Wojciech Zagórski was one of the favourites, receiving roles in almost all of the director’s productions. Although he had a rich filmography and could boast of many excellent performances, he died in complete oblivion. The gambling addiction he struggled with for most of his adult life led to his downfall.
He could have been an officer, but acting was his passion. Although he played episodes, he was able to outshine other stars
As a 16-year-old he enlisted in the army, but even then he knew that he would not become a soldier. Despite being urged to permanently wear a uniform, he insisted on becoming an actor. As he decided, so he did. With the help of Colonel Piotr Jaroszewicz, he received an index of the Warsaw theater school. “One phone call was enough to get me into acting school. one call! — in an interview with “No”. Initially, he played at the Children’s Theater in Warsaw, later in Olsztyn and Opole, but in the 1950s he became permanently associated with Warsaw institutions, including the Classical Theater or the Rozmaitości.
Zagórski triumphed not only on stage, but also on the screen. He played in such productions as “Szkice węglem”, “Doktor Judym” or “Znachor”. He also liked to appear in series, e.g. in “Janosik”, “07 report back” or “Substitutes”. However, the productions of which he was a favorite brought him the greatest popularity. The line “You weren’t standing here” he uttered in the comedy “What will you do if you catch me” has been permanently recorded in the history of cinema. He was unique, characteristic and although he usually appeared in the background, playing episodes, he could outshine the whole galaxy of stars with one sentence.
His gambling addiction led him to bankruptcy. He died forgotten
Unfortunately, professional success did not go hand in hand with happiness in private life. As Witold Sadowy wrote in the online Encyclopaedia of the Polish Theatre, Zagórski “loved acting on stage and … at races”. Already at the beginning of his career, he constantly visited casinos and was a frequent visitor to the horse races in Służewiec.
Wojtek was a man who was completely devoted to gambling, which unfortunately turned into addiction in his case
— Maciej Rayzacher in the book “Jak u Barei, or who said it” by Rafał Dajbor.
Although he constantly took on new roles and constantly worked, he was not an overly wealthy man. He spent all the money he earned gambling and betting. “He was probably the greatest gambler among the actors,” said director Janusz Zaorski. Addiction not only deprived the actor of his wealth and poverty, but also ruined his marriage. Zagórski got into such trouble that when he needed money for a blood transfusion for his mother, he applied for a grant from the Association of Polish Stage Artists. Financial support was provided to him only after the death of the woman, because the actor did not even have the funds to buy a coffin.
In 2009, he appeared in the play “Romulus the Great” and thus ended his over 60-year career. With his retirement, he broke off contact with all his friends in the industry. “He just suddenly disappeared from our sight. I have no idea what his last years were like, recalled Zofia Czerwińska. Wojciech Zagórski died on April 29, 2016. Although he was once a great star, he passed away in poverty and oblivion.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
