Somasiri Dehipitiya
Dehipitiyage Don Somasiri, popularly as Somasiri Dehipitiya, was a popular Sri Lankan character actor. He is best known for performances in Dharmasena Pathiraja and Vasantha Obeysekera films.
Personal life
Dehipitiya was born in Gampaha and attended Galahitiyawe Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. After completing his primary education, he began work as a civil servant eventually reaching a position at the Vehicles Department - Colombo in the engineer division.He died of alcoholism in 1982.
Drama career
He started to act in stage plays such as Mati Karaththaya produced by P. Welikala. Then he joined Ediriweera Sarachchandra for his numerous stage plays such as Pabawathi, Raththaran, Elowa Gihin Melowa Awa and Kundala Keshi. Then he acted in Dayananda Gunawardena's Ibi Katta, Neil Wijesinghe's Ane Massine.Cinema career
Dehipitiya made his acting debut in Siri Gunasinghe's landmark Sath Samudura in 1967. Throughout the 1970s and early-1980s, he was a mainstay in alternative cinema with roles in such critically acclaimed works as Thun Man Handiya, Ves Gatho, Hara Lakshaya, Ahas Gauwa, Sihasuna, Walmath Wuvo, Deviyani Oba Koheda, Eya Dan Loku Lamayek, Bambaru Awith, Anupama, Sarungale, Podi Malli, Siribo Aiyya, Para Dige, Karumakarayo, Soldadu Unnahe, Sagarayak Meda and Ridi Nimnaya.Dehipitiya also dabbled as an assistant director with Ves Gatho in 1970 and as a playback singer in Walmath Wuvo with Cyril Wickramage. In 1980, Dehipitiya won the award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role in Siribo Ayya in Presidential Award Ceremony.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Ref. |
| 1967 | Sath Samudura | Peter | |
| 1970 | Thun Man Handiya | Jamis | |
| 1970 | Wes Gaththo | Somey | |
| 1971 | Haara Lakshaya | Seney's brother-in-law | |
| 1973 | Hathdinnath Tharu | Pearli's father | |
| 1973 | Dahakin Ekek | Consoling Villager | |
| 1973 | Sadahatama Oba Mage | ||
| 1974 | Ahas Gauwa | Somey | |
| 1974 | Sihasuna | Kirigora | |
| 1974 | Kasthuri Suwanda | Danapala 'Dannaya' | |
| 1974 | Dinum Kanuwa | ||
| 1974 | Kalyani Ganga | Fisherman | |
| 1974 | Sagarika | ||
| 1975 | Aese Idiripita | ||
| 1975 | Lassana Dawasak | Somey | |
| 1976 | Pradeepe Ma Wewa | ||
| 1976 | Saradielge Putha | Mudalithuma 'Mudaliyar' | |
| 1976 | Mangala | ||
| 1976 | Nilla Soya | ||
| 1976 | Walmath Wuwo | Somadasa | |
| 1976 | Diyamanthi | Kushan Gunawardena 'Kojath Gune' | |
| 1977 | Deviyani Oba Kohida | Jamis | |
| 1977 | Pembara Madhu | ||
| 1977 | Eya Dan Loku Lamayek | Bootlegger | |
| 1977 | Chandi Putha | Cyril | |
| 1977 | Maruwa Samaga Wase | Piyadasa 'Mudalali' | |
| 1978 | Asha Dasin | ||
| 1978 | Selinage Walawwa | Simon 'Aiyya' | |
| 1978 | Veera Puran Appu | Puran Appu's brother | |
| 1978 | Bambaru Avith | Anton's friend | |
| 1978 | Kumara Kumariyo | William | |
| 1978 | Anupama | Mudalali | |
| 1979 | Sarungale | Mr. Jayasekara | |
| 1979 | Visihathara Peya | Jothindra | |
| 1980 | Jodu Walalu | ||
| 1980 | Kanchana | ||
| 1980 | Siribo Ayya | Bandulahamy | |
| 1980 | Parithyagaya | Jayathilaka's uncle | |
| 1980 | Para dige | ||
| 1980 | Karumakkarayo | Weladum Mahathaya | |
| 1981 | Valampuri | ||
| 1981 | Soldadu Unnehe | ||
| 1981 | Vajira | Vajira's father | |
| 1981 | Sagarayak Meda | Jailed abortion doctor | |
| 1981 | Sathara Diganthaya | ||
| 1981 | Samawenna | Peter | |
| 1982 | Re Manamali | Manori's father | |
| 1982 | Sakvithi Suwaya | Mr. Gunawardena 'Gune' | |
| 1982 | Ridee Nimnaya | ||
| 1982 | Yahalu Yeheli | Kalu Diyonis | |
| 1983 | Sandamali | Appuhamy | |
| 1983 | Sumithuro | Suranga's father | |
| 1983 | Niliyakata Pem Kalemi | Brucle 'Mudalali' | |
| 1983 | Bonikka | Duncan Wickremasinghe | |
| 1984 | Niwan Dakna Jathi Dakwa | ||
| 1984 | Batti | ||
| 1985 | Karadiya Walalla |