Gamini Fonseka
| Gamini Fonseka ගාමිනි ෆොන්සේකා |
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| Born |
Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka 21 March 1936 Dehiwala, Sri Lanka |
| Died | 30 September 2004 (aged 68) Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Occupation | Actor, Film Director, Politician |
| Years active | 1959-1998 |
| Known for | Crowned king of Sri Lankan cinema |
| Spouse(s) | Dorothy Margaret Valancia-Fonseka (1962 until death) |
| Children | 4 |
Sembuge Gamini Shelton Fonseka (Sinhala:සෙම්බුගේ ගාමිනි ශෙල්ටන් ෆොන්සේකා) (1936–2004) was a Sri Lankan film actor, film director and politician. He is widely regarded as the King of Sri Lankan cinema history and first Crowned King out of three (Joe Abeywickrama and Tony Ranasinghe are others) to die.
Fonseka was born on 21 March 1936 in Dehiwela the third child of William and Daisy Fonseka. Starting school at a Presbyterian institution, Gamini moved on to S. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia. As a youngster, he gained repute for imitating administrative figures at school. Gamini also prospered in the study of the Sinhala language and literature (under the guidance of Mr D.S. Jayasekera who is also reputed to have introduced him to acting in stage plays) and placed in the upper fourth for a Sinhala literature prize. The award for this achievement was presented to him by S. Thomas' graduate and Sri Lankan Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. Gamini was also an accomplished cricket player. Gamini Fonseka married his longtime girlfriend Dorothy Margaret Valencia also known as Tina in 1962 and had four children Chamila, Thanuja, Dammith and Ishara. Many years later he also fathered Kaushalya and Poornima. He remained married to Tina until his death in September 2004.
Fonseka abruptly ended his secondary education and dove into the film industry. He originally wanted to be a cameraman and in this line worked as the second Assistant Director on David Lean's Bridge on the River Kwai and Lester James Peries's Rekava (1956). Fonseka was first on-screen in Rekava as part of a crowd. He also did some work on an English television series filmed in Sri Lanka.
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