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.
12 Facts About Mark Samaranayake
1.
2.
Mark Samaranayake was born on 8 April 1914 in Weliveriya, Gampaha, as the fifth child in a family with eight siblings.
3.
Mark Samaranayake's father, Charles Samaranayake, was a notary, and his mother, Dona Isabella Perera, was a housewife.
4.
Mark Samaranayake had three elder sisters, Josephine, Harriet, and Lori; an elder brother, George; two sisters, Ellison and Marie; and a younger brother, Benedict.
5.
Mark Samaranayake received his primary education at the Sinhala School in Weliweriya and then went to Saint Joseph's College, Colombo, for secondary education.
6.
Mark Samaranayake was a mother of three who made a minor role in the film Duppathage Duka as a child artist in 1956.
7.
Mark Samaranayake's funeral took place on 15 February 2014 in Paris.
8.
Mark Samaranayake died on 4 June 2000 at the age of 86 after a severe illness.
9.
At the age of 14, the college held an open singing competition, where Mark Samaranayake became the winner and Laddie became the runner-up.
10.
Mark Samaranayake accepted the offer, went to the Arcadian Drama Club in Borella, and acted in the play Mathabhedaya.
11.
Mark Samaranayake later made a play called Riyadura, co-starring Josephine Jayalath, the elder sister of popular actress Florida Jayalath.
12.
Mark Samaranayake last acted in the film Viyaru Minisa in 1992.