Trivia

He is the first Sri Lankan actor to ever participated for Filmfare Film Festival, where he participated in 1966.

He is also widely known as a Crowned king of Sri Lankan cinema history and he was the second to die of the three crowned cinema heroes. (the first cinema king to die was Gamini Fonseka and last of three to die was Tony Ranasinghe).

At the 1999 Singapore International Film Festival, Abeywickrama won a Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Actor for his portrayal of a grieving father in Pura Handa Kaluwara (English: Death on a Full Moon Day), a first for a Sri Lankan.

Initially famed as a comedic actor in early 1950s, Abeywickrama became one of the greatest film actors of alltime in Sinhala cinema with several critically acclaimed award winning dramatic performances.

Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television.

For his contribution to cinema he was in 2005 awarded "Deshabandu" (the third highest national honour awarded in Sri Lanka. It is awarded "for meritorious service". The title is held by no more than 150 living holders at any time)..

He won forty awards including both international and local film festivals.

He also made the script for the popular comedy serial Sabada Pabilis. In the serial, he also wrote the theme song, "Una Puruke Balu Walige" sung by lead actor Anton Jude. Meanwhile, he also sang the song "Wel Eliyata' in the tele drama Thahanchi.

His father was a close companionship with John D'oyly, where Joe got his name.

He also acted in many television serials such as Andu Kola, Vanas Pathi, Gamperaliya, Sakisanda Eliyas and Esala Kaluwara.

Abeywickrama published his first novel Maha Bambata Muhunu Dekai in 1972.

On 21 September 2020, a special commemorative event was held on the ninth death anniversary of Joe Abeywickrema. It was organized by The National Film Corporation and was held at the NFC Auditorium at 6 pm. After the event, one of his popular film Thun Mang Handiya was screened.

He completed primary education at Dippitigala Mixed School near Lellopitiya. Then he joined Sivali Central College, Ratnapura for his secondary education and then joined St. Aloysius College, Ratnapura for a short period of time.

Joe was married to Pushpa Kumari Karunarathna who is a Daughter of Civil Engineer and Architect. He met her when he was residing on the next door of Pushpa's parents house. Joe followed her to temple during those days trying to talk with her for while. Then Gamini Fonseka's wife Tina helped to exchange the letters between Joe and Pushpa.

After education, he worked as the Manager of Lellopitiya Co-operative with support of his brother Allan Abeywickrama (His brother Allan also appeared in 2 sinhala films).

In 1955, he made his film acting debut with a comedy role in Devasundari directed by M.H. Munas, a Sri Lankan who made films from India.

In 1971, he acted in the film Welikathara directed by D. B. Nihalsinghe, where he played the role of "Gorin Mudalali". The film received several awards at local film festivals and considered one of the Ten Best Sri Lankan films of all time.

He has won 18 Sarasavi Awards and Presidential Awards.

Abeywickrama began his acting career in stage plays.

Apart from cinema, he also appeared in few stage dramas such as: Mal Yahanawa, Beri Sil (1960) and Kele Mal (1962).