He was supposed to be a miner, but he became an actor. Roles in “Czterech pancerni” and “Rancz” are only 2 of 450

Franciszek Pieczka was born on January 18, 1928 in Godowo in Upper Silesia. At his father’s encouragement, he started studies at the Gliwice University of Technology, but after only a month he abandoned it in favor of acting. He informed his parents about his decision only when he got into the Warsaw State Theater School. – When I told about it at home, all the Silesian bullshit poured out at me – In 1954, he obtained his diploma and immediately made his debut. First on the stage of the Lower Silesian Theater in Jelenia Góra, and later on the screen in “Pokolenie”.

He played for the most outstanding Polish directors. TV viewers loved him for the role of Gustlik

In the following years he played, among others, in “Mother Joanna of the Angels” by Jerzy Kawalerowicz, as well as “The Manuscript Found in Saragossa” by Wojciech Jerzy Has. He also regularly appeared on the stage of the People’s Theater in Nowa Huta, with which he was associated from 1955 to 1964. The breakthrough in his career was the role of Gustlik Jelenia in the series, for which Polish viewers loved him. In the meantime, he created another cult character in the poetic “Life of Mateusz” by Witold Leszczyński. In total, he created nearly 450 dramatic and comedy roles, including over 100 on the big screen, which gave him an unshakable position in the film industry. His artistic achievements include productions such as “The Deluge”, “The Promised Land”, “Blizna”, “Austeria” and “The Bank Out of This Earth”. The younger generation certainly knows him as Stacha Japycz from the cult series.

He never came to terms with his wife’s death. He was professionally fulfilled until the end

Although he loved acting with all his heart, family was always more important to him than his career. He met his wife Henryka, a journalism student 5 years his junior, when he was in his last year of studies. – My friends and I adored Lidka Korsakówna, who played in “Adventure on Marienstadt” and was famous. While we were sitting at her place, the light went out and I went to fix it. My future wife was tinkering with a box of corks – the first meeting was published in “Gość Niedzielny”. – It was love at first sight that lasted for many years – he added. They got married in 1954. Two years later, they welcomed a daughter, Ilona, ​​and after 16 years the family expanded with another child, Piotr. However, the last years of their life together were not kind to them. First, the actor’s wife became seriously ill, and in 2004 she died. – After living together for so long, this is a cataclysm – . “I wanted to die first,” he added regretfully.

He remained professionally active until his last moments. He appeared on both the small and big screen, and also found fulfillment in dubbing. However, he resigned from the theater in 2014 because the exhausting rehearsals and performances were no longer up to him. – I will never play in the theater again, I don’t plan any performances because I have no strength left. I’m already 94 years old – he said shortly before his death. His artistic activities brought him many awards and distinctions, including: The Gold Medal for Merit to Culture Gloria Artis, the Order of the White Eagle and the Special Award of the Polish Filmmakers Association for lifetime achievement. Nevertheless, he believed that there was still a long way to go to full fulfillment. – There are many roles that I have not played, or maybe I wanted to – he said on the website. Franciszek Pieczka died on September 23, 2022 in Warsaw at the age of 94.