Amza Pellea (; 7 April 1931 – 12 December 1983) was a

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, and ...

n actor noted for playing Romanian national heroes on film. He was born in Băilești,

Oltenia Oltenia (, also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions, with the alternative Latin names ''Wallachia Minor'', ''Wallachia Alutana'', ''Wallachia Caesarea'' between 1718 and 1739) is a historical province and geographical region of Romania ...

, and attended the Carol I High School in Craiova. He later played at the Craiova Theatre, then at the Small Theatre, the Nottara Theatre, the Comedy Theatre, and the National Theatre in

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

, and also was a professor at the Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. Pellea played numerous comic and serious roles. In cinema he was most noted for his roles portraying historical leaders. His earliest leading roles were as Romanian national heroes, beginning with

Decebalus Decebalus (), sometimes referred to as Diurpaneus, was the last Dacian king. He is famous for fighting three wars, with varying success, against the Roman Empire under two emperors. After raiding south across the Danube, he defeated a Roman invas ...

in '' Dacii'' (1967) and '' Columna'' (1968). He also portrayed

Michael the Brave Michael the Brave ( ro, Mihai Viteazul or ; 1558 – 9 August 1601), born as Mihai Pătrașcu, was the Prince of Wallachia (as Michael II, 1593 – 1601), Prince of Moldavia (1600) and ''de facto'' ruler of Transylvania (1599 – 1600). ...

in ''

Mihai Viteazul Michael the Brave ( ro, Mihai Viteazul or ; 1558 – 9 August 1601), born as Mihai Pătrașcu, was the Prince of Wallachia (as Michael II, 1593 – 1601), Prince of Moldavia (1600) and ''de facto'' ruler of Transylvania (1599 – 1600). ...

'' (1971). His most famous comic role was as "Nea Mărin" (Uncle Marin), a character representing the archetypal

n peasant. Mărin first appeared in TV comedy sketches. The character graduated to the cinema in '' Nea Mărin miliardar'' (Uncle Marin, the Billionaire), in which Pellea played the dual role of the naive Marin and the American billionaire he is mistaken for. ''Nea Mărin miliardar'' is ranked 1 in the top most viewed Romanian films of all time. He played other historical figures such as Vladică Hariton in ''Tudor din Vladimiri'' and Voivode Basarab in ''Croitorii cei mari din Valahia''. He also appeared in '' Răscoala'' and ''Haiducii''. In 1977 he won the award for Best Actor at the

10th Moscow International Film Festival The 10th Moscow International Film Festival was held 7-21 July 1977. The Golden Prizes were awarded to the Hungarian film ''The Fifth Seal'' directed by Zoltán Fábri, the Spanish film '' El puente'' directed by Juan Antonio Bardem and the Sovie ...

for his role in ''

The Doom ''The Doom'' ( ro, Osînda) is a 1976 Romanian drama film directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu. The film was entered into the 10th Moscow International Film Festival where Amza Pellea won the award for Best Actor. The film was also selected as the Rom ...

''.

He died of cancer in 1983 and is buried at

Bellu Cemetery Șerban Vodă Cemetery (commonly known as Bellu Cemetery) is the largest and most famous cemetery in Bucharest, Romania. It is located on a plot of land donated to the local administration by Baron Barbu Bellu. It has been in use since 1858. Th ...

in Bucharest. In a 2006 poll conducted by

Romanian Television Televiziunea Română (), more commonly referred to as TVR , is the short name for Societatea Română de Televiziune ("Romanian Television Society"; SRTV), the Romanian public television. It operates six channels: TVR1, TVR2, TVR3, TVR Info, ...

to identify the " 100 greatest Romanians of all time", Pellea came in 60th.

Selected filmography

* ''

Thirst Thirst is the craving for potable fluids, resulting in the basic instinct of animals to drink. It is an essential mechanism involved in fluid balance. It arises from a lack of fluids or an increase in the concentration of certain osmolites, suc ...

'' (1961) * '' Dacii'' (1967) * ''

The Column ''The Column'' ( ro, Columna) is a 1968 Romanian historical film directed by Mircea Drăgan. The film was selected as the Romanian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 41st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee. The action ...

'' (1968) * ''

'' (1971) * ''

Then I Sentenced Them All to Death ''Then I Sentenced Them All to Death'' ( ro, Atunci i-am condamnat pe toți la moarte) is a 1972 Romanian historical and social film about World War II. It was directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu. It was released on 24 August 1972 in Romania. Plot The ...

'' (1972) * '' The Last Cartridge'' (1973) * '' A Police Superintendent Accuses'' (1973) * ''

Ulzana Ulzana ( – 1909, also known as Josanni, Jolsanie or Ozaní’ – ″Tanned buckskin″ or Bį-sópàn – ″Big Buckskin″), was a Tsokanende Apache war chief, brother of Chihuahua. Biography Both the brothers were loyal and warlike support ...

'' (1974) * '' Tată de duminică'' (1975) * ''

'' (1976) * ''

Mihail, câine de circ ''Mihail, câine de circ'' ( en, Michael, Circus Dog) is a 1979 Romanian adventure film directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu. It is based on the novel ''Michael, Brother of Jerry''. Cast * Karl Michael Vogler – Dag Daughtry * Ernest Maftei – Greenle ...

'' (1979) * '' Nea Mărin miliardar'' (1979) * ''

Capcana mercenarilor ''Mercenaries' Trap'' ( ro, Capcana mercenarilor) is a 1981 Romanian adventure drama war film, directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu. The movie is set in Transylvania towards the end of World War I. Cast * Gheorghe Cozorici – baron colonel von Görtz ...

'' (1981)

References

External links

*
Web site dedicated to Amza Pellea
Romanian male actors Romanian comedians Carol I National College alumni People from Băilești Burials at Bellu Cemetery 1931 births 1983 deaths 20th-century Romanian male actors Male comedians 20th-century comedians Deaths from cancer in Romania {{Romania-actor-stub