Jerzy Janeczek was born on March 22, 1944 in the German town of Itzehoe, where his parents were deported for forced labor. When it ended, the family settled in a small village in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. From then on, he was a lively child who did not shy away from mischief and numerous antics. He quickly wanted to perform on stage and believed that he would make this dream come true in the future.
He made his debut as a student. The role of Witia in the cult comedy was his ticket to a career
After completing compulsory education, he applied to the Łódź Film School, but his application was rejected. However, he did not doubt his skills and ultimately won the index only on the third attempt. He made his screen debut while still a student, playing an episode in the war film “Don Gabriel”. However, he associated his future primarily with the theater. He performed for the first time at the Contemporary Theater in Wrocław in the play “Rose” based on the drama by Stefan Żeromski, delighting both the audience and critics. Later he played mainly in Koszalin, Warsaw and Kalisz.
The breakthrough in his career came in 1967. Then he played the role of Witia, the son of the main character, in the cult comedy series by Sylwester Chęciński. After its premiere, it was hailed as the hope of Polish cinema, and its popularity skyrocketed. – Considering my nature as a rather shy person, this popularity and recognition bothered me. Because whenever I appeared somewhere, I sometimes heard mocking “Witia, come over to the fence” and other quotes. It wasn’t pleasant. So I locked myself at home – during one of the interviews.
After being fired from the theater and getting a divorce, he left for the USA. There he found happiness and love
After the hit role, Janeczek could choose from career offers. He has appeared in many productions on the small and big screen, including: in “07 report” or “Love or leave”. He also performed successfully on the stage of the Warsaw Drama Theater. The plays in which he played were extremely popular, so when the then director handed him his notice, he was shocked. – He said, “You’ll find a job,” but I knew I wouldn’t get a job anywhere, he recalled. At the same time, he also faced problems in his private life, as he divorced his wife. Due to the crisis and poor financial situation, he emigrated overseas in the late 1980s.
He had various jobs, including a pizza delivery person and a furniture restorer, as well as exhibiting plays for the Polish community. Soon he also met love and had two children. – It was terrible at first. Everything turned upside down. I wanted to go to the United States for a year to take a break from some things. I met my wife there, he said. He spent two decades abroad. When he returned to the country, he decided to reactivate his career. He appeared, among others: at the Polish Radio Theater, as well as in several hit productions, including “The Mole”, “Supernova”, “Mafia Women” or “David and the Elves” by Netflix. On July 12, 2021, information about the unexpected death of Jerzy Janeczek circulated in the media. he died after being stung by a bee whose venom he was allergic to. He was 77 years old.
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.
