He impressed in “Kill Me Cop” by Jacek Bromski, and his roles in Krysztof Kieślowski’s iconic works brought him international fame. Who doesn’t remember his roles in “A Short Film about Love” and “Decalogue IX”? He also appeared in “Nothing Funny” as the brother of the iconic Adaś Miauczyński. But Piotr Machalica also had his part in TV series that we remember to this day – “Ekstradycja” and “Złotopolscy”. He also dazzled the theater stages with his talent.
The actor was born on February 13, 1955 in Pszczyna, and artistic activity was destined for him from birth. His father Henryk was also an actor, as was his older brother Aleksander. Following this path, in 1981 he graduated from the Theater Academy. Aleksander Zelwerowicz in Warsaw, although his cinema debut took place two years earlier. In 1979, he played in the film “Rycerz” by Lech Majewski, and a year later he appeared in the series “Point of View”. There, he first encountered Bogusław Linda, with whom, as it turned out, he created a cult duet in “Kill Me Cop” in 1988. He played the role of Lieutenant Popczyk, an eager policeman who decides to capture the elusive and at the same time dangerous a criminal (Bogusław Linda). The cinema directed by Jacek Bromski is full of emotions and unexpected plot twists.
Kieślowski’s favorite. An unforgettable role in “Extradition”
The late Krzysztof Kieślowski, whose world fame was yet to come, eagerly engaged him in his productions. In “A Short Film About Love” he played the role of Roman, a neighbor spied on from the opposite block by 19-year-old Tomek (playing the main roles: Grażyna Szapołowska and Olaf Lubaszenko). He played his first violin with Kieślowski two years later in “Decalogue IX” from 1990. Playing the role of Hanka’s (Ewa Błaszczyk) husband, he fights a difficult fight to maintain their marriage. The film is an interpretation of the ninth commandment of the biblical Decalogue: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife” in the realities of Ursynów in Warsaw, just before the political changes.
Piotr Machalica Grzegorz Skowronek / Agencja Wyborcza.pl
He also became famous for his characteristic role as the head of the Government Protection Bureau Brigade, playing the corrupt Brigadier General Bogusław Góra in the third part of “Extradition” by Wojciech Wójcik. The scenes in which he has an emotional fight with police commissioner Olgierd Halski (Marek Kondrat) are unforgettable.
After many years, he found peace. A love life full of ups and downs
In his private life, Machalica was a rather withdrawn person and, as he recalled, acting was part of his therapy. He even considered abandoning this career path and entering the seminary. At one point, however, he said that giving up celibacy was impossible since he liked women so much. And his love life was full of turmoil.
The first marriage with Małgorzata ended in divorce, which resulted in depression for the actor. He found solace with Edyta Olszówka, who was 16 years his junior, and the media wrote passionately about their relationship. They were one of the hottest couples in show business and perhaps that is why they did not survive the test of time together. He finally found the solace he was looking for after many years, when, as the artistic director of the Theater. It was in Częstochowa that Adam Mickiewicz met Aleksandra Sosnowska. Machalica himself stated that, having learned from the mistakes of the past, he hid their relationship for a long time to protect them. After 15 years, the couple finally decided to get married in September 2020, and the ceremony was kept a top secret.
Unfortunately, their happiness only lasted a few months, because in December the actor was hospitalized, as Krystyna Janda announced on her social media with an eloquent entry and a photo of Machalica on a respirator. Unfortunately, he died the next day, and the cause of death was determined to be coronavirus infection. Although the actor had previously had heart problems, his death was a shock for both his relatives and fans. December 13, 2020 is a sad date for Polish cinema, but the memory of Piotr Machalica’s talent will be with us for a long time.
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.
