Karu, who coloured cinema as stunt artiste and villain no more
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Wilson Karunaratne or popularly known as Wilson Karu who played the role of villain for several decades passed away on May 3.
Karu, 79, also played the role of stunt director in many films. Started with ‘Hadawath Naththo’ in 1974 Karu has contributed to nearly 240 films.
Born in 1942 October 28, Wilson’s film career expands over 45 years. Educated at Lumbini College Colombo, Karu was a sportsman excelled football, cricket and gymnastics. Karu who was also good at sports like wresting, judo and karate entered cinema as a stuntman and fighter. In his very first role in ‘Hadawath Naththo’, Karu had a fighting scene opposite Robin Fernando. Later Karu got roles in popular films such as ‘Yakadaya’, ‘Hitha Mithura’, ‘Sankapali’ and ‘Saradielge Putha’ directed by Neil Rupasinghe and Sarath Rupasinghe.
In 1987, he played the lead role in the film ‘Kiwule Gedara Mohottala’ directed by Pathiraja L.S. Dayananda. While shooting a scene in this film, he had to jump from a height of about 80 feet, where his spine hit a rock. Dr. Godagama Jayasinghe treated his injury for months. He continued to make several near-to-death moments during jumps, summersaults and scenes in moving trains and trucks in the films such as: Dinesh Priyasad’s ‘Demodara Palama’, Malani Fonseka’s ‘Sasara Chethana’, Cyril Weerasinghe’s ‘Anuradha’, Preethiraj Weeraratne’s ‘Pudumai Eth Aththai’, Ranjith Siriwardena’s ‘Yudha Gini Meda’ etc. He won a merit award for the role ‘Nicholas’ in Fonseka’s film ‘Sasara Chethana’.
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