Wally Nanayakkara

Kurukula Arachchige Don Wally Nanayakkara (born 14 June 1939 – died 11 October 2003 as වොලී නානායක්කාර) [Sinhala]), popularly known as Wally Nanayakkara, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.

Personal life Nanayakkara was born on 14 June 1939 in Nikaweratiya, Kurunegala. He completed education from St. Benedict's College, Colombo and St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.

He was married to fellow actress Nethalie Violet (née Nanayakkara). They were first met at Dalugama Catholic Church in Kelaniya in 1958. At the time, Nethalie worked at the Fordsroad Accounting Institute in Colombo. Nethalie has been worked in Radio Ceylon since 1955 in many radio plays. Nanayakkara joined the radio dramas in the 1960s. The couple first acted together in the radio play Muwan Palessa as "Ukku Banda" and "Binari". During his tenure at Lake House, Nanayakkara was also secretary of the Arts Circle. Nethalie continued to act in many television serials as well as films.

Career His passion to become an actor came after watching the movie Ashokamala. During school times in Kurunegala, Nanayakkara started a drama club and became secretary. Then he acted in the stage play Veniciye Welenda in the school stage. After school, she joined Nandagam's studio in Kandane to study film. But, he was assigned to wire the bulbs and cameras in every day and he fed up with the job. The song also marked as Victor Ratnayake's first film musical direction as Sunil Edirisinghe's maiden movie song. Wally had a passion for both acting and farming, and was a talented cameraman as well. In 1971, he acted in the film. In this movie, he had a scene to suck blood from a goat. He performed the act well; however, the camera did not operate in the scene due to the cameraman's mistake.