Konganige Joseph Malsi Jackson Anthony, commonly known as Jackson Anthony, is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Though he has become popular from his career as an actor, he has appeared before the public in versatile forms; director, producer, singer, screenwriter, television host, novelist, columnist, lyricist, historian and traveller.
His performances in stage plays such as Marasad, Madhura Jawanika, Loma Hansa, Dhawala Beeshana, Ath, Mora and Tharavo Igilethi brought him islandwide recognition in the field of cinema. In 1993 he came to film industry. Having acted in Guru Gedara, Chitti, Ayoma and Loku Duwa, in his initial days, Jackson went on to prove his status in films like Bawa Duka, Bawa Karma, Gini Awi Saha Gini Keli, Aswesuma, Agni Dahaya, Sooriya Arana, Mille Soya and Randiya Dahara. In the meantime, he came to terms with television as well. These fields helped him establish his own identity as an actor. He is also admired for his memorable performances in the roles of arrogant, assertive and impertinent characters. Sri Lanka's leading planter Dinal Hilary Samerenayaka was acting as a mentor to Anthony. He also collaborated with Jayantha Chandrasiri, a director in modern Sri Lankan cinema and television. In 2004, under the direction of the Sri Lankan director and writer, Somaratne Dissanayake, he took up a leading role in the film, Sooriya Arana in which he brought to life the role of an egocentric hunter who is compelled to vainly battle with the subtlety of Buddhist tradition both socially and spiritually. This bagged him awards at many of the local Award ceremonies. During his acting career he has garnered more than 20 Best Actor Awards at local award ceremonies such as Sarasavi Awards, Presidential Awards and OCIC Awards. He won award for the Best Actor in Derana Film Awards 2015 for his film Address Na, which was directed by him.
Dewathawan sithana dewal performed with Clarence Wijewardena
Ra ra tharakawo performed with Clarence Wijewardena
Other careers
Jackson Anthony was the Winner of the Peoples’ award for the best artist at the Awards Ceremony of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing 2007. Jackson Anthony served as the Creative Director of Swarnavahini in early 2000s and produced popular musical programHapan Padura. He is acclaimed for his concept and presentation of Maha Sinhalaye Vansa Kathawa and Maha Sinhalaye Yatath Vijitha Vansa Kathawa, telecast through Swarnavahini for several years. With many erudite historians brought together, this probably became a most comprehensive program dedicated to the History of Sri Lanka. Other popular programs created by him include exploratory programs like Awaare Siripa, Ganga Dige, Roma Puranaya a travel program revealing the history and civilization of Italy and Salang Hanthe. He has also directed several blockbuster Sri Lankan films. His directorial debut, Julietge Bhumikawa won him the award for the Most Promising Director at the Critics’ Awards Ceremony. Paradeesaya was another film directed by him which was critically acclaimed. His direction Aba, allegedly an expensive movie have been made in Sri Lanka has been awarded in many film festivals. It is based on the legend of King Pandukabhaya; a story which took place more than 2300 years ago. In addition to that he worked with Clarence Wijewardena; one of the most respected Sri Lankan musicians in Sinhalese music, as a supporting singer for a Sinhala teledrama called Suseema. He sang two popular songs with Clarence, Sithe Susum and Desa Piya Gathkala. Esala Kaluwara is the only teledrama directed by him and is based on a story that addresses a realistic approaches to the roots and causes of the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. Anthony is one of three judges of Sri Lanka's Got Talent reality program, which is telecast on Sirasa TV.
Personal life
Jackson Anthony is married to his long time partner Kumari Munasinghe, who is also an actress and a singer. They have two sons and a daughter and the family is settled in Kadawatha, a Colombo suburb. The daughter is the eldest of three siblings, Madhavee Wathsala, is a television presenter, actress and a singer. The elder son - Akila Dhanuddara, also is a television presenter, model and an actor. His youngest son, Sajitha Anuththara is also a television preseter, singer and award winning actor who has played the role of the hunter's son in "Sooriya Arana". Sajitha is a graduate at University of Kelaniya. He has also played the title role in his father's big-budget film Aba. All three children celebrated their wedding ceremony on 18 January 2019. Madhavee was previously married to doctor Aloka Liyanage, son of veteran actor Hemasiri Liyanage in 2014. However they divorced in 2016. Madhavee is currently married to Milan. Akila is married to Emy and the couple has one child. Sajitha is married to Buwanika. He often remembers his father, Mr. Konganige Benedict Anthony and his mother Mrs.Rolin Perera as the mammoth pillar of his success. Jackson's parents lived in his hometown Podiweekumbura, Ragama. He hails from a family of 5 brothers. Elder Brother is Senaka Titus Anthony who is a journalist for several medias. And his other brothers are Sudath Anthony, Saman Anthony, and Mohan Anthony. On 23 October 2017 in Singapore, his elder brother Senaka Titus died due to kidney and liver failure. He is currently a practicing Buddhist and an enthusiast of Buddhist studies. He conducts a show on Sri Lankan Buddhist history and a discussion program on the Buddhist channel.
