Polish writer, reporter and film scriptwriter Aleksander Minkowski drew inspiration from his own, difficult experiences. During the war, he lived with his parents in exile in the Komi Republic, then part of the USSR, on the western side of the Ural Mountains. He included his memories from that period in, among others, the book “fat” from 1966.
Mariusz Kozłowski was a star of the Polish People’s Republic. He played one role and disappeared
The film potential of the novel was exploited by Wojciech Fiwek, who directed the series of the same title. Minkowski helped him write the script. Thus, in 1973, the first episode of a black-and-white adventure series for children and teenagers was broadcast. The series lasted seven episodes and attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers, and was even awarded the award of the Minister of Education and Upbringing in the category of films for older children at the 3rd National Film Festival for Children and Youth in Poznań.
The protagonists of the series are seventh-grade students who are just starting their studies at a new school in a small town in the Recovered Territories after the war. The production shows the difficult process of assimilation of newcomers to Lower Silesia in 1946. The series captures the echoes of war, which are the background for the adventures of the young heroes. Mariusz Kozłowski was cast in the main role in the series.
Kozłowski was born on December 21, 1958 in Łódź. He appeared on the set of “Fat” when he was just 14 years old, it was both his debut and his last screen role. Creating the title character of Maciek Łazanek was not easy for a young boy. The plot of the series was based on the lack of acceptance by peers, also due to the protagonist’s body fat, which required a lot of self-distance from the maturing actor.
Kozłowski’s efforts theoretically paid off. Viewers loved Gruby, and the role brought him great popularity. The boy seemed to be perfect for creating the character invented by Minkowski, but several thousand other boys tried out for the role. Kozłowski didn’t pass the casting the first time, but he didn’t give up and joined a different queue.
“When it comes to acting, Mariusz was a disaster. The first materials with his participation had to be thrown away. I took Mariusz to the cinema, showed him how he played and asked if it was him. He said no. After that, he was himself in the photos” – director Wojciech Fiwek recalls Kozłowski’s beginnings on the set in an interview with “Dziennik Łódzki”.
The hero of the series “Fat” gave up acting after one role. He fell into the clutches of addiction
Kozłowski ultimately performed very well in the series, but after his debut he decided not to continue his acting career and withdrew from public life. According to telemagazyn.pl, the TV series Gruby fulfilled his great dream and became a chef. He moved to Szczecin, where he ran a bistro and traded. He also started a family – he had two sons.
However, his life soon fell apart and the actor fell into the clutches of addiction. “I love gambling,” he declared in an interview with “Życie Warszawy”. In addition to one addiction, others also appeared. Kozłowski drank a lot and smoked like a dragon, but he emphasized that he had everything under control. “I’m a strong person. I’ve dealt with smoking, although I used to need 60 cigarettes a day. And alcohol too. Now I don’t smoke and I don’t drink. Even on New Year’s Eve, I only soak my mouth in champagne.” – quotes the actor se.pl.
However, Kozłowski did not give up gambling. He took out more loans, which he did not repay. As a result, he lost his house and his wife gave him an ultimatum. Then he retired and curbed his addiction. Since then, he played less often and bet smaller stakes, although he did not give up gambling.
Mariusz Kozłowski died on August 5, 2008 at the age of 50. The cause of the actor’s death was not made public. He died in his hometown of Łódź and was buried at the parish cemetery in Ksawerów.
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.
