 Re Daniel Dawal Migel 3 008 / Migel Ohoma Harida Sathyapala Clean Out Bookie 2005 James Bond Jamies 2007 Jundai Gundai Gunda Hai Master Weda Beri Tarzan Tarzan / Mesan dual role 2008 Ai Oba Thaniwela 2010 Hadawatha Mal Yayai Ape Yalu Punchi Boothaya Jeevan Gurunnanse guest appearance Wada Bari Tarzan Mathisabayata Tarzan 2011 Kiwwada Nahi Nokiwwada Nahi Sanath Perera Thank You Berty Berty Cooray's first directorial role 2012 Jeevithe Lassanai Kalyana / Ku.Ku.La (Kude Kudu Laos) 2013 Ranja Johnny 2014 Supiri Andare Andare / Gulliver Dual Role Parapura Dilanga's friend Minor role 2015 Singa Machan Charlie Charlie Eya Thamai Meya Roma Second directorial role, Home Movie 2017 Kota Uda Express Weere Devani Warama John 2018 Yama Raja Siri Martin 2019 Nathi Bari Tarzan Tarzan Thiththa Aththa Walisinghe's secretary Sikuru Yogaya Koha Jaya Sri Amathithuma Secretary Silva