{{short description|Sri Lankan actor and producer}} {{Infobox person | name = Baptist Fernando <br> බැප්ටිස්ට් ප්රනාන්දු | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1933|7|9|df=yes}} | birth_name = Warnakulasuriya Maha Lekumge John Baptist Fernando | birth_place = Wennappuwa, Sri Lanka | death_date = {{death date and age|2017|2|1|1933|7|9|df=yes}} | death_place = Ragama, Sri Lanka | resting_place = Kanatte Cemetery | education = Joseph Vaz College | years_active = 1955–2001 | other_names = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Actor, producer, director }}
'''Warnakulasuriya Maha Lekumge John Baptist Fernando''' (born 9 June 1933 – died 1 February 2017 as බැප්ටිස්ට් ප්රනාන්දු), known popularly as '''Baptist Fernando''', was an actor and producer in Sri Lankan cinema.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-baptist-fernando-78.html | title=Baptist Fernando – බැප්ටිස් ප්රනාන්දු filmography | publisher=Sinhala Cinema Database| access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, he is best known for playing villains during his more than four-decade long career.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pressreader.com/sri-lanka/daily-mirror-sri-lanka/20190204/282531544641878 | title=Baptist Fernando commemoration | publisher=Daily Mirror | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref>
==Personal life== {{main|Sri Lanka cinema family}} Fernando was born on 9 June 1933 in Collin Jadiya, Wennappuwa as the eldest of the family. His father's name was Eugene Fernando and mother's name was Winifreda Fernando. He had three younger sisters and two younger brothers. He completed education from Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa.<ref name= baptist>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/news-features/2019/11/28/12745/පෙරකදෝරු-බෑණා-චිත්රපටයෙන්-මතු-වූ-බැප්ටිස්ට්-ප්රනාන්දු | title=Baptist Fernando who emerged from the movie Parakadoru Bena | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> He was very good at sports, particularly wrestling, where he practiced wrestling with the then heavyweight champion, Basil Rodrigo. His grandson, Chris Wijewardana, is also an actor who appeared in the television serials ''Pani Kurullo'', ''Amaliya'' and the film ''Apata Sadunu Ape Lokaya''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/interviews/2021/03/04/19947/බැප්ටිස්ට්-මගේ-සීයා | title=Baptist is my grandfather: Chris Wijewardene | publisher=Colombo Journal | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref>
In 1960 he married Thiris Fernando. The couple had two daughters – Shamila Priyadarshani, Dulari Fernando and on son – Shammi Fernando. His son Shammi was also an actor. In the film ''Angulimala,'' which was directed by his father, Shammi played the main role as "Ahinsaka". Then he acted in few films such as ''Raja Kello'', ''Cheriyo Darling'', ''Alu Yata Gini'' and ''Ane Master''. Daughter Shamila acted in the teledrama ''Mangala Seenu''. His wife Thiris died in 1986.<ref name= fernando>{{cite web | url=http://www.colombojournal.com/2016/10/07/අත-මිට-සරු-කාලේ-හිටපු-යාළු/ | title=There are no old friends today | publisher=Colombo Journal | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref>
He died at the age of 83 on 1 February 2017 while receiving treatments at Ragama hospital.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailynews.lk/2017/02/01/local/106460/veteran-actor-baptist-fernando-passes-away | title=Veteran actor Baptist Fernando passes away | work=Daily News | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://srilankamirror.com/news/news-in-brief/1705-actor-baptist-fernando-no-more | title=Actor Baptist Fernando no more | publisher=Sri Lanka Mirror | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> His funeral took place on 3 February 2017 at Borella Cemetery.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.gossiplankanews.com/2017/02/baptist-fernando-passes-away.html?m=1 | title=Baptist Fernando passes away | publisher=gossiplankanews | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref>
==Career== One of his schoolmates, S.A. Fernando, took some photographs of Baptist during a church feast. He posted these photos to popular filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne.<ref name= baptist /> Jayamanne invited Baptist for a screen test at Jayamanne's house "Jaya Ruk Sevana". He was selected for the main antagonist in the 1955 film ''Perakadoru Bena'' directed by A.B. Raja.<ref name= fernando /> He had to finish senior level class in College to fly India for the shooting. He played two roles in the film – a police officer and villain's henchman.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lifie.lk/2019/12/30/sri-lankan-double-acting-actors-and-actresses/ | title=Our actors playing dual roles | publisher=lifie | access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref>
In 1959, Baptist acted in the film ''Purusha Rathnaya'' along with Prem Jayanth. They sang the popular song ''Aiyata Me Raja Ge Malli Hadala''. He continued to receive many villain roles in the following years, including ''Sithaka Mahima'', ''Ohoma Hondada'', ''Satha Panaha'', ''Sahanaya'' and ''Kawuda Raja''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sinhala.srilankamirror.com/news/2221-bestice-franandu | title=Baptist Fernando died | publisher=Sri Lanka Mirror| access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> In many films, Baptist acted as the villain opposite to Gamini Fonseka who played the protagonist role.<ref name= fernando /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5551869/ | title=Baptist Fernando films | publisher=IMDb| access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> He studied cinema in India and met the cinematographer S. Anandan. After he returned to Sri Lanka, Baptist was involved in acting in films along with Anandan. It was only after this that he became a character actor.<ref name= baptist />
In 1972, he co-produced the film ''Sahanaya'' with Prem Jayanth under the banner "Seven Arts". Then he produced the film ''Duppathage Hithawatha'' and played as the protagonist for the first time.<ref name= fernando /> After the film became a blockbuster of that year, Baptist continued to produce many films such as ''Tikira'', ''Eka diga Kathawak'', ''Namal Renu'' and ''Sudu Ayya''. The film ''Eka diga Kathawak'' was dubbed in Tamil as ''Oru Thalei Kadal'' and screened in Jaffna as well. He was known not to sign any agreements with film crew as he was always fluent with paying money on time. In the film ''Tikira,'' he introduced back and forth somersault actions to Sinhala cinema. The film was a blockbuster hit as well. It was also Baptist's best-loved film role.<ref name= baptist />
In 1998, he produced and directed the film ''Angulimala''. Then in 1991, he produced the film ''Raja Kello'' with Sithara Priyadharshani. Overall he produced 7 films – ''Sahanaya'', ''Duppathage Hithawatha'', ''Tikira'', ''Eka diga Kathawak'', ''Sudu Ayya'', ''Namal Renu'' and ''Angulimala''.<ref name= baptist /><ref name= fernando />
Apart from cinema, Baptist also worked as the treasurer of "Nalu Nili Sangamaya".<ref name= baptist />
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Ref. |- | 1955 || ''Perakadoru Bena'' || Dual role || |- | 1959 || ''Avishwasaya'' || Gunaratne || |- | 1959 || ''Purusha Rathnaya'' || Sugatha Pala || |- | 1963 || ''Suneela'' || || |- | 1964 || ''Sithaka Mahima'' || || |- | 1965 || ''Sepatha Soya'' || Winnie || |- | 1965 || ''Satha Panaha'' || Club Manager ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about the film "Satha Panaha" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/other/2019/01/03/2056/මල්-නෙලන්න-වාසනාව-මටද-අත්වුණා |access-date=2020-01-04 |website=Sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1966 || ''Athulweema Thahanam'' || || |- | 1966 || ''Seegiri Kashyapa'' || Rama Datva ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features-films-local/2019/09/05/8820/පිරුණා-හද-සන්තානේ | title=All about Seegiri Kashyapa | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=3 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1966 || ''Seyawak Pasupasa'' || || |- | 1967 || ''Sarana'' || || |- | 1969 || ''Oba Nathinam'' || || |- | 1970 || ''Ohoma Hondada'' || ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/06/28/?fn=sa18062820 | title=All about the film "Ohoma Hondada" | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> |- | 1971 || ''Sahanaya'' ||Baby Mahathaya ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local-story/2020/09/24/19039/සිහින-නෙළුම්-මල-ජීවිත-පොකුණේ-“සහනය” | title=All about Sahanaya | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=24 September 2020}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Thushara'' || Wijesinghe ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/06/14/?fn=sa18061432 | title=All about the film "Thushara" | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> |- | 1973 || ''Hondata Hondai'' || Duncan || |- | 1974 || ''Duppathage Hithawatha'' || Ananda ||<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/features/2020/03/05/16839/දුප්පත්-පොහොසත්-දෙකක්-ඕන-නෑ | title=All about Duppathage Hithawatha | publisher=Sarasaviya | access-date=5 March 2020}}</ref> |- | 1975 || ''Cyril Malli'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Pradeepe Ma Wewa'' || || |- | 1976 || ''Kawuda Raja'' || Kapila ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=All about the film "Kawuda Raja" |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-story/2019/05/16/5350/පේ%E2%80%8D්%E2%80%8Dරමේ-සිහින-ලොවේ-කවුද-රජා |access-date=2021-01-22 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1977 || ''Aege Adara Kathawa'' || Manager || |- | 1977 || ''Wanagatha Kella'' || || |- | 1977 || ''Deviyani Oba Kohida?'' || Joseph ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deviyani Oba Koheda |url=http://archives.sarasaviya.lk/2018/10/18/?fn=sa18101832 |access-date=2021-01-11 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1977 || ''Chin Chin Nona'' || ||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chin Chin Nona, who came before Tom Pachaya |url=http://www.sarasaviya.lk/films-local-story/2021/03/04/19939/ටොම්-පචයාට-කලින්-ආව-චිං-චිං-නෝනා |access-date=2021-03-05 |website=sarasaviya}}</ref> |- | 1978 || ''Mage Ran Putha'' || || |- | 1978 || ''Tikira'' || Ananda 'Tikira' || |- | 1978 || ''Sally'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Subhani'' || || |- | 1979 || ''Raja Kollo'' || Dharme || |- | 1982 || ''Sudu Ayya'' || Ananda || |- | 1982 || ''Eka Diga Kathawak'' || || |- | 1984 || ''Namal Renu'' || || |- | 1987 || ''Ahinsa'' || Party guest || |- | 1988 || ''Angulimala'' || || |- | 1989 || ''Mamai Raja'' || Inspector father || |- | 1989 || ''Shakthiya Oba Amme'' || Police Chief || |- | 1990 || ''Walawwe Hamu'' || || |- | 1990 || ''Christhu Charithaya'' || Annas || |- | 1991 || ''Raja Kello'' || || |- | 1994 || ''Shakthi'' || || |- | 1996 || ''Sihina Wimane Kumariya'' || Tipster Victor || |- | 1996 || ''Sebe Mithura'' || || |- | 1996 || ''Cheriyo Darling'' || Mr. Fernando || |- | 2008 || ''Adara Meena'' || || |}
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernando, Baptist}} Category:1933 births Category:2017 deaths Category:Sri Lankan Roman Catholics Category:Sri Lankan male film actors Category:Sri Lankan expatriates in India